![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.hamiltonartist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/IM000859-2.jpg\" "\\"Lennie")
<\/a>LENNIE & I - Dec. 2009<\/p><\/div>\n
While depression happens throughout the entire year, it can be more acutely felt and even triggered by the holidays.\u00a0 There are many ways that you can\u00a0aleviate your anxiety and seasonal depression without resorting to pharmaceutical\u00a0drugs this Christmas.\u00a0 Here are some steps that you can take to make yourself feel better during the holiday season:<\/p>\n
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- The first step is to stand straight, thus aligning your body.\u00a0 This will not only help your body\u2019s natural energy flow, but will improve your breathing and the amount of oxygen taken in.\u00a0 You will be able to think\u00a0more clearly\u00a0and start to take other positive steps towards combating your\u00a0Christmas Blues.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Smile.\u00a0 Smiling not only makes you feel good, but helps your facial muscles to relax, making you feel less tense.\u00a0 Laughter releases endorphins, the feel good hormones that lighten up our moods.\u00a0 Rent a Christmas comedy such as National Lampoon\u2019s \u201cChristmas Vacation\u201d with Chevy Chase and laugh out loud.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Get moving.\u00a0 Everyone occasionally needs an afternoon nap, whether it\u2019s due to physical or mental fatigue.\u00a0 But constant sleeping during the day will upset your body\u2019s own bio-rythem cycle, causing poor sleep patterns during the night and a feeling of exhaustion upon waking in the morning.\u00a0 Get up and do something positive like taking your dog for a walk or the kids to the park.\u00a0 The fresh air will invigorate you and make you feel more alive.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Cook something.\u00a0 Comfort food really can make you feel better as long as you don\u2019t over-indulge.\u00a0 Try out a new recipe that is both nurturing and nutritious like a stew or soup loaded with healthy vegetables that will warm you on a cold winter day.\u00a0 Make an old favorite that you might not have cooked in a while.\u00a0 Baking can also lift your mood, especially recipes with vanilla.\u00a0 Vanilla has an aroma therapy effect on the brain\u2019s Limbic system, bringing back\u00a0the fonder memories of childhood.\u00a0 Go easy on the sugar though; sugar can rapidly spike your adrenaline level and then cause you to crash as the adrenaline quickly drops, exacerbating your anxiety and depression.<\/li>\n
- Listen to music with a regular beat such as jazz.\u00a0 There are many lively Christmas CDs on the market that will help to lift your spirits.\u00a0 Even as babies in the womb, we respond to music.\u00a0 Get up and dance or\u00a0just move around.\u00a0\u00a0Even simple\u00a0movements will make you feel less tense.<\/li>\n
- Get a professional massage.\u00a0 Recent studies from researchers at a Florida University showed, through EEG monitoring of the brain, that both listening to music and professional massage therapy significantly improved the frontal EEG asymmetry of the brain.\u00a0 These results were consistent both during and after the massage therapy and music sessions.<\/li>\n
- Lean on a friend.\u00a0 Chances are that a good friend already senses your depression whether you have told him\/her about it or not.\u00a0 Verbally articulating your feelings can lessen the burden and maybe that friend has something that they want to talk about as well.\u00a0 Just sharing your feelings with someone who cares and is sympathetic towards you will make you feel like a weight has been temporarily lifted from your shoulders.<\/li>\n
- Lastly, think of those less fortunate at Christmas.\u00a0 Something as simple as praying or as altruistic as helping out at a shelter can often put your life in proper perspective.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.hamiltonartist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/IM000768-21-150x150.jpg\" "\\"Lennie")
<\/a>LENNIE & I ...2009<\/p><\/div>\n
Take a moment to\u00a0reflect on\u00a0all the really wonderful things in your life.\u00a0Now you can go to bed pleasantly tired and hopefully you\u2019ll fall asleep\u2026counting your blessings.<\/p>\n
Good tidings of comfort and joy,<\/em><\/p>\n
On a personal note I want to mention that Lennie and I have discussed in length whether or not he should stay in Hawai’i with the sun and ocean and pure air until we go back to Mexico in January.\u00a0 We decided that the cons of being alone without me out-way the benefits, so he will be arriving here in Hamilton in mid-December.\u00a0 So this Jewish guy is starting to love Christmas; but not as much as I do.\u00a0 If anyone would like to talk to him about how he is progressing with his alternative cancer treatment we can be reached at 905-528-4197.<\/p>\n
Also, once again I will be hosting my 9th anual Christmas Open Studio & Toy Drive on the first weekend of December.\u00a0 Please go to the website link below.<\/p>\n
Kathryn<\/em><\/p>\n