BEATING THE MOLIDAY BLUES

MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS IN NEW JERSEY OFFER TIPS TO HELP SAIL THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS IN A POSITIVE WAY

- SUSAN BLOOM

JOSEPH STRICKER, MD, child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist at Atlantic Health System's Morristown Medical Center

FRANK A. GHINASSI, senior vice president of Behavioral Health Services at RWJBarnabas Health and president and chief executive of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care

SARABJIT SINGH, MD, executive medical director at Saint Clare's Hospital in Denville

While many people associate the holidays with joyful family get-togethers, colorful decorations and gifts, and cherished annual traditions, others dread the season because it triggers a case of the holiday blues, a pervasive period accompanied by feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression.

“The ‘holiday blues’ refer to feelings of sadness, anxiety, or stress that some individuals experience during the holiday season,” explained Frank A. Ghinassi, senior vice president of Behavioral Health Services at RWJBarnabas Health and president and chief executive of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. “These feelings often stem from the pressure to meet certain expectations, feelings of loneliness, or the stress of preparing for family gatherings.”

IF YOU'RE FEELING MILD SADNESS OR ANXIETY DURING THE HOLIDAYS, MAKING SMALL CHANGES TO YOUR ROUTINE AND REACHING OUT TO A FRIEND CAN OFTEN PROVIDE VALUABLE SUPPORT.