Holiday Blues Got you Down?

During the holiday season, it’s pretty common to see smiling faces everywhere you go as jolly carols are sung and festive decorations cover every home. For many, the holidays seem to be the happiest times, full of wonderful childhood memories and time spent with family. For others, however, it may seem to be the worst of times. This could be for a multitude of reasons. Whether a loved one has been lost, your family consists of the last people you want to be spending time with, you hate winter, or you’re just stressed out of your mind, you may be experiencing some ‘holiday blues’. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to fight them!

• Do not isolate yourself!
  When feeling depressed, it’s so easy to back out of any and all scheduled plans because you’d rather stay home and lay in bed. As enticing as Netflix may seem, it can be incredibly helpful to surround yourself with people you care about and simply enjoy their company. Even if it seems like a mere distraction at first, recent studies have shown that human interaction can be extremely beneficial in fighting against depression. You can read more about that here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201510/face-face-social-contact-reduces-risk-depression

  However, it’s important to not overbook yourself; you know how much you can handle better than anyone else.

• Practice healthy habits!
  You know the drill; get enough sleep, stay hydrated, drink less alcohol, exercise, and stock up on that fruit and veggie intake. You’ve heard it time and time again, but there’s a reason why we’re told to do these things. One can’t expect to have a happy and healthy brain if they’re not giving it what it so desperately needs.

• Volunteer!
  There are so many volunteer opportunities over the holidays. Food banks, Secret Santa groups, religious organizations, and more will gladly take some of your time to help those in need. It may be a step out of your comfort zone, but volunteering can have many positive emotional benefits. Who knows, maybe it’ll spark some of that good old Christmas spirit in you!

If the holidays have come and gone and you’re still feeling overwhelmed and exhausted with little motivation, there may be some other factors to consider. It may be wise to consider seeking outside help. If you’re feeling like this describes you, you’re in the right place! We can get you back on the road to hope and healing.