For my family, the holidays always turn into a house full of relatives and friends. The door never stays shut for long with all the people wanting to come by to share some holiday cheer.

However, for some, the holidays are anything but jolly.

The lack of merriment you feel around the holidays can be more than just a case of the blues, it can be serious depression.

For many, the holidays get swallowed up by the expectations we feel. There is the pressure to decorate, the stress of finding the right gift for everyone, and the anxiety caused by seeing relatives whose expectations you don't feel you live up to.

Sometimes the financial stress of affording gifts can be unbearable. Particularly when the economy is weak, the pressure to buy gifts can make you lose sleep. And sometimes we find ourselves feeling sad and aren't even sure why.

If this sounds familiar, then know that there are things you can do to take control of your depression. Experts recommend some simple steps to help improve your mental health around the holidays.

• Exercise: With all the big to-do lists, we forget to take care of ourselves. Exercise is a great way to work through stress.

• Scale back: Don't cut out things you enjoy, but don't let yourself get overextended. Your friends and relatives care about you more than gifts. Set a budget you can afford and stick to it. Don't feel like you have to wrap your entire house in holly and lights. Decorate just as much as you want to.

• Avoid Alcohol: The holidays can be flooded with eggnog and wine, but remember that alcohol is a depressant. If you are feeling low, having a drink may numb you for a little while, but it is likely to leave you feeling worse when the buzz wears off.

The bottom line is that taking care of yourself will help you enjoy the holidays better.

For seniors and people with disabilities, holiday depression is often the result of isolation. Bad weather makes leaving home for a visit dangerous and discourages relatives from making the trip in to see them.

Here at Options, we want to encourage you to take the time to go out to the home of a relative or family friend who might not be able to get out to see you. Visit someone you know in a nursing home or assisted living facility to let them know they are still loved.

Even better than going out to visit a person with a disability is bringing them out to be included in the family gatherings again.

Here at Options, we can help make this possible through our loan closet.

The loan closet is a collection of equipment that people with disabilities can borrow to help them address barriers they face in their homes and community. Families of people with disabilities can borrow equipment like walkers and wheelchairs to help include everyone in their holiday festivities.

If you are interested in borrowing equipment from the loan closet, please

contact me at Options at 255-3447.

Collin M. Sullivan is an ADA/access advocate for Options