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How to Beat Holiday Depression

How to Beat Holiday Depression

 

It's supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but many people spend December trying to beat holiday depression instead. Recognize the symptoms of the holiday blues. If you feel anxious, depressed and irritable, or suffer from headaches and upset stomach from November through New Year's, you might have holiday depression.

Many factors contribute to the blues between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

Financial hardship is a problem any time of year, but it's magnified at Christmas. If you don't have enough money for presents, decorations and social outings, it can make you feel like an outcast. If you're estranged from your family or unable to travel to family or friends, the loneliness and anxiety may be overwhelming. Even if you have many relatives to visit, the stress of deciding who to visit, how long to stay and what gifts to buy may fuel depression. People over 65 who live alone may deal with mobility and health issues in addition to loneliness, which makes them especially vulnerable during the holidays. And stress from extra shopping, cooking and driving can wear you out faster, leaving you short-tempered and an easier target for depression.

If you're feeling blue around the holidays, there are ways you can cope and feel happier despite your circumstances.

Plan Ahead to Beat Holiday Depression

Planning ahead is one of the best ways to beat the holiday blues. Make a list of what needs to be done for the holidays. Minimize fear of the unknown by planning shopping trips, office parties and family meals in as much detail as possible. It's the fear of what might happen that keeps us depressed. Planning events won't guarantee everything will run smoothly, but it will let you exert some control over the festivities and put your mind at ease. Here are some ways to take control of your holiday schedule:

Don't leave shopping til the last minute. Take advantage of online sales and consolidate retail shopping trips to save time, gas and aggravation. Avoid the last-minute lines at the supermarket by buying food before the holiday and stocking up your kitchen.

If you're under deadlines at work because you have to wrap things up before Christmas vacation, don't be afraid to ask for help. Communicate clearly with supervisors and co-workers, and prioritize your projects. You may be able to delay certain work til the new year.  Resist the temptation to eat too many holiday goodies offered by co-workers, and limit your time around pesky or unpleasant officemates at the Christmas party.

Focus on what's good about a party or a family outing. You may dread seeing your snobby aunt, but love baking pies with Grandma. Concentrate on the good things about the event instead of thinking about the bad.

Don't compare this Christmas to previous ones. Times change, and you can't expect this year's celebration to be as happy as your childhood holidays – or as exasperating as the one you spent with an irritating relative. Enjoy this year's festivities as is.

Exercise to Beat Holiday Depression

It's no secret that regular exercise can beat holiday depression. All the eating, drinking and travel time spent in a car, plane or airport saps your energy and makes you sluggish.

Disruptions in your schedule may make it hard to go to the gym, so exercise at home when you can, even if it's only for a few minutes. Walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator when shopping or traveling. Stretch or do a few yoga poses while the main dish is in the oven. Every little bit adds up - exercise still peps you up even if you don't work out in one big chunk of time.

If you're lucky enough to live in a mild climate, you may still be able to bike or walk to parties or other events. If you live in a colder climate, try ice skating at the local rink. It's a great way to socialize or spend quality time with the family while getting in shape. If your health club is near shopping or an event you're attending, take your workout clothes with you and exercise for half an hour. It will activate your endorphins and you'll be in a cheerier mood to greet friends and family. And you'll get a head start on battling the holiday bulge from all the extra treats.

Beat Holiday Depression by Volunteering

The holiday spirit is about giving to those less fortunate and enjoying the company of other people. Take your mind off your problems (or perceived problems) by volunteering at a soup kitchen or wrapping presents for disadvantaged kids. Cook dinner for an elderly neighbor or give toys to Toys for Tots. Helping others has been shown to improve mood and may even help you live longer. Volunteering also enables you to meet new people and learn new skills in a friendly environment.

Limit the Amount of Alcohol You Drink

Drinking alcohol at a holiday party may loosen you up and make you feel uninhibited and happy for a few hours, but you'll pay the price the next day with more than a hangover.

Alcohol flows freely at holiday parties, and too much of it can make you feel more depressed once the initial giddiness passes. Limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages and always remember to assign a designated driver or take a cab or Uber when you do drink.     

Regardless of your holiday plans, taking a wheatgrass supplement will give you more energy and keep you healthy during the busy holiday season. It's easy to eat too much of the wrong foods, feel drained from traveling or attending too many functions, and just generally feel overwhelmed during the holidays. Remember to take a wheatgrass pill or wheatgrass energy supplement at least once a day to beat holiday depression. Wheatgrass is mostly chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants its green color. Chlorophyll has hundreds of nutrients necessary for optimal body function, energy and a better mood.  It offers the following vitamins, minerals and amino acids to enhance vitality and beat the holiday blues:

B-Complex Vitamins- (Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12)

All B-complex vitamins convert food into energy, giving you more enthusiasm to get through all your holiday chores. Wheatgrass contains B-complex vitamins, and wheatgrass pills may have added B-complex vitamins for better mood and energy. A study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that 27% of women over the age of 65 with depression had a Vitamin B12 deficiency. This is only one of many studies indicating the importance of Vitamin B12. Along with folate (Vitamin B9) and Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), Vitamin B12 helps produce serotonin and other “feel-good” neurotransmitters that regulate mood and keep you focused. Getting enough Vitamin B-12 (and other B-complex vitamins) is important year round, but if experience a lot of stress at the end of the year, Vitamin B12 is vital to beat holiday depression. Vitamin B12 is found primarily in animal products, including fish, poultry, red meat, eggs and milk.

