The holiday season is a time of year that many people look forward to. Despite the pressures of food planning, travel, and gift-giving, many people still find it to be a joyful time of year. However, this is not always the case. The holidays may be a challenging and emotionally draining time for some individuals.
According to one study, 38% of people believed their stress levels rose throughout the holiday season. Stress can raise the likelihood of sickness, substance abuse, anxiety, and despair. This was particularly noticeable during the pandemic. Depressed feelings around the holidays are a very real, yet curable, problem. No matter what you’re going through, reach out to us, we are here to help!
In this article, we’ll discuss the reasons for holiday stress and sadness, as well as ways to get help this season.
Causes of Holiday Depression
Everyone spends the holiday period differently, and individual circumstances play a large role in how and why somebody might suffer stress or despair. However, these are among the most prevalent reasons for holiday depression:
• General stress
• Mental and physical fatigue
• Financial stress
• High expectations
• Loneliness
Dealing with Holiday Stress
Here are some tips for maintaining your mental health throughout the holidays:
Set Realistic Expectations
Make an effort to develop reasonable goals for yourself. Take your time. Schedule your time. Make a list of the most critical activities and prioritize them. Be honest with yourself about what you’re able to and cannot achieve. Don’t put all of your efforts into just one day. Remember, it’s the holiday season, and events may be spaced out to reduce stress and improve enjoyment.
Limit Social Media Use
Consider taking a break from using social media if viewing other people’s holiday images causes you to compare yourself. Find winter pastimes to do (alone or with others) that aren’t related to the holidays, such as snowshoeing.
Pay Attention to Self-Care
Continue to practice yoga if it helps you manage stress. Connect with friends and family as much as possible if spending quality time with them helps. Find time for your self-care, and be willing to try new self-care techniques.
Seek Support and Help
Talking to an expert could help you in dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. In addition, if you’re suffering from holiday-related stress or seasonal affective disorder, a therapist may suggest beneficial lifestyle modifications to help ease some symptoms.
The holidays can provide a variety of difficulties. And, when it pertains to mental health and stress issues, there’s a tendency to want to sit it out and observe what happens. However, if you are anxious or sad, now is the time to talk to somebody.