Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Above and Beyond the 5 Senses

Home
About

Home
New Visions
Post-Holiday Depression: A Spiritual Message From Self? (Part 1 of 3)

Post-Holiday Depression: A Spiritual Message From Self? (Part 1 of 3)

Last updated on: April 5, 2016 at 5:21 pm by kathleenokeefe

Post-Holiday Depression: A Spiritual Message From Self? (Part 1 of 3) 2016-04-03T19:35:15-06:00 kathleenokeefe

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Affirmation: “I will temporarily offer my shoulder but not my back.”

Finally! The hectic holidays are over. After indulging in some of the best parties of the year, why are you feeling so low and what can you do to get rid of the blues?

Don’t despair. You are not alone. Mild post–holiday depression and even cold seasonal depression can follow you into the heat of summer. But life is often more about perception than fact. And if you choose to view it as such, depression can become an asset in your life in the form of life-saving warning signs and inner spiritual guidance. Turn the-blues into motivation for change rather than a hindrance for life.

You’ve been focused on meeting the holiday needs of family and friends. It may be time to tune into yourself. Speaking as a three-time breast cancer survivor, my severe bouts of depression taught me to be aware of my choices; take pills to alleviate and ignore it, or face it and figure out what my body, psyche and inner-guidance were telling me about my life. Occasionally, the choice was as simple and complicated as life and death.

According to research and studies at the Mayo Clinic, the end of a holiday is often the beginning of depression. Just as we can physically crash after extensive sugar, we can feel down after a long party. The pendulum of life had swung far over into the extreme energy mode of multiple merry-making events like Halloween, followed by Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and finally Easter. The turkey has been carved, the gifts put away and all the eggs found. Now, as the pendulum swings back into normal it can feel like a let-down rather than a relief.

This particular type of depression is also referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder, aka SAD.

According to Medicine Net the symptoms are similar to Post Vacation Depression. It is normal to have a few of the symptoms listed below. The challenge is when you suffer from many of them at the same time. It may be a sign that you are SAD.

Check the 9 symptoms below to see how SAD you may be. Do you have:

unexplained
cryin
mood swings
irritability
trouble concentrating
unexplained
no
insomnia,
overeating and weight gain especially from

Now you know the symptoms. The causes of post-holiday depression may be:

Unmet expectations
Unrealistic New Year resolutions
A return to loneliness after
Guilt about holiday overindulgence
Seasonal depression pattern

Depression is often a symptom, not an illness. Alleviating a symptom does not cure the disorder and this one is not something to ignore.

Research has consistently shown a strong link between suicide and depression. According to a Center for Disease Control study concerning suicide facts and Suicide Awareness Vices of Education, suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-olds. An estimated quarter million people each year become suicide survivors.

Our emotional discomfort can be so great we would rather considered death by our own hand as a means of escape rather than staying and facing our “ghosts.”

However, deciding to see what lessons can be learned from depression is often the first step toward a cure.

It is like pulling the knife from your heart and using it to cut through life’s Bull-sh#t.

As a three-time cancer survivor, depression was a frequent companion. Looking back on those trying times now allows me to answer difficult questions previously avoided such as,

“Why was I really depressed?”
“How can depression serve me and what does that teach me?”

Our mind is incredibly powerful and will create or manifest situations to serve and save us.

My conclusion is depression and illness can be a way of forcing us to slow down and “look within” at memories (old baggage), events (past and present cycles), people (relationships), and life-style (habits) are not to our benefit. Without depression, it may be easier to continue accepting whatever life is throwing our way—settling for less than what is needed and/or deserved.

Watch for part 2 of this article for solutions and tips on how to overcome post-holiday depression.

ABOUT THE HOST/AUTHOR: Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos TV/Radio Host/Producer of Wicked Housewives On Cape Cod ™ believes your DREAMS can diagnose your life. She’s Host of the Kat Kanavos Show on New Earth International, Patheos blogger, Author/Lecturer of Award winning, International bestseller, Surviving Cancerland: Intuitive Aspects of Healing: which promotes patient advocacy & connecting with Inner-guidance through Dreams, Prayers & Meditations. Learn more @ www.AccessYourInnerGuide.com

(All pictures and quotes were used with permission from the guest or are owned by the author.)

Uncategorized

#AccessYourInnerGuide

#KatheenO'Keefe-Kanavos

Above & Beyond the 5 Senses Patheos Blog

Dream Expert Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos

relationships

Spirituality

Previous Post

April 4, 2016

Your Wildest Dreams Revealed Series #8: Recurrent Dreams/Nightmares

Next Post

April 6, 2016 “You’re Not Crazy…You’re Awakening.” Oh, Thank Goodness!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Dreams Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2023 November 2022 September 2022 August 2022 February 2022 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 January 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 November 2017 October 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz