Holiday blues are real and can affect many people
By Guest Columnist Josh Correro
Holiday blues affect many people across the United States. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), over sixty percent of people say they experience feeling down during the holidays. This can be due to loss of family members, loss of a job or other incidents. Feelings of loneliness, sadness, frustration and tension are not uncommon. There is a difference between clinical anxiety and depression and holiday blues.
Holiday blues are temporary, while clinical depression and anxiety are longer-term problems. That said, short-term holiday blues should be taken seriously, as they can extend to longer-term states of depression and anxiety.
If the blues continue after the holiday season, you may be experiencing a more serious form of depression, and talk therapy may be an option for you. Community Counseling Center has six trained, master’s level counselors who are here to help alleviate those symptoms of sadness. The Center is governed by an outstanding volunteer Board of Directors, who are passionate about helping Community Counseling Center and its staff to provide vital mental health services to individuals throughout the AR/LA/MS Delta. Various therapeutic methods, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are used to help change and replace negative thoughts and behaviors with positive ones, resulting in more positive emotions.
In general, when facing a period of the blues, try setting boundaries and saying “no” to events you do not want to attend and taking time for yourself – but be careful to not totally isolate yourself! Stay in touch with caring, supportive friends and family to battle the blues.
It may be tempting to over-indulge in food, drink or other activities, but enjoy these activities in moderation. Make a “S.M.A.R.T.” list of things you want to do: are the tasks Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely? Go for it! Make time for self-care: listen to music, take a leisurely bath, read a good book, watch a favorite tv show or movie, enjoy a newfound hobby and get plenty of rest!
Community Counseling Center is a non-profit counseling organization in operation since 1986. The Center is committed to providing non-discriminatory excellent care to clients regardless of income, socio-economic status, race, gender, ethnic or religious background.
To schedule a confidential appointment with a counselor, call 662-332-1819. The Center has two locations: 250 South Shelby Street in Greenville and 103 South Court Street in Cleveland. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., closed from noon to 1 p.m. daily for lunch. The Center is closed on Fridays.
The Center is a great organization to donate year-end donations, as they operate solely on individual donations and grants.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Josh Correro serves as a counselor and office administrator for the Community Counseling Center. He has also been a weather forecaster since 2012.
