The 'grinch' blues

"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch!" - Dr. Seuss

"Bah, humbug!" - Ebenezer Scrooge

If you find yourself relating to the Grinch or Scrooge this season, you're not alone. Many people have difficulty getting into the holiday spirit from time to time.

The stress and pressure of everyday life can drain the holiday spirit right out of you. Many people are just too tired to enjoy the holidays. If this sounds all too familiar this year, the following suggestions may be useful:

Relax: Don't force yourself to feel jolly.

Allow yourself to ease into the holiday mood.

Make a "gratitude list" - all the things you have to be grateful for this year.

Find some small things to celebrate.

Give yourself a gift - perhaps something you've always wanted.

Loneliness blues

"I'll have a blue Christmas without you." - Elvis Presley

For some, holidays seem to increase the feeling of loneliness. People who may be forced by circumstances to be away from loved ones are especially vulnerable. Here are some suggestions for coping with a "lonely" holiday:

Keep expectations low.

Take good care of yourself, even treat yourself.

Give the gift of yourself by helping others. Volunteer to serve a meal, donate clothes or food, etc.

Loss blues

Loss blues are experienced by people who have had a major loss in their lives. These losses include the loss of a job, separation/divorce, the death of a loved one or another emotional loss. The feelings can be more painful if this is the first Christmas after a loss, or near the anniversary of a loss. Some suggestions for coping with the "loss blues" are:

Give yourself adequate time to grieve.

You don't have to expect to feel good simply because of the season.

You may want to, in some way, honor the person who was lost.

Be sure to comfort yourself with friends and family.

Begin new traditions.

Chronic blues

Chronic blues can be defined as pervasive sadness or depression. They are experienced by people who are already sad or depressed;; the holidays simply intensify the problem. Well-meaning friends, in their efforts to cheer up someone who has chronic blues, can sometimes make that person feel worse.

In addition to following the suggestions already mentioned, if you recognize yourself in this category, the best present you might give yourself is an appointment with an effective therapist.

Post-holiday blues

"Is that all there is?" - Peggy Lee

This is probably the most overlooked kind of holiday blues. Psychologists call the afterholiday blues "post reinforcement pause." What that means is a slump after lots of good stuff. Not much goes in January except the Super Bowl and receiving Christmas bills in the mail. It's easy to feel disappointed or bored.

How to cope:

Have a post-holiday party.

Hold on - spring is coming!

Start your Christmas shopping early!

Create a Christmas

"This Christmas will be, a very special Christmas for me" - Harry Connick Jr.

Let's look at some ways to create a "very special Christmas" this year:

Ease into the season.

Be careful not to compare this holiday to other holidays.

Most importantly, find something that is important to you to celebrate.