Days after Thanksgiving don’t have to be a post-holiday letdown

PHOENIX – The days after Thanksgiving can be a difficult time for some people, but there are ways to cope with the post-holiday letdown, a Phoenix psychologist said. 

“That’s a big struggle for a lot of people in terms of feeling depressed or feeling homesick or just feeling kind of forlorn without their family base that’s there that’s super supportive for them,” Dr. Melissa Estavillo of Biltmore Psychology and Counseling told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday.

Estavillo said that focusing on strong, healthy bonds can help alleviate feelings of homesickness.

“That creates a place, even psychologically, where they don’t feel quite as distant or quite as far,” she said.

Another way to reduce stress is to remember what the holidays are about and what makes them special.

“Those moments are not great because they’re perfect,” she said. “Those moments are great because we’re sharing life together.

“We’re connecting with family. We’re connecting with friends. We’re laughing together.”

Once Thanksgiving passes, getting ready for Christmas can take over as a key cause of anxiety. But it doesn’t have to.

For example, you don’t have to strain your budget by giving only the latest gadgets and toys.

Estavillo said that experiences are what we remember in the long run and can be less expensive than material gifts.

“It’s nice to get the greatest technology piece, but sometimes I think it’s that experience that actually lasts so much longer,” she said.

Full article can be found here: https://ktar.com/story/2327655/days-after-thanksgiving-dont-have-to-be-a-post-holiday-letdown/