Being a 'secret Santa' can help combat holiday blues but self care and setting limits important, too

SALT LAKE CITY — Whether they're secret Santas, layaway angels or garden variety holiday do-gooders, the warm-fuzzy feeling behind altruism may be one way to stave off the holiday blues.

"We know in general that helping other people helps with depression," said Dr. Matthew Moench, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

"It helps people feel connected to something larger than themselves."

The holiday blues are a mild form of depression, explains Dr. Rene Valles, adult and child psychiatrist with Valley Mental Health.

Performing acts of kindness may not only be good for the soul, they may stimulate the body's production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers.

"That dopamine surge would be short-term," Valles said.

So while playing secret Santa may make the holidays bright for other people, someone struggling with depression might get but a temporary lift for the holiday blues, which generally subside once the season ends.

Many people may feel down during the holidays, Moench said, but it is important to understand the difference between clinical depression and being overwhelmed by holiday events and expectations.

"Technically, we consider depression to be serious if it is as least two weeks in duration and is accompanied by other serious symptoms such as suicidal thoughts and extreme feelings of worthlessness," he said. People who exhibit those symptoms should seek professional help.

Moench said there are many factors that can contribute to feeling down during the winter holidays such as fewer hours of daylight; cold and snow, which preclude outdoor activity; the ongoing inversion; as well as societal pressure to be happy during the holidays.

"There's a lot of pressure to do things perfectly," whether it's decorating one's home, finding the perfect gift or throwing an elegant party, Moench said.

People who don't have close family or friends may feel more disconnected during the holidays. People with families may be stressed by attempting to fulfill their many obligations. "This is my busiest time of year. I've scheduled appointments into the middle of January. A lot of people have difficulty this time of year," he said.

Part of the problem, too, is the holiday "season" seems to get longer every year. Many stores start stocking Christmas merchandise before Halloween.

"It's not just one day and it's over with. It's a whole month and more," he said.