Beating the Holiday Blues

But the stress of the holidays, less daylight, and the reflection of a rough year gone past can be enough to make many feel hopeless and alone.

"It is hard to be in a season of joy and celebration when you don’t feel joyful," said Robert Johnson who is the senior pastor of Hixson Presbyterian Church. "I think people struggle those ways at a time when a lot of other people are celebrating."

But mental health experts say there are simple things those struggling with the holiday blues can do to cheer up.

And just like the Christmas message, it’s by simply giving.

"Look outside yourself," said licensed therapist Janet Bales. "Look at ways you can give of yourself, even if it’s taking care of your neighbors dog. Enjoy that dog for five days and give them a great gift."

"Counseling is always a good thing, to have somebody be an objective voice of hope into your life," Johnson said. "For us when we do pastoral counseling it centers around, it is a season of hope. It’s about a God who keeps His promises, a God who wanted us to have peace in the midst of a troubled world."

Bales said it is a myth that more people commit suicide during the holidays.

The worst time is January and leading into spring that has people facing debt, unfulfilled resolutions, and marital problems.

But if you find yourself in a pit, she and Johnson urge you to seek help.

"Wait," Bales said. "Don’t make any move toward something you might be sorry for right now because you’re hurting."

"Have people in their lives who can speak objectively and speak of hope and help us to look beyond ourselves and beyond our experiences and things that cause us pain because the world is still filled with a lot of hope," Johnson said.