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CNN Saturday Morning News
Interview with Dr. Richard Friedman
Aired December 27, 2003 - 07:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN ANCHOR: OK, you can take a deep breath now, Thanksgiving and Christmas are over, but you can't totally relax yet, there's still New Year's to worry about.
And if you're feeling stressed and maybe a little depressed about the holidays, you're not alone. But is it really holiday blues, or is the season getting a bad rap?
Dr. Richard Friedman says feeling less than festive during the holiday season is just a part of life; and he joins us this morning.
Good morning, I hope this morning finds you feeling OK.
DR. RICHARD FRIEDMAN, CORNELL MEDICAL EDUCATION: Thank you, yes.
FIRFER: So, tell us a little bit about holiday blues. What are they?
FRIEDMAN: Well, for the vast majority of people holiday blues is really a fancy label just for everyday disappointment and sadness. I mean, the holidays are a time of huge expectations. And it is sometimes hard for life to deliver on what people expect during the holidays, having a perfect party, the perfect family gathering, the perfect date, or whatever. There is tremendous expectation and hope.
FIRFER: And as you mentioned, we see these perfect pictures on television and movies, the perfect dinner the perfect gift, the perfect New Year's Eve party. So are we doomed for disappointment? Could it ever live up to that expectation?
FRIEDMAN: Probably not.
FIRFER: So, what do we do about it?
FRIEDMAN: Well, the first thing we do is recognize that it's by and large part of everyday life and it is not serious. For the most part, people who feel like this are not clinically depressed, but they're just having everyday disappointment and unhappiness and to recognize that the holidays are finite and whatever disappointment you feel will be short-lived.
FIRFER: Do we put too much pressure on ourselves to have that perfect life, to have that perfect holiday season?
FRIEDMAN: Yes. I think so. A patient of mine once said that he found it really difficult to have to be happy.
FIRFER: OK. But there is a serious aspect to that, which is called seasonal affected disorder, and it is an actual chemical imbalance. Tell us a little bit about that disorder.
FRIEDMAN: Right, well seasonal affected disorder is a form of depression. And these are people who have depression at peaks in the winter, the late fall and the winter, and when the daylight shortens, they get depressed. And when the spring comes the depression lifts.
FIRFER: So, how do you know the difference if it really is a serious disorder or if it might just be the holiday blues? How do you distinguish between the two?
FRIEDMAN: That's a very important question. If you feel pervasively sad, and you've lost your pleasure in life, and you've had a change in your appetite and your sleep and your sex drive, and you feel life isn't worth living, and you've had thoughts even of suicide, you're not talking about everyday unhappiness, now you're talking about an illness called depression. And if that happens to you in the winter there maybe a chance you have a seasonal form of depression.
FIRFER: So, should you see your doctor? Are there treatments for this?
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely. Depression is a very treatable disorder.
FIRFER: What would suggest then, if you suspect you might be suffering from seasonal affected disorder, or SAD, what are some of the treatments that are available?
FRIEDMAN: Well, the treatment for seasonal depression is either light therapy, using a light box, and/or an anti-depressant.
FIRFER: And one quick question, some tips for us to sort of maneuver New Year's Eve? What should we be looking out for? Warning signs so we don't depress ourselves and we don't face that New Year's blues, perhaps? What kind of news we can use on that?
FRIEDMAN: Well, I think, the most important thing for people to do is not to feel such great pressure to have a great time. Just to let the holiday happen and you know don't worry too much if you feel a little sad and or disappointed. It is just everyday unhappiness, nothing more serious.
FIRFER: All right, Dr. Richard Friedman, we thank you very much. And we hope you have a stress-less New Year's Eve.
FRIEDMAN: You, too. Thank you.
FIRFER: Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 27, 2003 - 07:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN ANCHOR: OK, you can take a deep breath now, Thanksgiving and Christmas are over, but you can't totally relax yet, there's still New Year's to worry about.
And if you're feeling stressed and maybe a little depressed about the holidays, you're not alone. But is it really holiday blues, or is the season getting a bad rap?
Dr. Richard Friedman says feeling less than festive during the holiday season is just a part of life; and he joins us this morning.
Good morning, I hope this morning finds you feeling OK.
DR. RICHARD FRIEDMAN, CORNELL MEDICAL EDUCATION: Thank you, yes.
FIRFER: So, tell us a little bit about holiday blues. What are they?
FRIEDMAN: Well, for the vast majority of people holiday blues is really a fancy label just for everyday disappointment and sadness. I mean, the holidays are a time of huge expectations. And it is sometimes hard for life to deliver on what people expect during the holidays, having a perfect party, the perfect family gathering, the perfect date, or whatever. There is tremendous expectation and hope.
FIRFER: And as you mentioned, we see these perfect pictures on television and movies, the perfect dinner the perfect gift, the perfect New Year's Eve party. So are we doomed for disappointment? Could it ever live up to that expectation?
FRIEDMAN: Probably not.
FIRFER: So, what do we do about it?
FRIEDMAN: Well, the first thing we do is recognize that it's by and large part of everyday life and it is not serious. For the most part, people who feel like this are not clinically depressed, but they're just having everyday disappointment and unhappiness and to recognize that the holidays are finite and whatever disappointment you feel will be short-lived.
FIRFER: Do we put too much pressure on ourselves to have that perfect life, to have that perfect holiday season?
FRIEDMAN: Yes. I think so. A patient of mine once said that he found it really difficult to have to be happy.
FIRFER: OK. But there is a serious aspect to that, which is called seasonal affected disorder, and it is an actual chemical imbalance. Tell us a little bit about that disorder.
FRIEDMAN: Right, well seasonal affected disorder is a form of depression. And these are people who have depression at peaks in the winter, the late fall and the winter, and when the daylight shortens, they get depressed. And when the spring comes the depression lifts.
FIRFER: So, how do you know the difference if it really is a serious disorder or if it might just be the holiday blues? How do you distinguish between the two?
FRIEDMAN: That's a very important question. If you feel pervasively sad, and you've lost your pleasure in life, and you've had a change in your appetite and your sleep and your sex drive, and you feel life isn't worth living, and you've had thoughts even of suicide, you're not talking about everyday unhappiness, now you're talking about an illness called depression. And if that happens to you in the winter there maybe a chance you have a seasonal form of depression.
FIRFER: So, should you see your doctor? Are there treatments for this?
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely. Depression is a very treatable disorder.
FIRFER: What would suggest then, if you suspect you might be suffering from seasonal affected disorder, or SAD, what are some of the treatments that are available?
FRIEDMAN: Well, the treatment for seasonal depression is either light therapy, using a light box, and/or an anti-depressant.
FIRFER: And one quick question, some tips for us to sort of maneuver New Year's Eve? What should we be looking out for? Warning signs so we don't depress ourselves and we don't face that New Year's blues, perhaps? What kind of news we can use on that?
FRIEDMAN: Well, I think, the most important thing for people to do is not to feel such great pressure to have a great time. Just to let the holiday happen and you know don't worry too much if you feel a little sad and or disappointed. It is just everyday unhappiness, nothing more serious.
FIRFER: All right, Dr. Richard Friedman, we thank you very much. And we hope you have a stress-less New Year's Eve.
FRIEDMAN: You, too. Thank you.
FIRFER: Thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
