Got The Blues?

The holiday blues include many of the same symptoms as the regular blues, or depression. Here’s a list of symptoms, compiled by the National Institute of Mental Health. Institute experts suggest that anyone who experiences five or more of these symptoms every day for two weeks should seek professional help. But anyone with recurring thoughts of death or suicide should get help immediately.

• Persistent sad, anxious or empty mood.
• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, guilt, worthlessness or helplessness.
• Loss of interest or lack of pleasure in hobbies and activities that once were enjoyed, including sex.
• Fatigue or decreased energy.
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions.
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening or oversleeping.
• Appetite and/or weight loss, or overeating and weight gain.
• Restlessness, irritability.