In our last blog post, we talked about stress and the holidays. In this post, we’ll continue our talk on the holidays and the struggle with depression that some people face.

For many, the holidays are a time filled with fun, family, and happiness. But for some, it can be a difficult time of the year, especially for those struggling with depression.

There are many different triggers for depression around the holidays: unrealistic expectations, financial pressures, too many commitments, or a loss. Maybe it’s the first holiday after you’ve lost a loved one, or maybe it’s the tenth Christmas since their passing. No matter the timeline, when there’s a loss or a major change in our lives and our family, our traditions have to change, too, and that can be difficult to handle.

Keep in mind that it’s important to accept the sadness: you have to experience the sadness in order to get past it. Reach out to those someone when you are feeling sad. Catching your feelings before they develop into depression is key. Look to trusted family members, to your pastor, your doctor, or your therapist, and talk about your feelings to them.

If it is the loss of someone that is making you sad, chances are, the rest of your family will also be feeling those same emotions. Lean on each other, and think back to memories that involve your loved one. If you are going through a job loss or a divorce, look to the future for hope.

If you know the holidays are a trigger for your depression, try to get ahead of it. Take care of yourself. Holiday parties tend to involve alcohol, and it’s important to limit yourself or stay away from it completely, as alcohol can be a trigger. Schedule time for a workout, eat healthy, and get enough sleep. Studies have shown that there’s a link between sleep loss and depression, so it’s important that your sleep isn’t cut back during the holidays.

Read up on how others deal with their triggers that are brought on by the holidays. There’s a helpful survival guide here that gives tips on surviving the holidays with less stress, less anxiety, and less sadness.

If you happen to know that Christmas is a trigger for your depression, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact Reka by phone at 402-881-8125, by email at reka@omaha-counseling.com, or via Twitter or Facebook.


photo credit: Steve took it via photopin cc