Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to get back in the saddle again. Sometimes, that’s tough to do after a month of frenetic shopping, cleaning, spending, wrapping, cooking, baking, and socializing. Many people at this time of year go through some sadness, because after the climax of the holidays, everything seems to fall flat.

For instance, your living room looked so pretty, with the lights, the tree, the menorah, the glittery presents and the fragrance of pine and cinnamon wafting about. Now, with all the decorations packed away, presents distributed, lights out, it looks like a desolate wasteland. No to mention  you’re just about pooped out with everything that’s been going on in the last month or so.

You find yourself snapping at the kids; arguing over cheap auto insurance with the hubby; yelling at the dog. You feel like bursting into tears at any given moment, and frequently do. What the hell’s the matter with you?

It could be a combination of hormones, the letdown of the holiday season, and Seasonal Affective Disorder (appropriately abbreviated as SAD.) Like perimenopause isn’t bad enough. Like the letdown after the holiday isn’t bad enough. Like SAD isn’t bad enough — but all three together? Oh, yeah. That’s the Fun After Forty.

Let’s take them one at a time.

• Hormones: We’ve covered this in other posts, but it bears reminding, since one of the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause is memory loss. (Wait. What was I saying?) Talk to your doctor; s/he can do blood tests to determine if you’re close to menopause, approaching menopause, or in Full Blown Menopausal Meltdown Mode. It does make a difference as far as treatment options; you can decide on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT); supplement with an over-the-counter remedy (such as the many non-drug herbal remedies now available) or tell the doctor you need the big guns on this one…antidepressants.
• Holiday Letdown: The holidays may not have been everything you wished for. Actually, they could have sucked. Regardless if you just spent the best holiday of your life or it was a holiday worth of the Jerry Springer Show, there is a certain amount of letdown that happens. Try to adjust your attitude just a tiny bit. Now you can re-hang all the lovely photos and artwork you took down to make room for the holiday trimmings. Or, now is a good time to re-arrange, get rid of junk you though you couldn’t live without, and clean out the corners that have been bugging you. You might even think of getting hubby or the kids help you slap a new coat of paint on the walls, which would give you a good reason to shop (or make, if that’s your thing) new curtains. Take comfort in the fact the holidays will most certainly be back next year.
• SAD: This is a real condition that is directly related to how much light to which you are exposed during the winter months. A type of depression, sufferers feel legarthic, anxious, depressed and apathetic. They may be irritable and oversleep or overeat. Light therapy and mild medications can help with this, so if you’re feeling down for days and can’t seem to get over the hump, call your doctor for an appointment and don’t wait. There’s no reason  you have to suffer.

Take heart and take stock. Narrow it down to see what’s really going on, making it that much easier to get a handle. Remember, taking care of YOU has got to be your priority, or there will be no YOU to take care of anyone else. Start the new year off right by resolving to take better care of yourself.