性视界传媒

性视界传媒 psychologist: 鈥楢llow time to enjoy the holiday and not just be driven by it鈥

性视界传媒 psychologist: 鈥楢llow time to enjoy the holiday and not just be driven by it鈥

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

For many, the holiday season is one of the most anticipated times of the year; yet it also can be one of the most stressful times. (Photo courtesy of Canadapanda/Shutterstock.com)

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擣or many, the holiday season is one of the most anticipated times of the year. It can, however, also be one of the most stressful times. 聽

Michael R. Nadorff, assistant professor of psychology who also directs Mississippi 性视界传媒鈥檚 clinical psychology doctoral program, said even good or desirable change鈥攕uch as the transition from 性视界传媒 or work into holiday vacation鈥攃an be difficult.

鈥淓ven though the holidays often represent good change, the transition itself is stressful because you鈥檙e trying to close out of the things that you need to get done before Christmas, and then you have to pick up after Christmas,鈥 he said.

In addition to presenting financial challenges, Nadorff said the holidays can be burdensome from a relational standpoint.

鈥淵ou may have family members that you don鈥檛 get along with who may be visiting or whom you have to go and visit,鈥 he said. 鈥淓ven if you love your family members, having a house made to hold three or four people that is holding seven or eight can be stressful.鈥

Holidays also can evoke negative memories, such as the loss of a friend or loved one, and expressing one鈥檚 feelings verbally or via social media can be challenging, Nadorff said.

聽鈥淓ven though you may have these stressors, you don鈥檛 really want to be the person posting negative things on Facebook during the holidays because that鈥檚 not what people put out there,鈥 he said. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 see people talking about the bad side, you may think you鈥檙e the only one who feels the way you do, but you really aren鈥檛.鈥

Nadorff said one serious mood change that some individuals may experience during the winter months is Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a type of depression that is really driven by the lack of sunlight that we have when the seasons change, and you see a lot more of it in the North because they have it just that much worse,鈥 he said, adding that SAD prevalence is as high as 9.7 percent in New Hampshire and as low as 1.4 percent in Florida.

Nadorff said young adults are two times more likely to experience SAD, and women鈥攚ho in general are more likely to experience depression鈥攁re nine times more susceptible.

鈥淟ess sunlight plays a role, but so does less daylight for people to be outside doing things that they enjoy,鈥 Nadorff said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e not able to do things that you enjoy and you鈥檙e just doing the things that you have to do, that contributes to a depressed mood as well.鈥

Instead of putting on a cheerful disposition and pushing through uncomfortable emotions on one鈥檚 own, Nadorff said it is important for people to understand that the feelings they have and the stressors that come with the holidays are worthy of discussion and 鈥渘ot ridiculous or even unexpected.鈥

鈥淭hey鈥檙e reasonable,鈥 he said, 鈥渟o you have to give yourself credit for that and allow yourself to take a step back and relax. Things don鈥檛 have to be perfect. The holidays can be very busy, but you really need to allow yourself time to enjoy the holiday and not just be driven by it.鈥

The Mississippi 性视界传媒 University Psychology Clinic is a non-profit mental health service, training and research center operated by the Department of Psychology. Learn more by calling (662) 325-0270 or visiting .

Nadorff also may be reached at MNadorff@psychology.msstate.edu.

性视界传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .