5 Strategies for Managing Holiday Depression 

Everywhere you look, you’re reminded that the holiday season is here, and you may find it hard to muster any enthusiasm. In reality, enthusiasm might be in short supply for you anyway thanks to depression, but you’re really not looking forward to the holidays.

Whether you deal with depression or not, most people feel a little extra stress around the holidays. One study found that 9 out of 10 Americans reported holiday-related stress. If you couple that with the fact that depression rates are at an all-time high in the United States — 29% of adults are affected by depression — that’s a recipe for a not-so-joyous holiday season.

To help you manage your depression and mental health over the holidays, our team at Point of View Mental Health in Scottsdale, Arizona, shares some great strategies that will, hopefully, allow you to enjoy yourself.

Make a plan beforehand

Many of our patients come to us before the holidays to help them prepare, and we applaud this decision. The holidays can be a lot less daunting if you have a plan in place that prioritizes your mental health going in.

This pre-gaming, if you will, provides you with a better foundation to work from as we cover coping strategies that will work best for your unique situation. We also make sure you have the resources you need to get you through the holidays such as medications and support group information.

Some holiday best practices to manage your depression

To give you an idea about some of the strategies we often suggest to our patients, here are a few examples:

1. Stay connected

When you deal with depression, you may be prone to isolation, and this isn’t a good idea over the holidays. Yes, carve out some “you” time, but also get involved in activities around you.

We also recommend joining some online support groups which become very active during the holiday season.

2. Maintain your boundaries

While we want you to stay connected, we also encourage you to create and maintain boundaries. There can be a lot of pressure to make yourself available for every event, and you might not feel up to it. Remember, you can pick and choose your events and leave any time you don’t feel comfortable.

3. Pamper yourself

To put your best self forward over the holidays, spend a little time showing yourself some love. Take a long, hot bath, curl up with a book, get a massage. These are all great activities that can influence your mood for the better.

4. Get moving

One of the best ways to get your mind out of negative thought patterns is to move your body. Not only does movement get you unstuck, but it also encourages the release of feel-good hormones in your brain. So, be sure to schedule some nice walks, yoga, or whatever gets you moving over the holidays.

5. Unplug

The world can be a very negative place, so it’s a great idea to unplug for a little bit over the holidays. Turn off the news, shut down social media, and focus on the present. The world will wait while you take a much-needed timeout.

There are many other effective ways to manage your depression over the holidays, and we’re happy to help develop a plan that makes sense for you. To get that ball rolling, contact our office at 520-999-9114 or connect with us online. We also offer telemedicine services throughout the state of Arizona.