SA in grip of post-holiday depression

TODAY there seems to be a diagnosis for everything, and believe it or not, they have even coined a term called ‘post-holiday depression’.  This term is used to describe what we all feel about going back to work after lazying around at home for days on end, on holiday – dread.

Mariska van Aswegen, the spokesperson for a generics firm specialising in anti-depressants – says more than a quarter of Americans suffer annually from post-holiday depression, which is bound to be the same for South Africans too.
“Almost everyone is subject to post-holiday depression, especially if it’s been a long and pleasurable holiday. Getting back on track after having to swap the beach and blue skies for the view of your laptop in a stuffy office is tough and it’s completely normal to experience dips in mood, motivation and energy for the first few weeks.
“However, for some, post-holiday depression can result in a feeling that you no longer want to keep doing what you’re doing and all you can think of is making a change to your life to better your situation. Often, if action isn’t taken or the situation doesn’t improve, these thoughts can consume you and lead to major distress and debilitating depression,” she says.

And they even have some tips on how you can survive this, here are the top 3:

• Don’t dwell on the negative, since stress and disappointment can get you down. Try to make a conscious effort to be positive.
• It’s important to unplug or disconnect every now and then. Your brain needs a break from the constant demands that phone calls, e-mails, SMSes, Tweets and other forms of social media place upon it.
• Feed your body and mind with a healthy diet and daily exercise. This might also help you achieve some of your goals for the new year, while setting you on a path of health and happiness. Exercise releases endorphins (the ‘feel-good’ hormones), which will instantly lift your mood.

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