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December 17, 2010 14:00  by Dr. Katy Kamkar
Is everyone looking forward to the holidays?

While the holiday season is usually a joyful time filled with gatherings and celebrations, not everyone may be looking forward to the holidays. In fact, holidays tend to be quite distressing for a lot of people and this is something that we need to be very sensitive about and mindful of so that we can provide appropriate care and support to one another.

Holidays may be very difficult if an upsetting or traumatic experience occurred during a past holiday season, which could bring upsetting memories and feelings of sadness and isolation.

Suffering from any type of illness, or the death of a loved one, or the inability to be with loved ones during the holiday season can provoke feelings of sadness, loneliness and unhappiness.

Feeling excessively anxious in crowded situations or places, in social settings, or speaking in public, could make it very difficult to attend social functions, holiday parties and at times going to a crowded store or mall to buy holiday gifts or other holiday items.

Fear of being on a plane or of flying can also add more stress when having to make travel arrangements for holidays and can lead to avoidance of traveling and subsequently missing certain engagements, which in turn, can exacerbate one’s distress. 

Feeling or becoming indecisive is a common symptom of various mental health problems in particular depression and anxiety disorders. This indecisiveness, in turn, could lead to feelings of being overwhelmed or frustration when faced with plenty of decisions that need to be made during holiday seasons such as for gifts, food, decoration, travelling etc.

Struggling with financial strains and debts can also increase stress during the holiday seasons due to associated expenses.

After overcoming an addiction and attempting to remain abstinent, one could become vulnerable to relapse during the holidays where alcohol tends to be present at most parties and others tend to overindulge on alcohol during those times. As well, when taking prescription medications, one needs to be mindful of not mixing alcohol with medications.

Suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can also make holiday seasons quite difficult. SAD is a type of depression that tends to be affected by the weather and time of the year. It usually occurs during the fall and winter and the mood and symptoms improve during the spring and summer. Typical symptoms include sad mood, increased sleep, increased appetite and weight gain. It is not uncommon to experience mood changes during times where there is decreased sunlight. The symptoms of SAD, however, tend to be severe enough to cause significant distress and interfere with the person’s social, occupational or academic functioning.

Some coping tips:

  • Take care of yourself. Maintain proper sleep hygiene and healthy diet; engage in regular pleasurable activities; take prescription medications as recommended and do not mix them with alcohol; limiting alcohol and caffeine consumption and sweets; and do regular physical exercise.
  • Prioritize your activities. If there are numerous social gatherings to attend and it becomes difficult to commit to all of them, prioritize the ones to attend. You can balance attending social gatherings and setting up some more quiet and relaxing time for yourself.
  • Avoid self-isolation. Some groups or religious organizations can provide you with great opportunity to meet people and not being alone. 
  • Participate in the holiday activities with family and friends as much as possible, such as home decor, cooking or wrapping gifts. 
  • Plan ahead. Set up a budget, prioritize activities and set up realistic goals.
  • Ask for help. It is best not to avoid any activity that is perceived to be important. Seeking social support, asking for help and focusing on your strengths can often help towards having completion of an activity rather than avoidance. If suffering from a substance use problem, holiday season can be difficult due to the social gatherings and the use of alcohol during those times. The following link “Low Risk Drinking Guidelines” by CAMH helps to reduce the harms related to alcohol us
  • Reach out. Helping those in need and giving to others can provide a great sense of satisfaction. For example, you might choose to help out at a food bank or other organizations or donate clothes or toys to those in need.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you very joyful, safe and happy holidays.
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Dr. Marla Shapiroclose [x]

Dr. Marla Shapiro, MDCM CCFP MHSc FRCP(C) FCFP, is a family physician and the Health and Medical Contributor for CTV's Canada AM as well as the editor of Parents Canada magazine, launched in March 2007.

She completed medical school at McGill University and trained at the University of Toronto for her Masters of Health Science in Community Health and Epidemiology. She holds a Fellowship in Family Medicine and is a NAMS credentialed menopause specialist. She is an associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto, where she recently won an award for Creative Professional Activity.

Dr. Shapiro won the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/Canadian Foundation for Women's Health Award for Excellence in Women's Health Journalism in 2006 for her documentary "Run Your Own Race." Her book, "Life in the Balance: My Journey with Breast Cancer" was released in the fall of 2006 and is a national bestseller.

For her lifelong commitment to family medicine, Shapiro was awarded the College of Family Physicians of Canada's Award of Excellence for 2008.

Angela Mulhollandclose [x]

Angela Mulholland is the editor of CTV News' semi-weekly health newsletter MedNews Express as well as the MedNews Express Blog.

She has been a journalist for CTV News since 2000, covering current affairs, health and entertainment for CTV.ca. Before CTV, she worked for CBC.ca for two years.

She has a degree from St. Jerome's University in Waterloo, ON, and studied journalism at Sheridan College in Oakville. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.

Monica Matysclose [x]

Monica Matys has been the health and wellness reporter for CTV News Toronto since 2001. Her feature health report, Lifetime, can be seen on CTV Toronto's News at Noon and at 6 p.m.