Vitamin E

People with depression have been shown to have lower levels of Vitamin E and alpha-tocopherol in their bloodstream. Vitamin E helps fight free radicals that destroy cells and lead to inflammation and depression. Wheatgrass contains Vitamin E, which can also be found in sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, mangos, swordfish and red pepper.

Magnesium

We need magnesium to break down fat and glucose, produce cells and help our muscles function efficiently. It is the best relaxation mineral, and guards against insomnia, anxiety and depression. Chlorophyll is 70% magnesium, so taking a wheatgrass pill will satisfy your daily requirements for magnesium and help you beat holiday depression. You can find magnesium in dark chocolate, fish, bananas, yogurt and whole grains.

If you're in charge of cooking or menu planning for holiday meals, include foods with magnesium, B-complex vitamins and Vitamin E in your meals.

Seasonal Effective Disorder (SAD) and Holiday Depression

Some people are more sensitive to fewer hours of sunlight during the winter months, and this contributes to holiday depression. SAD (seasonal affective disorder) occurs when there's less sunlight to supply Vitamin D and serotonin, two mood-regulating elements. This causes some people to feel sadder during the holidays than at other times of year. To beat holiday depression related to SAD, spend more time outside when it is sunny, and take a Vitamin D supplement. Light boxes, or phototherapy boxes, provide artificial but healthy light that imitates sunshine. They vary in size, shape and intensity, and you can buy them online or at a retail store.

Zeal O2, HappyGirl and REVV Help You Beat Holiday Depression Naturally

The holidays interfere with your daily schedule in good ways and bad ways. You get to socialize more with friends and family, travel, and eat lots of delicious food.  On the negative side, all that traveling tires you out, and you may spend the first few months of the New Year losing the weight you gained from all that food. 

If you exercise a few times a week, walk instead of drive when possible and prepare for holiday events, you'll feel better and enjoy the holidays more. The extra calories, fat and sugar in holiday foods won't be a problem if you pace yourself and take supplements to ensure you get all the nutrients you need. You can sample holiday snacks, but don't feel compelled to take a second or third helping because others are doing it. Moderation is the key with holiday foods.  

Wheatgrass Love offers three types of wheatgrass supplements to provide B-complex vitamins, Vitamins A,C,E, and K, amino acids, and hundreds of enzymes to help you stay happy and calm during the Christmas rush. Wheatgrass rids your body of toxins and oxygenates your blood to benefit all the cells in your body, promoting overall well-being.

Get a quick energy boost and feel happier with REVV chocolate mint wafers. These tasty wafers give you the power of wheatgrass and all its mood-elevating nutrients anytime. Bring a roll of REVV wafers with you to work, school, errands or on a shopping trip. The magnesium, B-vitamins, Vitamin E and amino acids in wheatgrass will increase you vitality and help you concentrate to get through the hectic holiday season without losing steam. REVV wafers also contain periwinkle herb, which has been proven to reduce memory loss and increase mental function in NFL players who've suffered head injuries. Order REVV

HappyGirl Mood Enhancing Supplement provides all the nutrients in wheatgrass plus a proprietary blend of herbs, including green tea extract, cayenne pepper, ginger, ginseng and damiana. This wheatgrass and herb combination treats mild to moderate, non-clinical depression, with enzymes, amino acids, carotenoids, bioflavonoids and hundreds of nutrients to give you the endurance to make it through the holidays and enjoy it. We call it Happy Girl, but men and seniors can use it, too! Order Happy Girl.

Zeal O2 Natural Weight Loss Supplement and Energy Booster curbs your appetite so you eat less during the holidays. Wheatgrass gives you all the energy you need and protects you against inflammation. B-complex vitamins guard against mood swings, keeping you calm and focused. Like Happy Girl, Zeal O2 features a proprietary blend of herbs to fight depression and skyrocket your energy. Green tea extract and Citrus aurantium help you burn fat and boost your metabolism. Cayenne pepper releases endorphins  in your brain to elevate your mood, and gotu kola, a relaxant herb, curbs the effects of everyday stress to keep your calmer. Other herbs in Zeal O2 are gingko biloba, ginger, fo-ti and white willow bark. Zeal O2 can help you control your weight during the holidays and stabilize your mood at the same time. Order Zeal O2. 

If you have any questions about wheatgrass or Wheatgrass Love products, call us at 877-303-1717. Wheatgrass helps fight depression and keep you healthy during the holidays or any time of year

When you're sad or anxious, the holidays seem like an obstacle course, but planning ahead and taking Zeal O2, Happy Girl or REVV can help you beat holiday depression.