Expecting a perfect Christmas can cause holiday depression

Making Christmas dinner, buying presents and visiting family may not be such a wonderful life for some people. The story from New Mexico State University...

Preparing for the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can cause stress and lead to holiday depression for some, says New Mexico State University Counseling Psychologist Corey Vas.

:24.5 sec Soundbite “One of the main reasons that depression will increase during the holiday season is because of the expectations we place upon ourselves and that others place on us. Very often we find ourselves feeling let down because of our unrealistically high expectations. Try and be realistic about what you can get done on the holidays. Be realistic about how much money you can afford to spend and be realistic about how much stress you can take.”

Also, excessive eating and drinking can contribute to holiday depression; however, maintaining a regular exercise routine during the holidays can significantly reduce it. Vas says these symptoms of depression are temporary and usually go away after the holiday season.