Addressing and Overcoming the Holiday Blues: Holidays and other occasions throughout the year can bring about stress, especially the months of October to December. This webinar will discuss triggers, both obvious and obscure as well as healthy coping mechanisms to combat depressive feelings.

1. Welcome to
Families Helping Families
of Jefferson monthly live webinars
This free webinar are made possible by the
Louisiana Parent Training & Information
Center, a project of Families Helping
Families of Jefferson, funded by the U.S.
Department of Education
Addressing and Overcoming the Holiday Blues
Guest Presenter: Nicole McGee, Executive Director of NAMI Louisiana
Your Host: Laura S. Nata

2. • In-Person
trainings
• FHF Jefferson
Lending Library

3. Your invited to join us for some
online December Webinars
 Ask Karen: On MLTSS, Developmental Disability Services in Louisiana
 Parental Rights, What does that mean?
 Working it Out: Dispute Resolution under IDEA
 Emergency Planning for Special Needs in Active Shooter Events
 Next Steps: IFSP to IEP
 Bayou Health: Who's In? Who's Out? and Who's Who?
 IEP Goals 101: A Guide for Monitoring Student Learning
 Basic Rights in Special Education
 ESL y Estudiantes Inmigrantes - Inscripción, Acceso al Idioma, y Clase
Register @ www.fhfjefferson.org

4. Our State Partners…

5. HOLIDAY BLUES
Helpful Tips & Advice

6. Get The News to Cure Your Holiday
Blues
• The holiday season often brings unwelcomed
guests – stress and depression. And it’s no
wonder. The holidays present a flurrying array
of demands. --- parties, shopping, baking,
cleaning and entertaining, to name just a few.
• But with some practical and helpful tips, you
can minimize the stress that accompanies the
holidays. You may even enjoy the holidays
more than you thought you would.

7. What are Holiday Blues?
• The Holiday Blues are temporary feelings
of anxiety or depression during the holidays
that can be associated with extra stress,
unrealistic expectations, or even memories
that accompany the season.
• One may feel fatigued, tense, frustrated,
lonely, sad or isolated.
• The difference between the Holiday Blues
and clinical anxiety and depression is that
the feelings are temporary. Though
temporary they still should be addressed to
avoid long term mental health conditions

8. Just so you know…
A variety of factors can lead to the Holiday Blues, but it is
also important to know when symptoms are a sign of
major depression or anxiety. Although the holidays are a
time of joy for many, they can trigger symptoms of anxiety
and depression to different degrees sometimes requiring
medical attention. a recent NAMI survey showed that 64%
of people with a diagnosed mental illness report that the
holidays make their symptoms worse.

9. Be Realistic
• The holidays don’t, have to be perfect or
just like last year. As families change and
grow, traditions and rituals change as
well. Choose a few to hold on to and be
open to creating new ones. For example if
adult children can’t come to your house,
find new ways to celebrate together, such
as sharing pictures, emails, or videos.

10. Create Your Own Traditions
• Create time for yourself to do things you
love. Keep your physical and mental
wellness in tact by aerobics exercise,
yoga, massage, spiritual practices, taking
long fast walks or any activity that calms
you down and gives you a better
perspective on what is important in your
life.

11. Help Someone Else
• It’s hard to feel down while you are busy
helping someone else. Volunteer at a
soup kitchen, wrap gifts for unfortunate
kids, or spend time with an elderly relative
or friend. Instead of feeling glum you’ll find
yourself experiencing what the holidays
are really about “Giving to others”.

12. Be Reasonable
• Set attainable and reachable tasks
throughout this holiday season. Create an
atmosphere that is stress free. Do not
overwhelm yourself with numerous tasks.
Take it one step at a time.

13. Be Genuine
• Give from your heart. Let the good cheer
of the holiday season bring warmth and
sincerity to others. Give out of the
kindness of your heart, not just to be
giving or getting.

14. Create a Budget
• Before you go gift and food shopping,
decide how much money you can afford to
spend. Then stick to your budget. Don’t try
to buy happiness with an arm full of gifts.
Also, learn to say “No” sometimes.

15. Plan Ahead
• Set specific days for shopping, baking,
visiting friends and other activities. Plan
your menus and make your shopping list.
That will prevent last-minute scrambling to
buy forgotten items. And make sure you
lend a helping hand for party prep and
clean up.

16. Take a Breather
• Make some time for yourself. Spending
just 30 minutes alone without distractions,
may refresh you enough to handle
everything you need to do. Clear your
mind, slow your breathing and restore
your inner calm. Seek professional help if
you need it.

17. How do you beat the Holiday Blues?
• “ I limit my TV to avoid Christmas
commercials and stay out of the mall. I
just attempt to treat the days between
Nov. 1 and Jan. 1 as regular days and
try not to be swept up into the vortex of
sadness.”
• “I always have to put up Christmas
lights--the tackier the better! It's
important to carry on traditions or start
new ones for my children. The
sadness that having a broken family
can bring around the holidays should
not affect my children's memories of
Christmas.”
• “Your response here!”

18. Remember!
The Holiday Blues are short-term,
so be patient and take things week
by week and day by day

19. From NAMI Louisiana

20. Contact
NAMI Louisiana
307 France Street Suite A Baton Rouge, LA, 70816
Nicole McGee
Executive Director
nmcgee@namilouisiana.org
www.namilouisiana.org