Keeping in Touchjanuary 2021

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Keeping in touchJanuary 2021

post-winter holidays counselor corner hibernation or depression? Andrea Rognlien MS, LAPC, NCC By Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. | PsychCentral.com The Village Business Institute The holiday season is over. The In such close quarters, people had to presents are unwrapped. The relatives learn get along, to work together and, at Q: With colder months limiting have left. The leftovers are gone. times, to respect each other’s periodic my options to get together with Some things went well. Some didn’t. need for solitude and silence even when people, how can I avoid feeling There were moments of pleasure and huddled together. When spring came, isolated? joy and moments of disappointment people were rested and ready for the A: The change to colder weather brings and frustration. The roller coaster of next spurt of activity. As soon as the sap activities and emotions is sliding to a started to run, people and creatures also on new challenges to our self-care stop. Coming down from the holidays can felt the call to reemerge from their caves routines and ability to stay connected. feel like a come down. But it’s also a new (literal or figurative) and get busy. For many people, engaging with beginning. In a time of central heating, on- their support system is an important Not so long ago, winter was a time for demand TV, individual devices, and component of maintaining overall lying low, for repairing tools, doing hand mass-produced goods, we mostly ignore wellness, making it important to adapt work, spinning cloth, and spinning tales. the natural rhythm to things. Instead of how we connect socially. Because the central fire provided the taking a break from our usual work to do There are a variety of strategies that only warmth in colder climates, families needed reflection and plan, we push on. can be utilized to stay connected and gathered around it to entertain children, to We seem to have forgotten that January catch up on tasks that had been put off or and February are for quiet even though help combat isolation and feelings of neglected, and to plan for the next season. loneliness. Holidays, page 2 Continued on page 2

“Keeping in Touch” is a monthly publication for employees covered by The Village Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through their employer’s benefit package. If you have questions about your EAP benefit, or if you would like to access services, call 1-800-627-8220. Holidays, from page 1 something in our spirits still counselor corner cont. longs for a time of hibernation. 1. Identify the people in your Where did we get the idea support system. It can be beneficial that once the holidays are over, to identify the people that help you to feel we’re supposed to flip a switch connected and supported. Naturally, we and get back to business as usual? Where did we get think about friends and/or family as being the idea that any deviation part of our support network, but there are from full participation and also opportunities to connect with co- enjoyment of every single workers, neighbors, support groups or minute, regardless of the hotlines. Try not to limit yourself; there are season, means that something a number of individuals in our lives who can is wrong? help us from feeling isolated. What Is and Isn’t 2. Get creative! There are many ways to stay connected and avoid isolation Depression? during the cold-weather months. Try There’s a difference exploring new activities or reinventing old between a genuine diagnosis hobbies or traditions. of depression and the natural wintertime pull to rest and • Check out local activities for being regroup. A diagnosis of a outside with friends, family, or alone. clinical depression requires Go sledding, cross-country skiing, that five or more symptoms daydream, to read, or to just plain snowshoeing, or take a stroll through (such as change in appetite, sleeping do nothing. Treat yourself to things your neighborhood or local park. too much or too little, feelings of that pamper you like a hot bath worthlessness, suicidal ideation) be or a massage. Get out in nature. • Mix up your standard dinner plans: present during the same two-week Really talk to a friend. Read to a ○ Have a Zoom or Google Meets dinner period and present a change from child. Print out the pictures from with friends or family. Everyone can one’s usual level of functioning. your digital camera and put them make their own dinner, eat together, Please note the “and.” Both must in albums. Replace buttons. Stay be going on. At least one of your away from people who cause you and talk via video chat. symptoms must be a depressed stress. Spend time with the people ○ Have a socially distanced dinner by mood or loss of ability to take who love you the most. Count your placing hula hoops on the floor 6 feet pleasure in things you usually like. blessings. Further, the symptoms must cause away from each other. Everyone can You can be a good friend without pick a circle to sit in while they eat significant distress or impairment being a party animal. You can take in social, occupational, or other some time and space for personal and safely be together. important areas of functioning. recovery and reflection without • Write a kind note or make cookies to being rude or lazy. By slowing bring to your neighbors. Hibernation Isn’t down a bit and de-stressing, you’ll actually end up more productive, • Get a new book or coloring book, and Depression not less. By setting priorities, you share a copy with a friend. If you are simply feeling subdued can get important things done and • Learn yoga or a new skill. and a little out of sorts after the still make room for some healthy holidays, if you are needing more hibernation. 3. Make a plan. Sometimes the solitude, if you are looking for hardest part is getting started. This can be quieter activities, maybe you aren’t suffering from depression. Maybe Downtime Can Be especially true during the colder months you are just responding to the cycle Good Time when we are spending more time inside. of nature. What looks like the blues As you set your house back in Planning activities can be beneficial may be your system insisting on a order by putting away decorations because it gives us something to look time for slowing down a bit and for and using up the last of the party forward to and holds us accountable. doing internal creative work before food, consider taking the time to Remember to plan things with your support the renewal of spring. put your mind and spirit back in network as well as for yourself. You can still If that’s the case, try embracing order, too. The holidays are over. combat isolation alone by bundling up and this time and allow yourself a little Downtime can be good time when going for a walk or going window shopping hibernation. you give yourself permission to rest, Do the things that help restore at some stores downtown. Be sure to write regroup, and re-energize. Spring, these plans down in a planner, a piece your energy and spirit. Eat right. with all its energy and promise, will Move your body. Give yourself the be here soon. of paper on the fridge, or set a reminder gift of some alone time to think, to in your phone as another way to stay accountable.