The holiday season may be 鈥渢he most wonderful time of the year," but it鈥檚 the most dreaded for some. The holidays fill the air with happiness and cheer, but they can also carry stress and sadness for many people, especially those who deal with an underlying mental health condition.
, a 亚洲自慰视频 and adolescent psychiatrist at , shares her expertise and tips on making this holiday season more enjoyable鈥攆or everyone.
Check-in With Yourself
It鈥檚 essential to recognize how you are feeling. If you notice yourself feeling more down, irritable, tearful, or exhausted, or having more difficulties with your sleep or appetite than usual, it鈥檚 time to ask for help.
If you have already been diagnosed with depression or an anxiety disorder in the past, it may be time to check in with your treating clinician to see about adjusting your treatment. If you have never been diagnosed with depression but are experiencing some of the symptoms above, you may consider seeing your primary care provider or a mental health professional to assess and possibly start treatment.
Many things outside of traditional treatment can help your changing mood. 鈥淚t鈥檚 imperative to realize when your mood starts to fall, there is usually a drop in activities that contribute to positive mood,鈥 Weir says. 鈥淲hen you start to feel bad, you tend to do less, and when you do less, you can end up feeling even worse.鈥
Fight SAD
is a sleeping giant, lying dormant for three-quarters of the year. As the days get shorter and darker and the snow starts to fall, people have less energy, are less likely to be productive, and begin to feel hopeless. These are common symptoms of SAD, a type of set apart by a seasonal pattern.
You can alleviate symptoms of SAD by:
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Getting more light
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Spending time outdoors
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Picking up new hobbies
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Eating more veggies, protein, and whole grains
Tips to Avoid Holiday Stress and Anxiety
鈥淭oo often, we act based on how we feel, rather than what we should be doing or what is best for us,鈥 Weir says. 鈥淲e let these negative feelings take over鈥攖houghts like, 鈥業 don鈥檛 feel like seeing a friend鈥 or 鈥業 feel like having a drink,鈥 etc. These thoughts can be clues that we are acting based on a negative feeling. When we are not feeling our best, we don鈥檛 feel like doing much of anything positive.鈥
Here are a few suggestions from Weir to avoid鈥攐r cope鈥攚ith the .
- Follow a schedule: 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to schedule things and ideally have someone like a friend, family member, or therapist hold you accountable to following through,鈥 Weir says. Writing down your schedule for the day makes it easier to stick to a plan.
- Write things down: 鈥淲rite down things that help you boost your mood and note what you are doing when you are feeling your best,鈥 Weir says. Even something as simple as keeping a journal or writing on a sticky note or notepad can help you reflect and see the patterns on days that you felt better. Then, you can use those tips for days that are harder.
- Limit your alcohol use: 鈥淭his can be hard to do during the holiday season due to festivities and how frequently people tend to turn to alcohol to cope with stress,鈥 Weir says. 鈥淏ut excessive alcohol use can have a harmful effect on mood and sleep.鈥 Try to limit alcohol to holiday social events and no more than 1-2 drinks in one sitting. Or ditch alcohol entirely and enjoy other holiday beverages like cider or hot chocolate.
- Plan something for yourself after the holidays: A vacation, even if short, can really boost spirits. Having something to look forward to is important, and this does not have to be an expensive outing. Even a day out with one or two people you care about can lift your mood exponentially.
- Watch what you are eating: 鈥淚t鈥檚 completely normal to splurge on holiday cookies and treats during this time, and that鈥檚 okay,鈥 Weir says. 鈥淏ut try to balance the indulgence by planning healthy meals on days when you don鈥檛 have social events or plans.鈥
- Volunteer: Giving back to your community and to others in need can be a great way to do something positive that helps you as well as others. Volunteering can also be a great way to connect with people who may share similar interests if you are feeling lonely. Many people volunteer or donate during the holiday season, but try to turn this into a year-round activity, even if you can only give a few hours per month.
- Limit your time on social media: 鈥淪ocial media doesn鈥檛 always make people feel better, and there is growing concern it may make your mental health worse,鈥 Weir says. Social media can be overwhelming at times, but even more so around the holidays, when people have more free time on their hands to use their devices. However, Weir reminds us that 鈥減eople鈥檚 lives aren鈥檛 as rosy as they portray on social media鈥攖his can be hard to realize when you are feeling low. So limit your time on your devices and spend time doing the things you enjoy with the people you care about.鈥
- Set boundaries: Be comfortable with saying no to things鈥and to people that may cause you stress. Setting healthy boundaries with things, people, and family is even more important during the holiday season.
The holidays should be enjoyed with the people you love and care about, but they can also be hard for many people. It鈥檚 perfectly normal to feel sad at times, but if you note these feelings lasting longer than a few days, reach out to someone you love to talk about what you're feeling, or . You also can seek help from , which provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.