Remain hopeful this holiday season

Thanksgiving arrives Thursday to usher in another holiday season, but this one has an uneasy feel to it.

It goes beyond climate-related depression and mood disorders that experts say afflict many people during the cold and gloomy month of November. And, it goes beyond the holiday anxiety a great many others feel because of the traditions, pressure and expectations that surface every year.

No, this year, is much different.

Problems caused by a struggling economy that seems to get weaker by the day are likely to weigh greatly on far more of us. Job losses, pay cuts, mounting bills and home foreclosures are being heaped on many families fighting to stay afloat. The daily bombardment of bad economic news and talk of recession may cause a fear just as paralyzing in all of us. A lot of people are just plain scared.

Amid all this uncertainty, you may wonder if there's anything to be thankful for this year.

Mental health experts suggested everyone should step back, take a deep breath and focus on the positive things present in their life. Things that have nothing to do with status or material wealth.

Maybe it's good health, or the support of a loving family, a network of close friends or a connection to a group. Those are things to be thankful for, and it's critically important to our mental health that we acknowledge them.

Dr. Nancy Molitor, a psychologist in Wilmette, says Thanksgiving is an opportunity to do that because the holiday is pretty basic. There is no gift-giving or card-sending involved, only food and companionship.

"It allows you to step back and say 'I may not have the big house anymore, the fancy job and the vacation, but we have each other,'" she said.

And, that also lays a foundation for a realistic approach to the rest of the holiday season.

Maybe holiday meals won't be as elaborate as in years past, or maybe you can't spend as much on gifts or parties or events. That's OK.

Molitor said she tells her patients it's better to be realistic about what they can do for the holidays and cutback if necessary. If you spend more than you can afford, you only beat yourself up for weeks and face a remorseful January when the credit card bills start rolling in.

"It's not a bad thing if you can't do what you did in the past," she said. "A financial diet can be a good thing for you."

She advocates planning now for changes in your holidays to avoid crisis decisions, talking openly and honestly with your family about the situation, and recognizing that you won't be alone in running leaner this year.

Above all, don't lose sight of the fact this season is all about hope.

"If people feel deprived and focus on what they're losing, they will find it difficult to be hopeful," Molitor said.

And, hope is something to be thankful for.