“Happy Holidays!” 

Madalas na natin itong naririnig ngayon, pero minsan hirap tayong makisabay dahil hindi natin feel ang pagiging “happy” this Christmas season. 

Imbes na ito ang panahon para magsaya, may ibang tao na mas lalong nalulungkot. 

Isa ka rin ba sa nalulungkot ngayon, Breaker? 

Are you alone this Christmas? 

Do you feel lonely this Christmas, at hindi mo alam ang dahilan? 

Nagwa-wonder ka ba kung bakit ito paulit-ulit na nangyayari sa ’yo every holiday season? 

If ‘yes’ ang sagot mo sa mga tanong sa itaas, may possibility that you are experiencing holiday blues. Meaning, nagiging kulay blue ka every Christmas. De, joke lang! Naniwala naman agad, pinapatawa lang kita. 

Hehe corny, noh? 

Pero seryoso, ano nga ba ang holiday blues? 

According to Fatima Watt, Psy.D., director of behavioral health services at Franciscan Children’s, “The holiday blues are feelings of stress, anxiety, and sadness that surround the holiday season.“ 

Ang nangyayari sa tao every time nakaka-experience siya ng holiday blues ay may, “changes in eating and sleeping habits, irritability and fatigue, feeling overwhelmed and stressed, and not experiencing happiness and joy during once pleasurable activities,” Watt cites. 

This is the second year that we celebrated Christmas amidst COVID. May mga taong nakapag-adjust na, but sadly may ibang pamilya na nagluluksa pa rin. Isa ito sa puwedeng contributing factors why many people feel the holiday blues. Another factor is, people feel limited kung ano lang ang puwedeng gawin. 

Bawal mag-gather ng maraming tao. 

Bawal ang matagal na physical contact. 

Bawal mag spend ng mahabang oras sa labas. 

Bawal lumabas, oh bawal lumabas! 

Ayan, napakanta tuloy kami.  

Some possible factors are: the pressure to spend money; the guilt to celebrate amidst the pandemic; and nakakawala ng gana dahil ang daming nangyari this year. 

How about you, Breaker? What are the reasons why you’re feeling blue this holiday season? 

Anuman ang rason mo, may tips kami on how to manage holiday blues this time of the year. 

BreakThrough tip #1: Don’t isolate yourself. 

Nakaka-tempt magmukmok kapag sad ka. Yes, it’s important to spend quality time for yourself, but make sure you also have time to be with others. Be with people who want to journey with you even in this difficult time of your life. 

Nagiging vulnerable kasi tayo and mas may tendency to overthink if hindi tayo nag-o-open up sa iba. Kamahal-mahal ka, Breaker, and your loved ones are willing to be there for you. And if feeling mo wala namang gustong makasama ka, you’re very wrong on that one, Breaker. Kasi nandito kami! 

Kung gusto mo ng kausap, puwede mo kaming i-text sa 0999-227-1927 or call 0931-805-0802. You can also message us sa iCanBreakThrough Facebook page or Instagram account or email us. 

Mag-reach out ka, ha? Hintayin namin text mo. 

BreakThrough tip #2: Do something you’ve never done before. 

When was the last time you enjoyed doing something? Either it’s work related or not, school related or not – it’s important to spend time doing things that excite you. Kahit gaano pa ‘yan ka-random, or even in the mundane, gawin mo kung ano’ng nagpapasaya sa ‘yo. 

Sabi pa nga ng karamihan, “Happiness is a choice.” Alam naming may mga panahon na mahirap maging masaya. But from time to time, kailangan natin itong piliin. 

Kaya nga nating mahalin ang mga taong mahirap mahalin, diba? So kaya mo rin piliing maging masaya. Chour! 

Do things that excite you, or start doing things you’ve never done but always wanted to do. 

We’re cheering for you, Breaker. With pompoms pa!  

BreakThrough tip #3: Don’t be too hard on yourself. 

Feeling mo ba nagiging KJ ka because of how you feel in the midst of this big celebration? Don’t beat yourself up, Breaker, dahil ang totoo niyan you are not alone. 

According to Psychology Today, “The holiday blues are a real phenomenon.” 

It is real, and it is happening. And many people are going through it. 

Take your time to be okay, Breaker. Small steps at a time, and you will be okay. Don’t hurry to meet the expectations you have for yourself, and try to slowly but surely establish healthy and achievable progress sa nararamdaman mo ngayon. 

Hindi ka KJ, hindi ka rin manhid. Don’t invalidate your feelings, and instead puwede mong matutunan how to be kinder to yourself. 

Again, don’t isolate yourself. 

Do something you’ve never done before. 

And don’t be too hard on yourself.  

Kaya mo ‘to, laban lang!