Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’ve been talking about holiday hazards and how to prevent them. Not all hazards are physical. For some people, the holiday season can be difficult emotionally, in spite of — and possibly because of — all the warmth, cheer, and holiday frenzy surrounding them. Reality may be a sad contrast to images in movies, TV specials and holiday commercials, especially for people who are alone or who have recently lost a loved one.
Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, director of the Mood Disorders Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the holiday blues, unlike clinical depression, are transient and can be prevented. The best thing to do to shake the blues is to get involved in your community or in charitable activities. Helping others will help lift your mood. You should also take care of yourself — get plenty of sleep and exercise, eat properly and don’t overdo it with alcohol.
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December 2006
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