{"id":561,"date":"2021-12-12T15:56:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-12T15:56:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-01-10T13:03:20","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T13:03:20","slug":"how-the-winter-holidays-affect-your-mood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/how-the-winter-holidays-affect-your-mood\/","title":{"rendered":"How The Winter Holidays Affect Your Mood"},"content":{"rendered":"

The winter holidays are a nostalgic time of year, and the holidays impact everyone\u2019s mood differently. <\/strong>Many of us truly get into the holiday spirit, and experience \u2018Christmas cheer\u2019 as we decorate, shop, bake, plan holiday parties and visit family and friends.<\/p>\n

According to author and happiness coach Nicole Fuentes<\/a>, social connection and strong familial ties are some of the reasons that her hometown of Monterray, Mexico, was named one of the happiest places on Earth. The holidays give us a chance to reconnect with family members that we may not see during the rest of the year. The holidays also have us becoming more social with all the social events going on.<\/p>\n

The social aspect of the holiday season can definitely boost our mood. <\/strong>However, not everyone\u2019s experience is the same.<\/p>\n

For some who are away from their family and friends, the holidays can be especially difficult<\/strong>, triggering feelings of loneliness, sadness and isolation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some people find that the holidays get them down. The holidays remind some people of what they\u2019re missing in life<\/strong>, whether it be a romantic partner to spend the holidays with, or family members that have passed or live too far away.<\/p>\n

Nostalgia can emphasize feelings across the spectrum of human emotions. If you are generally a happier person, your happiness might be emphasized during the holidays If you\u2019re generally more prone to feelings of sadness, those emotions might be exacerbated during the holidays.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a deeper look at some of the reasoning behind our many different moods around the holidays<\/strong>, and discuss what we can do to combat the \u2018holiday blues\u2019.<\/p>\n

Holiday Cheer: \u2018Tis the Season to be Jolly<\/h2>\n

The holiday season gives us a reason to celebrate, and celebration is a driving force behind what makes us happy. Some people have a happier mood during the holidays because they get to see family members who only visit at Christmas time, and love is in the air during the holidays. <\/strong>In addition to gathering with friends and family, many people partake in religious celebrations during the holiday season. We get to celebrate the end of another year and the clean slate beginning of a new one, and many of us get time away from work.<\/p>\n

The primary reason for \u2018holiday cheer\u2019, however, comes from reminiscing about happy times we have already experienced. According to an experiment<\/a> conducted by Danish researcher Brad Haddock in 2015, we do in fact have a \u2018Christmas spirit\u2019 network in our brains.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Haddock showed holiday-themed images to two groups of people. One group celebrated Christmas, while the other group did not. Several areas at the front of the brain, specifically those associated with spirituality and emotion, lit up in the group that practised Christmas traditions.<\/p>\n

Because so many social events and gatherings take place during the holidays, those with plenty of social invites will likely get a boost in their mood this time of year.<\/strong> On that same note, if someone has plenty of people to love and be loved by<\/strong>, they\u2019ll feel the warm fuzzies of love all around them during the holidays.<\/p>\n

The holidays are also a time to give thanks, and many studies<\/a> have indicated that time and time again, expressing gratitude is a major contributor to feelings of happiness, and can improve our mental health. The act of giving (a common gesture during the holidays) is also known to improve our mood.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"circlemagazine-circledna-winter-holidays\"<\/figure>\n

The Holiday Blues<\/h2>\n

Some people notice that their mood is lower during the holidays. The winter holidays can be a stressful time. The planning and organizing take an exorbitant amount of energy, and holiday shopping also takes that financial toll on our bank accounts<\/strong>. Additionally, some people\u2019s jobs are more <\/em>stressful during the holidays, depending on what line of work you\u2019re in. <\/strong>There is often mounting pressure to execute holiday campaigns and finish projects before the end of the year, making the holiday season an extra-busy time at work.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, that same nostalgia that makes some people happier can bring up feelings of sadness in others. Some people grieve more during the holidays if they\u2019re missing a family member or close friend <\/strong>who passed away. Some people simply don\u2019t have anyone to celebrate the holidays with.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re without a romantic partner, seeing all the romantic holiday dates going on around you can make you feel extra lonely.<\/strong> If you don\u2019t have a special someone to shop for, go on holiday dates with, or bring as your date to a Christmas party, you might find that the holidays negatively impact your mood.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the Year That\u2019s Almost Over Can Either Be Mood-Boosting or Bring Up Feelings of Sadness<\/h2>\n

As the year draws to a close during the winter holidays, it can be a time of painful reflection, especially if you have experienced trauma this year or failed to accomplish what you hoped to accomplish this year. Try switching your mindset from reflecting on this past year to envisioning a great year ahead full of potential.<\/p>\n

Some people feel happy when they reflect on the year that\u2019s about to end because they had a great year. This is just one more reason why some people feel more cheerful during the holidays.<\/p>\n

Are the Holidays Making You Feel Lonely, or is it Seasonal Affective Disorder?<\/h2>\n

Some people don\u2019t have family nearby enough to visit during the holidays, and others simply don\u2019t have family around at all. If you\u2019re spending the holidays alone or away from family, feelings of isolation, loneliness and sadness can be amplified greatly during this time of the year.<\/p>\n

Depending on where you live, the winter months can be an especially dark time, literally. Northern communities experience significantly less sunlight during the winter each year, and that can sometimes result in a form of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re blue during the winter holidays, you might have Seasonal Affective Disorder.<\/p>\n

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?<\/h2>\n

Seasonal Affective Disorder<\/a> (or SAD for short) is a type of clinical depression that follows a seasonal pattern and occurs every winter.<\/p>\n

SAD is linked to a loss of daylight that results in chemical changes in the brain that can bring on symptoms of depression including feelings of sadness, hopelessness, loneliness, lethargy and lack of motivation. SAD is most commonly diagnosed in adults in northern populations, and can even affect people who do not have a year-round history of depression.<\/p>\n

The sleep hormone melatonin has been linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder<\/a>. When it\u2019s darker outside, our brains produce more melatonin, which makes us feel sleepy and lethargic. People who struggle with SAD often over-produce this hormone, and while melatonin itself does not cause SAD, too much of it tends to exacerbate symptoms.<\/p>\n

Holiday-related stressors can trigger or worsen SAD, but it should be noted that Seasonal Affective Disorder is not the same as feeling sad around the holidays. It should be noted, however, that if you always feel extremely depressed during the winter holiday season, you might have Seasonal Affective Disorder, and not the \u2018holiday blues\u2019.<\/p>\n

For one thing, the \u2018holiday blues\u2019, as the name would suggest, tend to go away once the holidays are over. SAD, however, tends to stick around throughout the winter season, and the symptoms are much more severe, often debilitating.<\/p>\n

Your doctor or psychiatrist can help you figure out if you have the \u2018holiday blues\u2019 or SAD. If it\u2019s the \u2018holiday blues\u2019 or \u2018winter blues\u2019, below are some tips to cope this time of year:<\/p>\n

\"circlemagazine-circledna-winter-holidays\"<\/figure>\n

Tips to Combat the Holiday Blues<\/h2>\n