Holiday Blues community talk offers free counseling

On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, Vail Health and Eagle Valley Behavioral Health will host a Holiday Blues community talk, “All I Want for Christmas is to Get Through the Day,” an hour-long event focused on preparing mentally for the holiday season. The free event will feature Jill Squyres, PhD, a local clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience and will provides tips for managing the holiday blues.

“The holidays can be an overwhelming time for people, and there are a number of factors that can trigger the holiday blues. Feelings of anxiety or depression are common during this season, and we want to provide information and tools to help people prepare and manage,” said Dr. Squyres. “You must take good care of yourself during the holidays, and we will be discussing what that looks like at the event.”

Unlike clinical anxiety or depression, the holiday blues are temporary feelings of anxiety or depression including fatigue, tension, frustration, loneliness or isolation, sadness or a sense of loss. These are associated with extra stress, unrealistic expectations or memories. Addressing both mental and physical health during the holidays is a key to managing the holiday blues and preventing them from materializing into long-term mental health conditions.

“Your holidays will be happy if you create a holiday experience that is meaningful for you,” said Dr. Squyres.

What: Holiday Blues Community Talk

When: Tuesday, December 10, 2019; 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Where: Colorado Mountain College; 150 Miller Ranch Road, Edwards, CO 81632

The event is free and open to the public and will feature Spanish interpretation. No RSVP is necessary. For questions, email series@vailhealth.org.