High Life : A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Experts Offer Tips to Avoid Holiday Blues

Many people suffer from feelings of depression, anxiety and frustration during the holidays.

The behavioral health care specialists at LifeLink, a subsidiary of PacificCare Health Systems, offer some advise about coping with holiday stress.

* Take a break. Don’t feel you have to do everything during the holidays. Make a list of activities and tasks and decide which of them you really want to do. Limit your participation to what is comfortable for you--don’t feel you have to meet others’ expectations. Keep things simple and as uncomplicated as possible. Learn to do things for fun.

* Get support. Spend time with people who understand and support you. Ask others to help with preparations and planning. Don’t expect everything to be perfect all the time. Others won’t usually notice small mistakes anyway. Enjoy the time with those around you, and don’t worry about the next day; live in the present.

* Be realistic. Rather than focus on what you think is expected of you during the holidays, focus on what you and others will enjoy. Trust your judgment to know what is best for all concerned.

* Plan down-time. Remember that life isn’t always fair, people aren’t always in a holiday mood and holidays aren’t perfect. Allow yourself the indulgence of feeling frustrated, depressed or angry occasionally.

* Food and exercise. You will feel better if you eat moderately. Exercise as much as possible to relieve stress and tension and to feel good about yourself.

“The first human being who hurled an insult instead of a stone was the founder of civilization.”--Attributed to Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)