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"During the holidays we start to see more women looking for treatment,"said Jacqueline Dawes, founder and owner Brookhaven Retreat, a premierholistic women-only treatment facility for emotional trauma and addiction."These women are looking for an escape. They are often so exhausted from thepressure of the season that all areas of their health, both physical andmental, begin to breakdown."
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The three main triggers of holiday depression include relationships,finances and physical demands, according to the Mayo Clinic. Women may bemore vulnerable to these triggers due to the fact they have been socializedfrom birth to be caretakers. A survey by the National Women's Health ResourceCenter states that two-thirds of women report depression during the holidays.The added pressure of creating the perfect Thanksgiving dinner or holidayouting, combined with the everyday stress of balancing a job, family,education and finances can limit the amount of time women have to relax andavoid these painful holiday triggers.
Here are a few suggestions to help combat the holiday depression that manywill experience this season.
-- Seek support from friends or family members.
-- Plan ahead -- Set aside specific days for shopping, visiting withfriends, baking, and other activities.
-- Stick to a budget -- Before going shopping, decide how much you canafford to spend on gifts and other items. Depression can also set in if onecannot afford to buy all the gifts you would like, and can lead to financialstrain.
-- Keep your expectations for the season manageable -- Set realisticgoals, pace yourself, and know that it is okay to say, "No."
-- Don't go overboard -- Although we all enjoy the wonderful foods thistime of year, be mindful of your body's wants and needs. Enjoy the specialfoods of the season, but know that overeating will leave you feelinglethargic.
-- Remember to take time for yourself -- Let others share theresponsibilities of the holiday tasks. Know that you are not a bad person ifyou didn't get everything done.
"Women need to ensure that they attend to their emotional needs duringthis holiday season," said Dawes. "Those who depend on women need to besensitive to the added demands the holidays will bring. Ultimately, it shouldbe a happy and memorable time of the year for everyone."
About Brookhaven Retreat
Brookhaven Retreat is a unique, voluntary residential treatment facilityspecially designed to help women overcome emotional trauma or addictionchallenges. The fully accredited and certified dual-diagnosis center isAmerica's premier treatment center for emotional trauma and addiction andoffers female-specific treatment. Located on 48 beautiful acres in thefoothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, it offers modern, holistic care withcompassion and respect from a highly trained expert staff of licensedtherapists, physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners and licensedpractical nurses. Visit http://www.brookhavenretreat.com for moreinformation.
SOURCE Brookhaven Retreat
