Please Keep Others In Mind This Holiday Season

Introduction

We are very close to Christmas now but let us not forget that it can be a tough time of year for many people.

Whether you are religious or not it seems to me that the most valuable part of the Christmas and Seasonal message is helping others. I'm not just talking about giving money to charity here.

Most of us probably do that already but there are other considerations and direct ways that we can help which don't involve money.

Stress and Mental Illness

The combination of stress, cold weather and dark days take a particular toll on those who are already suffering from mental illness.

I find myself that there is a strong seasonal component to my own depressive symptoms. I have found that use of a light-box helps me a little.

The most important thing I think is to be aware of those around us - our friends, families, neighbours.

You would be surprised how common it is for people to suffer in silence at this time of year and one of the problems with mental health issues like depression is the social taboo and shame that accompany them.

For many years I felt dirty, ashamed and a failure for suffering from depression.

I still find it hard to talk about. Outside of Steemit I have never actually mentioned it. I have only mentioned it on here because other people were brave enough to come out and were treated in an understanding and supporting way.

Anyway my point is that there may well be someone you know who is suffering this holiday season and you may be able to help. We are often so busy with our own lives that we get distracted and don't notice such things.

Whilst it is hard to miss the signs of someone having a manic episode or a psychotic illness depression in it's various guises can be much harder to spot.

It is important to keep in touch with those that you love and ensure that you continue to see and talk with them.

Common things to look out for

Has someone you know:

Become socially withdrawn and stopped leaving the house. For example do they avoid or wriggle out of social activities they would normally enjoy?
Have they stopped taking care of their appearance or personal care?
Do they have a noticeable loss of weight?
Have they started drinking or taking drugs more than they would usually?
Have you noticed any other personality changes - argumentativeness, irritability, expressions of nihilism, guilt etc?
Are they having difficulty with attention, concentration or memory? These can occur at any age with depression but can be even more severe signs and symptoms in the elderly (giving rise to something known as depressive pseudo-dementia).

This is not an exhaustive list and you can find a more complete one of the signs and symptoms of depression at the Depression Alliance website and various other websites.

If there is a problem then you can take further action which may be giving them extra support, help or even helping them to access appropriate medical care via their GP.

One Group To Particularly Look Out For Is The Elderly

I think there are several reason why the elderly are more likely to suffer and get overlooked when they are depressed.

For one thing they suffer from more chronic illnesses and chronic pain, both of which are factors for increasing the risk of depression.

They may also be more likely to be belong to generations that have difficulty acknowledging such issues for cultural reasons e.g. the "stiff upper lip" English mentality.

There may be greater socio-economic factors that have an effect in this situation too.

As people age they can become more socially isolated. Health restrictions may make this worse. They are also more likely to have lost their spouse or live alone (particularly in modern western society).

If you have an elderly neighbour or acquaintance please do keep an eye on them and make sure to visit them. It may seem insignificant but even the odd short visit for tea and to offer help can make a big difference to their general well being.

Imagine if it was your grandfather or grandmother - we all have a duty and responsibility for helping out those around us, at least that is my personal belief.

Conclusion

I don't want to get too preachy or to try to make you feel bad during the holidays so I will keep it short and sweet.

This is a time to be with family and friends and to enjoy and be thankful for what we have.

That does not mean that we should forget about the suffering of others or indeed helping out those amongst us who need it particularly if those people are our own friends, family or neighbours.