new year blues

We often hear that the holidays can be particularly depressing for many people who find themselves feeling lonely. The onslaught of the holiday anxiety and the fast paced speed in which many of us try to get "our shopping" done doesn't help. But I was recently reading that this depression doesn't just go away after Christmas. In fact, some individuals suffer from depression even worse after the new year has begun.

Because a new year is often seen as a time of self-reflection, it can also be a time of "built-up expectations, disappointments from the previous year, coupled with stress and fatigue," as one article that I recently read stated. So, keep an eye out for your loved ones, and the not often loved ones during this time of the year. It can't hurt to send someone some extra attention now and then, and show you care for them. The elderly living alone seem to be especially vulnerable during this time of year. Go call your grandma.