Hypnosis and the Holiday Blues

Over my 20+ years of experience in the Social Work Field, I have noticed that the holidays, however joyous they may be, can also bring moments of sadness. The sadness, the blues or whatever you call it, can originate from a variety of causes. One of the most marked causes that I have observed is that the holidays are presented as to be somewhat “magical”, a period of peace, community connection with neighbours and family, excitement, mystery, reflection, and so much more.

Unfortunately, this is simply not how many people experience the holidays.

There are several sources of holiday tension, including: the stress of organizing for families, shopping, financial stress, ongoing tensions within families, missing loved ones, reflecting on past conflicts, the perception that others are enjoying life more fully, guilt about things done or left undone over the past years, feelings of isolation, feelings of failure for breaking diets, and the list goes on. The reality is that each and every one of us feels one or more of these stressors to some degree throughout the year, but this is accentuated over the holidays. The vision of the “ideal holidays” and the realities of life can be experienced as a stark contrast, highlighting our unmet needs.

At some point the unmet needs become predominate enough that it may impede our ability to fully enjoy our lives, and the holidays. To complicate things, we may not always be sure of what those needs are. For example, we might be aware that something or someone bothers us, but we can’t put our finger on the reason why

Hypnosis can help people discover and work through the unmet needs.

In fact, hypnosis is an excellent tool to help with all of the sources of tension quoted above, including financial planning, resolving guilt and so on. Hypnosis for relaxation can also provide you a chance to escape from the hustle and bustle of the holiday rush. That being said, with or without the use of hypnosis, positive self-care, however you find it, is extremely important, especially if you are experiencing the holiday blues.

Too many people say that they don’t have time to care for themselves. They forget that if they do not take time to care for themselves, they will not be able to fully care for others

It is strongly encouraged that everyone takes time to care for themselves over the holidays.

It is important to spend a few moments to a make a list of things you can do to take care of your financial, physical and social health. This list may provide you with insights into what you can do to help take care of yourself. For some, a wonderful massage can provide a break away from the reality. Your diet can also impact your mood, so paying attention to what you eat can help maintain positive mental health. Also, exercise is a source of mood-lifting endorphins. Volunteering is a positive way of giving back to while building a sense of community and making social connections. Even making a new tradition for yourself and/or your family can be a rewarding way to express your creative side! If you know that something will be a source of stress, you can also plan ahead for healthy ways to cope and prepare a scenario which will have positive results for you this is known to reduce stress

In conclusion, hypnosis can help a person cope with the holiday blues. It is also important to plan for self-care, even if you don’t experience the “holiday blues”.

The best gift you can give to yourself is caring for yourself.

Do not forget that the Distress Centre of Ottawa (613-238-3311613-238-3311) and Tel-aide Outaouais (819-775-3223819-775-3223/1-800-567-96991-800-567-9699) offer help if you need someone to speak with 365 days a year.

Many employers also offer Employee Assistance Programs to offer support to their staff. There are also several apps available for self-care including “calm”, which can help you squeeze-in a few minutes of mindfulness, relaxation and meditation.

I would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday session and truly hope that they are filled with joy, laughter and love. Also wishing you a hypnotic New Year!

Hypnosis and the Christmas blues