Myths and Realities of the Holiday Blues

Speakers are Dr. Philip Muskin Professor of Psychiatry New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Univ. Medical Center

and Dr. Anna Dickerman -Fellow of Psychosomatic Medicine Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University

Holiday Blues is a real disorder and is caused by A number of factors, including unrealistic expectations, financial pressures, and too many commitments can cause stress at holiday time.The winter holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas for most people is a fun time of the year filled with parties, celebrations, and social gatherings with family and friends. But for many people, it is a time filled with sadness, self-reflection, loneliness, and anxiety. Headaches, excessive drinking, overeating, and insomnia are some of the possible consequences of poorly managed holiday stress.

Good sources of additional information can be found at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America at ADAA.org and at the American Psychiatric Association site: HealthyMinds TV 

To listen to any of our previous shows on topics such as eating disorders, substance abuse or child and adolescent mental health please go to blogtalkradio.com/columbiapsychiatrynyspi