European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 22, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 woe from the cover among americans traditionally peaks in april and May and Hospital admissions for depression Are highest at about the same time. A obviously it does no to correspond with the holidays a he said. A in fact the Onset of major depression in december is Low very Low a so what arc those vague feelings of dismay that seem to Herald the holidays or. William Cline the psychiatry consultant for the army a 7th medical come in Heidelberg Germany believes it s simple sadness. A if you have a relative that Dies you re sad but that a not being depressed. If you re still sad six months later maybe its depression a said Cline a colonel who has helped counsel hostages released from Captivity in the Middle East. A there Are a lot of people who Are maybe a Little More lonely a Little More sad at Christmas but that a not real depression. We done to have rushes on our psychiatric clinics Over the  the experts Arentt sure what causes the Holiday blues but most believe it is somehow linked to being separated from family and family traditions. Consequently those who arc single tend to suffer the most according to chaplain Barry Ryan a Catholic priest assigned at Raf Chick Sands about 50 Miles North of London. A whatever is going wrong in their lives tends to get accented at that time a said Ryan a Captain who handles referrals from the base mental health and family support offices. A the holidays can be really lonely times for single people. A we find ourselves seeing More folks at that time. Our business goes  what the experts Call the a anniversary syndrome May also come into play around the holidays. Hanukkah and Christmas fall near the end of the year and Many people Are taking Stock at that Lime reviewing their lives and accomplishments during the past year. A if it Wasny to a Good year that could leave people feeling a Little sad a Cline noted. New arrivals or those who have few friends May feel a sense of sadness during the holidays because there arc More parties and other events going on that they might not be invited to. Others May succumb to the varied stresses of shopping of not being Able to find or afford that perfect gift. Quot it would be a source of stress for example if the wife thinks everybody needs gifts and the husband thinks there a enough on the credit cards already a Cline said. Combating the Holiday blues can be As simple As keeping yourself occupied because Busy people just done to seem to have time to be sad according to the experts. Volunteering at the local school or Library or Chapel is another Way to avoid an unhappy Holiday. A strangely enough the Way human beings Are made the More they give away of themselves the More they arc affirmed a Ryan noted. Kusman suggests finding a Friend to talk to when the blues set in. A find someone you Trust someone you like someone you can express your feelings to someone you can have a pleasant Good Lime  its also important to keep life in perspective. Just As things probably wont get worse just because its the Holiday season your a problems will not go away just because the Christ child was Hern in december a Cline said. The experts All warned against imbibing too much of the Holiday spirits since As Kusman put it drinking actually promotes depression. A that does no to mean done to drink at All. But done to turn to drink As a Way to manage your feelings a he said. Cline said he views the holidays us a a time when the principle that we Are our brother s keeper should be especially True. So if you see somebody who a left out. You done to just let them Drift off just because you re so happily involved with your own Holiday  in particular watch out for friends or family members who seem withdrawn or disinterested or who suffer insomnia or a loss of appetite or libido. For the Long haul Kusman pointed to the findings of a five year study on the causes of depression. It found that people who avoid depression the Best Are those who arc confident and easygoing and have family or friends they can rely on and be open with. Such people also have an Active approach to problem solving Kusman said and arc Able to think through the alternatives and then take the Best possible action. Finally for those Blue few who done to miss their families Arentt stressed out by shopping and Are invited to All the parties there is seasonal affected disorder to consider. Victims of the disorder better known by its acronym Are a minute but very real segment of the population that suffers depression because of Lack of Light. Although the condition is still being studied current treatment involves plunking the patient Down in front of you guessed it a Bright Light. A you take the Light away from them and two Days later they will be depressed again a Cline said. A a it a not psychosomatic or imaginary. Its a very real  that considered could december a Short Days account for All our Long faces no research exists but Cline concedes that a a lot of people done to feel As Happy in the Winter As they do in the summer. A if you put Christmas in july a he said a you might not have the Holiday  sunday december 22, 1991 / / Jav a f a Quot a a a a y a