Her interest in the medical field began while working for a medical publishing company as the editor of a monthly magazine. One of Monica's favourite days on the job was the time she got to spend a day in Credit Valley Hospital's Emergency unit. "It really opened my eyes to the strains on our system," Monica explains.

Matys grew up in Scarborough, and has an honours degree in Journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.

Avis Favaroclose [x]

Avis Favaro has been with CTV News since 1992, producing stories for CTV National and CTV News Channel - Newsnet- as well as for CTV affiliate stations across the country.

Avis and producer Elizabeth St. Philip won the 2008 Media Awards for Excellence in Health Reporting handed out by the Canadian Nurses Association and the Canadian Medical association for a story on BPA found in food cans.

She has been nominated for an impressive 12 Geminis, winning once for a unique story on an experimental cancer treatment developed in Winnipeg in the 1940's.

Avis has a masters in journalism from UWO and a Bachelor's degree in History, and launched her journalism career as a writer/reporter at Global in 1982.

Dr. Yoni Freedhoffclose [x]

Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, MD CCFP Dip ABBM, is the founder and Medical Director of the Bariatric Medical Institute in Ottawa, a multi-disciplinary behavioural weight management program. Formally trained in family medicine, since 2004 his practice has been exclusively dedicated to the treatment of overweight and obesity.

Dr. Freedhoff has been referred to as a "nutritional watchdog" by the Canadian Medical Association Journal and a national "obesity expert" by the Canadian Obesity Network. His advocacy efforts for improved public policies regarding nutrition and obesity have found him testifying in front of the Canadian House of Commons, giving press conferences with the Ontario Medical Association, commenting regularly in the national media, and as a sought after lecturer.

Dr. Freedhoff explores issues pertinent to nutrition, obesity, public policy and advocacy in his daily blog Weighty Matters which is ranked among the world's top health blogs and was voted the top Canadian health blog of 2008 by the Canadian Blog Awards.

Dr. Grant Lumclose [x]

Dr. Lum is a sports medicine physician. He is the medical director and founder of Athletic Edge Sports Medicine, a multidisciplinary sports medicine organization offering services to the athletic and active public.

He is involved in the care of recreational, elite amateur and professional athletes, including players in the NHL, NFL and NBA. He is also involved in the performing arts medical community, taking care of musicians, vocalists, dancers and other performing artists.

Dr. Lum studied medicine at the University of Toronto, where he graduated in 1992. He completed a two-year residency in Family Medicine, and then specialty training in Sports Medicine.

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Dr. Lorne Brandesclose [x]

A senior oncologist at CancerCare Manitoba, Dr. Brandes received his MD from the University of Western Ontario in 1968.

Following post-graduate training at the Royal Marsden Hospital (London) and the University of Manitoba, he joined the faculty at U. Of M. in 1975, where he is a professor in the Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology.

He is also affiliated with the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology.

Dr. Katy Kamkar, Ph.D., C. Psych.close [x]

Dr. Katy Kamkar, Ph.D., C. Psych., is a Clinical Psychologist at the Work, Stress and Health Program/Psychological Trauma Program, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She also provides private practice at the CBT Associates of Toronto and is a lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.

She completed her Honours Degree in Psychology and Mathematics at York University and her Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Concordia University. She also completed a Clinical/Research Postdoctoral Fellowship at CAMH. She has received numerous academic awards and distinctions.

Kamkar provides consultation, comprehensive assessments, and evidence-based Cognitive-Behavioural treatment for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, including psychological distress related to stress and anxiety in the workplace. She also provides training, education, and supervision as well as various educational seminars and workshops. She adheres to a scientist-practitioner model of practice and integrates research and science with practice.

One of Dr. Kamkar's greatest interests has been to provide education to enhance public awareness of mental health/illness in general and of psychological distress in the workplace. She has written articles for comprehensive public resources and provided numerous public relations - media work.

Dr. Neil Rauclose [x]

Dr. Neil Rau grew up in Ottawa. He initially studied mathematics at the University of Waterloo before completing his MD at the University of Toronto in 1991. He completed training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at McGill University in 1996, before establishing a busy private practice in Oakville. He is currently the medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at Halton Healthcare Services.

In 2008, he completed his training in medical microbiology at the University of Toronto and he now serves as the medical microbiologist and chair of the patient safety steering committee at his hospital.

He is a lecturer at the University of Toronto. Since 2008, he has also been Infectious Diseases section head at the Association for Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada. He is also a frequent contributor to CTV News.

He lives in Toronto with his wife and two children, and is an avid amateur concert pianist.

Cara Rosenbloom, RD close [x]

Registered dietitian Cara Rosenbloom believes that nutrition can make a difference in overall health and wellness and enjoys translating complex nutrition information into usable and helpful advice.

Rosenbloom holds a literature degree from the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Food & Nutrition from Ryerson University. She completed a dietetic internship at North York General Hospital to become a registered dietitian.

Prior to becoming a nutrition columnist, Rosenbloom worked as a dietitian at The Hospital for Sick Children for three years. She is a member of Dietitians of Canada and the College of Dietitians of Ontario and the president of Words to Eat By, a nutrition communications company.