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Mental Health advocate Sue Hanly came to the WestfordCAT studios on Dec. 12 to provide tips on camera for those who are struggling emotionally as the holidays approach.
Drawing from lists provided by the Mayo Clinic and Health.com, Hanly said it’s a good idea to have a plan for what to do on the holiday. She suggested engaging in an activity that brings joy.
One idea is to reach out and help people,” she said. “Doing something good for someone else makes you feel better.”
For those with seasonal affective disorder, Hanly suggested getting a therapy lamp designed to provide the same affect as natural sunlight. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that relates to a change in seasons. It often surfaces during this time of year when the sun sets early.
Doing something different on the holidays is another suggestion from Hanly.
“One year my family and I went to the movies,” she said.
Health.com suggests these tips for avoiding depression triggers.
Hanly is the nurse at Stony Brook School in Westford.
Watch for the entire interview with Joyce Pellino Crane airing sometime next week.
