BEATING THE BLUES; HOSPITAL HELPS LIFT HOLIDAY SPIRITS.

Byline: Lee Condon Staff Writer

'Tis the season to be jolly, but for some it marks the onset of the ``holiday blues.''

On Monday, Glendale Adventist Medical Center offered a seminar on overcoming the holiday blues hosted by Dr. Timothy Atha, a psychology intern in the hospital's division of family medicine.

``The holidays sometimes represent a time period where people feel alone and depressed'' Atha said. ``We have to buy gifts for people, we're bombarded by commercials and sometimes have to make travel plans. We're overwhelmed and that isn't really the spirit of Christmas.''

Atha said that people who are feeling depressed during the holiday should try not to overextend themselves with holiday activities.

Bernice Wein, who works with a health maintenance organization for seniors called Secure Horizons - which co-sponsored the seminar targeted toward seniors, said she has been lacking in holiday cheer this year because a close friend recently died.

``I have my family that I have to be happy for. But because I'm missing a friend there's still a sadness there,'' Wein said.

She tried to cope with her feelings by sending Christmas cards to the late friend's children, who she has never met.

``I wrote them Christmas cards telling them how much I miss her,'' Wein said. ``It takes care of sides of it, myself and them too.''

One senior citizen, whose husband recently died, said she doesn't have her normal Christmas spirit. While this woman typically spends the Christmas season baking and making preparations, this year she is not in the mood and can't even address cards.

Atha suggested she give herself a break and only participate in activities she enjoys.

``If you're not ready to write cards yet, don't write cards,'' Atha said.

Rachel A. Yanez, the senior services specialist for Glendale Adventist, acknowledged that the holidays have been difficult for her since her mother died when she was a child.

``I haven't enjoyed Christmas since,'' Yanez said.

But this year she and friends are organizing a Christmas party for underprivileged children.

``It's made me feel so good,'' she said.

Also this year, Yanez and her siblings are holding a family Christmas party early in December to avoid the annual scheduling conflicts that keep them apart on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

``It's the first time in 36 years that I'm looking forward to Christmas,'' Yanez said.