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Media Release

December 4 2003

Be kind and survive the festive season

Be kind to your body, your wallet, your family and friends. That's the message from UniSA's senior lecturer in psychology and counselling, Dr Nadine Pelling, if you want to thrive in the festive season.

"Eating too much sugar, drinking excessive alcohol and abandoning normal exercise routines are three sure ways to invite the Christmas blues," says Dr Pelling.

"While I don't advise total abstinence for social drinkers I do believe many people, especially those prone to stress and depression, would have a better time during the festive season if they took a reality check in terms of their health and emotional well being.

"Eat and drink moderately, sleep well, continue to exercise and remember time to relax," advises Dr Pelling.

"Overindulgence will have a price - feeling tired, stressed, and possibly depressed, things we do not want usually let alone at Christmas."

According to Dr Pelling eating more sugar may provide a temporary energy boost, but ultimately may send you plummeting into depression. Similarly alcohol is a depressant and the more people drink the harder it is to keep a balanced view of reality and mood.

"And don't spend more than you can afford, not only because it places the focuses on gifts rather than personal relationships, but because overspending will create a stress that will last for months after the holidays are over.

"In some large families everyone contributes to one gift for each person or put spending limits on presents to limit the financial burden of the holidays.

"People's most treasured memories are often about the time they spent with family and friends, the activities, the rituals and what they did together," Dr Pelling says.

Dr Pelling says that gifts tend to be forgotten and outgrown.

"If we focus on the connections we can nurture and make during the holidays as well as basic healthy coping skills, and not on the consumerism and minutia of the season, we are bound to be less stressed and strengthen our ability to cope well throughout the year."

The recently bereaved, separated or divorced, or those on their own, suffer most at Christmas time. But children in blended families can also feel alienated because the rituals they enjoy are changed in the new environment.

She says traditions are very important to children, so in blended families check with children about their expectations before organising Christmas celebrations and incorporate a mix of favourite family rituals.

"Christmas holidays can be stressful and although it is better to plan ahead and buy gifts at sales during the year most people don't and face the stress of last minute shopping and arrangements. That's part of the human condition."

Nevertheless, Dr Pelling says we all have a choice in how we handle the holidays.

"We can all take a step back when we start feeling stressed or depressed and decide to be more realistic and supportive of ourselves.

"One can make a choice about what is and is not important in the festive season, versus trying to live up to an impossible false image of what the holidays are supposed to be."

Dr Pelling suggests one start the holidays by deciding how you want to be and then plan how much work to do, how much money to spend, how you wish to make the holidays special for yourself and other, and basically how much stress or pressure you wish to place upon yourself.

Further information: Dr Nadine Pelling, ph: 0402 59 85 80

 

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