With the holidays right around the corner, you may already be feeling the pressure about what’s to come. Stress, anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders are not uncommon during the holidays.
Coping with depression that peaks during the holidays can be supported by various coping mechanisms that can help lessen the impacts it has on you over the coming months.
Here are five coping strategies that you can implement to help lessen the impacts of depression this holiday season:
Acknowledge Your Feelings
One of the worst things one can do when feeling depressed is to repress those feelings. It’s important to acknowledge, feel, and honor the feelings you have. By doing so, you are working through and process the feelings you have healthily. By bottling up your emotions or feelings, you inevitably become a ticking time bomb where one day, you’ll explode, and those within range will feel the wrath. This could cause problems in relationships, with your career, your overall health, and well-being, to name a few.
Get Support
Now more than ever is a time to seek support. Whether that be from a medical professional, such as a counselor or psychiatrist, calling the SAMHSA’s National Helpline, or friends and family, the point is don’t be afraid to ask for the help you need.
It’s important to have an outlet to share your thoughts, feelings, and emotions with someone to be your support system when times become too much to handle yourself.
Create and Set Healthy Boundaries
When it comes to handling your feelings of depression, it’s also important to create and set healthy boundaries to avoid what does not serve your highest good and allows you to be at your optimal best.
Some boundaries to consider are avoiding social media, going to bed at a certain time of night, not watching TV or movies that may trigger you, or saying to people, places, or things that don’t bring you joy during this time. It’s ok, to not be ok and saying no is perfectly fine. Those who love you will understand that you need some healthy space, not complete isolation, during this time, and can offer you the support you need appropriate for your needs.
Practice Self-Care and Self-Love
Practicing self-care and self-love is essential to do year-round, but even more so during the holidays. Taking time to care for yourself and do the things that bring you joy is not selfish by any means. It’s quite healthy!
Therefore, take time to do more of what you love this holiday season. Whether that be watching Hallmark movies, taking a hot bath, giving yourself at at-home mani or pedi – do what makes you happy!
You can treat yourself to some of our IV drips or a Ketamine Therapy as self-care options too!
Be Realistic
Holidays are a trying time for anyone. Be realistic about the holidays and don’t set unrealistic expectations about it – period. Focus on making the most of the holiday and less on all the details or it having to be perfect. Perfection is an illusion and the thievery of joy. Create some realistic goals and expectations for the holiday season and focus on attaining them.
Lastly, you can also support yourself with depression through various alternative and holistic healing methods. Kayla Brissi, a guest contributor, provide our blog with the article, 5 Ways to Holistically Ease Your Mood Disorder Symptoms. You may find these methods useful in coping with your depression during the holidays.
As you can see, there are a variety of ways that you can find the support and care you need to manage your depression during the holidays. May this article provide you some hope as you navigate the coming months.
Share in the comments: What coping methods are you looking forward to trying this holiday season to help you manage your depression?
Keywords: Holidays Seasonal Depression, Depression, Anxiety, Holiday Depression, Coping with Depression, Mood Disorders, Mental Health, Mental Health Awareness, Healthy Living, Health and Wellness, Transformation, Healthy Lifestyle, Micronutrients, Diet, Nutrition, Multivitamin, Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements, Alternative Medicine, Alternative Healing, Holistic Healing, Mindfulness, Mindful Meditation, Meditation, Aromatherapy, Essential Oils, doTERRA, Kayla Brissi, Intuitive Spiritual Warrior, Intuitive Spiritual Warrior Holistic Consulting & Healing, Stacy McIntyre, Rejuvenate IV Hydration and Wellness Center, Olympia, Washington, Small Business, Local Business, Women in Business, Locally Owned, Love Local
