The holidays can be stressful. Shopping, social events, debt, and other pressures can lead to anxiety. Missing loved ones and stewing about past events can also contribute. This change from your everyday routine can cause you to neglect good nutrition. And you are more likely to skip exercise. Together, these factors can lead to holiday blues.
Many people expect that ongoing or chronic family conflicts will magically resolve on a holiday, only to feel devastated when it's business-as-usual, or those conflicts are exaggerated because of all the other stressors of the holidays,
Dr. Taylor said.
Try not to make the holiday the time to work all these out. Keep it simple, limit the time with those who create the most challenges, or make a decision to spend holidays in another way.
