Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
This holiday season, people across the world are stressed now more than ever as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. People have been laid off from work or are restricted to staying home because they are more at risk of suffering from the virus than others. This, combined with holiday depression, has made conditions worse for 64 percent of people who suffer from mental illness. As a result, everyone must pay close attention to their mental health and be wary of how the holidays are affecting it, and work to ensure that everyone gets through the holidays without breaking down from the seasonal pressures.
Coping With Holiday Depression and Stress
Obviously, this year is different from others. This means that expectations for the holidays this year must differ from previous years. Setting expectations too high at a time like this will only worsen your stress and depression. Realizing that good health is more important than the number of presents is crucial in keeping a sound mind. Keep track of your holiday spending to ensure that bills don’t feel heavy once they start rolling in. Explain to your children why the holidays are different this year and that it won’t always be like this. Not being able to see family members during the holidays can worsen anyone’s depression.
Fortunately, with technology, we can video chat with our loved ones and share our thoughts and worries and make plans for the next holiday season. You can work together to plan for a time when you’ll be able to celebrate with your family. Communication is key during the holiday season in order for others to know how you’re feeling. Receiving positive feedback from a trusted friend or family member is helpful during a time where many feel lonely.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal Affective Disorder may also be contributing to the worsening of your depression during the holidays. People like me who live in a state that lacks sun exposure during the winter months understand how tired and irritable one gets without any sunlight. Below are some solutions to this problem:
- Light therapy box: This mimics real sunlight and tricks your brain to cause a chemical change that lightens your mood.
- Natural light: Even with access to artificial light inside, still be sure to go outside whenever there’s a sunny day. Light therapy should be used as a second option for natural light.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This can help someone change the way they feel about a situation, and they can learn what they can do in order to help themselves feel better. Does meeting a therapist in person make you nervous? Find one that offers Zoom meetings.
This Year Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect
This won’t be a picture-perfect holiday for most. Nonetheless, we are all living through a pandemic that hopefully our children won’t have to experience. With businesses shutting down and children stuck at home without their friends, we must all focus on our mental health. During a time like this, we mustn’t stray from self care in order to provide something unattainable. Rather we should sit with our families, in person or through video chat, and discuss how we feel. In doing this we can all get through the holidays without strengthening our depression.
