Early Christmas Lights Help Depression, Psychologist Says
In case you haven’t noticed, the holiday season appears to have started early this year.
Families and local governments all over the country have already begun decorating for Christmas.
And that’s a good thing, says Dr. Krystine Batcho, professor of psychology at Syracuse’s Le Moyne College.
“Lights, which obviously are associated with joy and bring back a lot of good memories, are a way of alleviating depression, sadness, feeling down, anxiety, stress,” Batcho tells USA Today.
“All the things the pandemic has increased.”
PHOTOS: ‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
‘Britain’s Most Festive Street’ Lights Up Again
ShareBURNHAM-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Christmas lights are displayed on houses in Trinity Close in Burnham-on-Sea on December 6, 2018 in Somerset, England. For over eleven years, the residents of Trinity Close, dubbed 'Britains most festive street have decorated their homes and gardens with more than a 100,000 colourful Christmas lights. Last year, the residents raised a record sum of £13,329 for local charities and since starting the festive display have raised over £85,000 for charitable causes. The display will be lit every night until early January. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
