Making It Through The Holidays: Dealing With Holiday Blues, Depression & Anxiety
I love the holidays! This is my favorite time of the year. Beginning with Thanksgiving where all of my family gather together and enjoy eating, fun, eating, laughter, eating, watching football, sharing what we are thankful for and oh did I say eating?!? Then Christmas, where we celebrate the birth of Christ, giving and receiving gifts and of course eating Christmas dinner.
Now don’t get me wrong…even though I love the holidays, they can still be stressful, and I have learned to plan ahead as much as possible and to practice self-care. I also realize this time of the year can be very difficult, especially if you have lost a loved one or you experience seasonal depression and anxiety.
Holiday Blues can affect anyone even if you love the holidays. It is so important to know the causes, your particular triggers and how to cope.
What Causes Holiday Blues?
Stress
Fatigue
Unrealistic Expectations
Over-commercialization
Financial constraints
Grief & Loss
Know Your Trigger Points
Relationships
Finances
Physical Demands
Coping with Stress, Depression & Anxiety
Coping with Stress, Depression & Anxiety
Acknowledge your feelings. If a loved one has recently died or you aren’t able to be with your loved ones, realize that it’s normal to feel sadness or grief. Talk about your feelings and not keep them bottled up inside.
Forget about perfection and be realistic. Holiday TV specials are filled with happy endings. But in real life, people don’t usually resolve problems within an hour or two. Accept imperfections in yourself and in others. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Create new rituals. Consider doing something in memory of a loved one.
Focus on the true meaning of the holidays. Christmas is about the birth of Christ, love, joy, gratefulness, family and friends. Practice spiritual disciplines or prayer, meditation, journaling, reading scripture, singing and dancing.
Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make one big food-shopping trip. Expect travel delays, especially if you’re flying.
Learn to say no. If you can’t do certain projects or activities it’s ok to say no. Practice good self-care. Say yes only to what you really want to do, and avoid feeling resentful and overwhelmed.
Don’t abandon healthy habits. Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Some indulgence is ok, but overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Continue to get plenty of sleep and schedule time for physical activity.
Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Steal away to a quiet place for a few moments. Practice mindfulness.
Seek support. If you feel isolated or down, seek out family members and friends, or community, religious or social services. They can offer support and companionship. Consider volunteering at a community or religious function.
Skip it. I mean really. If you just can’t deal with the holiday’s it is ok to take a break this year. But before you get to this consider if you can simplify it, still make a plan to go to do another activity or visit one a friend.
When to Seek Professional Help
Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for several weeks, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. You may also need some type of low dose medication. The holidays can be fun, enjoyable and exciting. Therefore, it is important that you practice self-care by taking some time to prepare yourself mentally for the holidays. We at Living Ceremonies, your Nashville Wedding Officiant, would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
See you in 2024!!!