10 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues

When store employees wish us “Merry Christmas!” we smile back and return the greeting. When acquaintances wave and shout “Happy Holidays!” across a parking lot, we wave back with good wishes. When we take part in our work holiday celebrations, we put on our happy face. Yet many of us don’t feel merry or happy during this time of celebration. Caregivers, especially, may be even less likely than others to be looking forward to all of the hoopla associated with the expected happy holidays. Some of us dread even thinking about it.

How do we beat this feeling of holiday blues so that we can get through the next few weeks?

1. We accept our attitude as valid. We may wish circumstances were different than they are, but if our reality is that we feel blue or even depressed rather than cheerful, well, that is how we feel. No need for guilt or explanations.
2. We are realistic in our expectations. When our parent or spouse has dementia, we frequently must make concessions in order to help him or her endure changes in the household without unmanageable anxiety. If we know that moving furniture to accommodate a Christmas tree will be upsetting or confusing, we may have to find a quieter way to celebrate. This could mean disappointing children or grandchildren, so hard choices go with the territory.
3. We don’t second-guess ourselves. If we decided against a Christmas tree to make it easier on our loved ones or ourselves, and some of our younger family members are disappointed, we don’t wallow in guilt. We made a decision to try something new and…

Continue reading for tips on staying afloat as a caregiver while still celebrating the holidays:

Perfect Christmas gifts!

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