Holidays can cause depression to deepen

The weather of Northeastern Ohio can multiply feelings of depression.
By KANTELE FRANKO
VINDICATOR staff writer
YOUNGSTOWN -- After the death of her husband in April 2001, Youngstown resident Janet Brinkso wanted to return to life as usual for herself and two grown children, a thought especially taxing as the holiday season approached with floods of emotion.
"I was trying to keep it as normal as I could, although it was not normal," she said. "It needed to be festive. It needed to be full of light, not all doom and gloom."
Brinkso said waves of depression along with her grief spurred a desire to stay indoors and avoid interaction with family, friends and colleagues at the nursing care facility where she works, especially during the holidays.
Such withdrawal from social situations is one of the most common symptoms of depression, as are sleeping problems and a lack of energy, said Dr. Karipineniok Prasad, a Youngstown psychiatrist.
Like Brinkso, people suffer from different levels of depression for many reasons -- the death of a loved one, divorce, job loss and loneliness, for example -- and the weeks between Thanksgiving and the new year often increase the severity of symptoms. About 19 million Americans experience depression annually, and the emotional toll of Hurricane Katrina and military activities overseas might make this year especially stressful, according to the nonprofit National Mental Health Association.
Common ailment
"Generally speaking, for the average person, there's a lot of emotion associated with the holidays," said Dr. James Esperon, a local psychologist, who added that gloomy winter weather also contributes to feelings of depression. "It's pretty normal to look at the losses one has had in one's life and take them kind of in stock during the holidays."
But Brinkso and co-worker Dorthea Maylone, who lost her husband to cancer in April of this year, have also learned to count their blessings, which includes their respective children, who encouraged the two to remain social and active.
Recognizing that depression is normal in many cases and is magnified during the holidays often helps sufferers to get out, reconnect with family and keep their spirits in line with the cheerful outlook of the holidays -- the most effective ways to deal with depression, Esperon said.
Maylone, 57, said she will change the way she celebrates Christmas this year, the first without her husband, and visit relatives rather than hosting dinner herself. When she has family visit the following day, the meal will be simple -- a huge change from the elaborate gatherings of past years, she said.
Unlike Maylone, Brinkso is averse to breaking tradition. "I try not to have anything change," Brinsko said, adding that she decorates her home as usual and continues to host holiday get-togethers. "I will do anything to keep it from turning into anything morbid," she said.