Coping
with the Holiday Humbug!
By Asante Dickson, M.D.
The period of time between
Thanksgiving and New Years is for many of us, the
high point of the year. It is a period marked by travel,
family gatherings, socializing with friends, exchanging
gifts, cooking and eating traditional favorites. For
a lucky few, the season also means spending time away
from the rigors of work. For many, however, this period
is rife with thoughts of family and friends not able
to be with us due to death, separation or divorce,
and the effects of a faltering economy. It is the
absence of family members that may help to shed light
on the now "non-traditional" family that
might exist. This absence, similar to the medically
proven phenomenon of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),
which is the body's response to decreased hours of
daylight and colder temperatures, serves to exacerbate
the feelings of emotional blunting, fatigue and even
insomnia during the holiday season.
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December
/ January, 2008 Issue
