There can be huge amounts of stress in trying to create a perfect Christmas, or trying to pay for Christmas, or missing someone this time of year.
That can lead to self-medicating with alcohol, marijuana or prescription drugs, or worse, a suicide attempt.
Financial woes are a big stresser for local families, explained Bayfield resident Nicole Fuller.
Fuller has a masters degree in psychology and is a psychotherapist and certified addictions counselor who sees patients in her offices in Bayfield and Durango.
“It’s hard to keep families fed and buy presents while paying the bills,” Fuller said. “A lot of people here make more money in the summer, and when work slows down around here, people are struggling.”
Bayfield and Ignacio are also family-oriented communities, and trying to provide lots of presents to children at Christmas can be tough, she added.
She sees cases of depression spike during all of the holidays, she added, including Independence Day and Easter.
“There’s a lot of pressure on families to have it be the best, that it has to be perfect,” she said. “That’s a facade. Families are not always happy. They’re not perfect. Families have drug addiction and alcoholism.” Images on social media can compound those feelings of inadequacy, she added.
“Facebook is a double-edged sword,” she said. “It’s a great way to connect with people and see what’s important to them.” While that is a positive, it can cause feelings of envy, as well.
“Why don’t I have that? Why isn’t my life like that? And a lot of bullying takes place online these days, as well.”
Everyone will have a sad day periodically, or a bad afternoon. For that, Fuller recommends trying to get some exercise. Meet a friend for coffee. Or set a budget and visit a thrift store or somewhere with inexpensive goods to buy a small treat.
The increasing duration and severity of a bad mood is when people should consider therapy, she explained.
“If you have feelings of suicide, you’re wanting to self-mutilate, or harm someone else or an animal, call someone for help,” she explained. But depression often isn’t that severe.
“It can be a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. It’s beyond just a passing bad mood, or your moods fluctuate wildly. It feels cellular – you can’t get it out of you, and you can’t just shake it off.”
People will often turn to alcohol and other drugs to feel better, but that doesn’t help in the long term.
“If you’re using on a daily basis, are you having negative consequences from that?” she asked. Relationship problems, coming to work late, losing a job, or skipping social engagements because you’re isolating yourself at home alone are signs that help is needed.
“Drinking or smoking your problems away doesn’t work,” she said.
For depression, Fuller said even a few sessions of cognitive behavior therapy can help. This type of therapy focuses on acknowledging the problems and feeling of depression and how to handle it better, including tools for coping with negative feelings.
Anti-depressants can help some patients, but they’re not a magical fix and usually work best in conjunction with counseling, she explained.
“I work with people in having the hope that things will get better,” she explained.
In times of crisis, she will try to meet with patients to see if more intervention is needed, such as hospitalization or a stay in detox.
Fuller can be reached at 769-2435. More information is on her website, www.nicolefuller.com.
