Handling Holiday Depression and Reigniting Your Christmas Spirit
What happens the most joyous time of year is filled with nothing but fear and frustration? When, instead of overflowing with the proverbial Christmas spirit, you would rather hit the local bar for a glass of spirits?
Whether you care to admit it or not, depression is a real thing for many people as the holidays draw closer. The intensity of life increases, past grief is brought back to the surface, family demands increase to unsustainable levels, and financial stress wears us down. Did you know that more than half of those who deal with mental health struggles report that the struggles get worse in December? In fact, the kind of depression that sets in during the holidays and through the winter months affect 10 million Americans every year.
So whether it is as simple as this time of year just frustrates you, as complex as navigating ongoing mental health issues during a difficult time of year, or anything in between—you are not alone.
But you can do a few things to better set yourself up for success when those negative feelings begin to take root, and you start to lose your Christmas Spirit.
Recognize Your Feelings
It sounds simple, but many of us have been taught to suppress our feelings over the years. We are expected to be happy all the time, that anger is sinful, and sadness is reserved for significant moments of grief from loss. Still, it should pass in a reasonable amount of time. Some of us were even taught that sharing our feelings can be seen as inconvenient, so be sure to think of others before you word vomit in their lap.
All this does is lead to emotional immaturity.
Instead, recognize and own your feelings. Have you seen Pixar's Inside Out? The character Riley, a preteen girl, comes into her own understanding of her emotions as she deals with significant life changes. She learns that every emotion should be embraced and has something to teach us. It's learning the proper way to navigate those emotions. It's about learning emotional intelligence. Owning your emotions has a unique way of healing the past, navigating the present, and embracing the future.
Click Here to Learn More About Defining Emotions
Know Your Limits
The holidays have a way of pushing us beyond our limits. Others do it to us, and we even do it to ourselves. We attempt to be all things to all people. Until we have burned ourselves out. What happens to an introverted person who needs time to recover and energize alone when they spend too much time around crowds of people socializing? Speaking from experience, it never ends well. Or the gracious giver seeking to make every friend and family happy with the perfect gift? That is until financial stress takes over because you spent too much.
We all have our limits. Be honest with yours. And stick to them. Communicate to others what those limits are, and don't be ashamed or embarrassed by them. If socializing one more time is too much, say so. If you're short on cash, it's ok not to buy as many gifts this year. Find another way to love your friends and family.
Click Here to Learn More About Self-Compassion and Boundaries
Stay off Social Media
The point I want to make here is about comparison—which can extend far beyond social media. But that is where I see the toxic nature of comparison has the most impact.
You probably know how this goes. You're sitting in your favorite chair one evening, thrilled at the house you decorated, the presents you bought, and even the matching family pajamas you'll be photographed wearing on Christmas morning. That is until you scroll past countless "friends" on social media who seem to always do everything better than you. You know that social media doesn't always represent reality, but that doesn't matter; you still allow yourself to believe it.
Now, while the thoughts are difficult to turn off, you can avoid the temptation by limiting how often you're on social media. This goes right back to knowing your limits.
Click Here to Learn About Social Media Limits
Don't Abandon Healthy Habits
We once thought it took 21 days to break and change a habit. Experts now agree that is not necessarily true. It takes about 21 days to establish a new routine, but it takes 63 days to develop a lasting habit.
The good news is that many of the good habits we have established throughout the year won't change in just a few weeks through the holiday season. The bad news is that the time leading up to Thanksgiving, through Christmas and New Year, is enough to establish a new routine and to run in that routine long enough after New Year to make it a habit.
What does this mean for you? Be careful what routines and habits you are establishing right now. Hopefully, you have developed some lasting and healthy mental health habits over the year. But the magnified shift in schedules and routines makes it incredibly easy to stay there.
Don't.
Stay within your healthy habits and your routines—the things that feed your mind and soul positively and positively.
Click Here to Read More About the Benefits of Routine
Final Thoughts
This time of year should be joyous, fun, reflective, sometimes stressful, and even a little wacky—but never at the expense of our mental health. Don't waiver. Pay attention. If you need additional support, seek help. You can text 494949 24/7 to speak with one of RemedyLIVE's trained SoulMedics, talk with a friend, or even seek professional help if you need to.
