Don’t sing the holiday blues
It’s easy to hate the holidays. The holidays are supposed to be the happiest time of the year, yet for many,
they trigger deep feelings of sadness and anxiety.
For law enforcement families, it is often a crap
shoot to not work on the holidays, so the stress begins
just considering the day. Depending on who is working and when and how to squeeze it all in is the
unique challenge for cops and their families.
CHERIE
CASTELLANO
One may think that the holiday spirit would bring
Cop2Cop
out the best in people, even criminals, but it is not
true. According to the Criminal Justice Degrees Guide,
the holidays are a peak time of criminal activity. The
10 most common holiday crimes are the following; identity theft,
shoplifting, robbery, drunk driving, vehicle theft, rape/sexual
assault, home burglary, counterfeiting, scams and domestic violence. Not only will law enforcement families have to rearrange
plans for the job, but cops in New Jersey are busier than usual.
Law enforcement professionals are a “gifted” group – resilient at
all times, so you will rise from the overwhelming stress and pressure
despite the seasonal realities.
Lots of holiday blues can also emerge from the financial pressure
of gift-giving, cold weather and lack of sunlight, which can con-
tribute to seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is estimated to
affect up to 20 percent of Americans, yet it’s unknown how many
people suffer from the holiday blahs. It’s important not to classify all
winter doldrums as SAD, because people experience a drop in
mood in anticipation of the holidays because they might be sad over
a recent breakup or marking the first holiday after the death of a
loved one. Everyone could benefit from talking to a peer counselor
or a therapist to undo the holiday blues.
There is some good news. Seasonal doldrums fade once the festivities are over. According to a CNN article (2014), here are some
tips to help improve your mood over the next two weeks:
1. Seek social support – When the blues strike, who wouldn’t want
to hide out or get lost in the job to forget that you’re sad? Make yourself go out; hibernating or isolating will feed into your depressed
mood. Surround yourself with people, even if you don’t feel like it or
particularly like them. Ultimately you’ll feel better being around
others.
Make plans with small groups of friends. Have something to look
forward to so you’re connected to people regardless of your mood.
Staying out late drinking is exhausting and not good for your health,
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