Mental health | Holidays Aren’t Happy For Everyone- Tips On Managing Holiday Depression
The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and family togetherness. But, for many people, they can also trigger feelings of loneliness, depression, or anxiety. In fact, some studies show that up to 70% of Americans experience symptoms of depression during the holidays. What causes this? The answer is complicated but there are some factors that can increase someone’s risk of developing depression during the holidays such as increased exposure to alcohol (which is a depressant), fatigue from traveling or staying up late, stress from shopping, volunteering, etc., grief over the loss of a loved one and exposure to family members you don’t often see (and may not get along with).
Holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, family togetherness, and gratitude.
However, the reality is that holidays can be difficult for many individuals and families due to the added stress associated with shopping, lack of time and money, overindulgence, and unrealistic expectations. This can also lead to feelings of loneliness, depression, or anxiety for many people.
The holiday blues are common and normal as they are often triggered by changes in our daily routines or schedules which make it more difficult for us to cope with our daily lives at home or work. For example:
- Christmas Day falls on a Sunday so we don’t have school/work;
- New Year’s Eve falls on a Monday so you have another day off from work;
- Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday so there is no school/work again;
These situations may lead you to feel overwhelmed by all the extra free time which adds up over several days during this period.
Some people will experience a mild form of depression known as the “holiday blues” around this time of year.
It’s very common for up to 70% of people to experience a bout of holiday blues. In its most severe forms, it’s known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is estimated to affect roughly 5% of Americans and it is four times more likely to affect women than men. A recent study by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health found that 50% of Canadians feel symptoms of either anxiety or depression during the holidays compared to 37% at other times during the year.
In its most severe forms, holiday blues can be a sign of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that’s more common during the winter months. This type of depression is estimated to affect roughly 5% of Americans and it is four times more likely to affect women than men. A recent study by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health found that 50% of Canadians feel symptoms of either anxiety or depression during the holidays compared to 37% at other times during the year.
While depression can occur at any time during the year, there are some factors that can increase someone’s risk of developing depression during the holidays.
Some factors can include increased exposure to alcohol (which is a depressant), fatigue from traveling or staying up late, stress from shopping, volunteering, etc., grief over the loss of a loved one, and exposure to family members you don’t often see (and may not get along with).
You aren’t alone if you’re feeling depressed this holiday season. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about 10 percent of Americans will experience clinical depression during the holidays. Depression is more common during certain times of the year for a variety of reasons including:
- Lack of sleep
- Stress from shopping and traveling
- Grief over the loss of a loved one or other significant life events such as marriage/divorce/birth/death, etc.
- Exposure to family members that you don’t often see (and may not get along with)
- Financial concerns, etc.
Begin Working With a Depression Therapist in North Carolina
If you’re experiencing a bout of depression or anxiety during the holidays you don’t have to do it alone. Our team of caring therapists would be honored to support you in coping with your depression symptoms. We offer services from our Ashville, NC-based practice and across the state of North Carolina. To contact Resilient Mind Counseling, please call or Text 828-515-1246 or visit resilientmindcounseling.com to schedule your FREE 15-minute call. You can start your therapy journey by following these simple steps:
- Reach out to us to have a free consultation with an online therapist
- Have your first appointment with Resilient Mind Counseling
- Start receiving the support you deserve!
Other Services Offered with Resilient Mind Counseling
Our team understands you may experience more than one mental health issue this holiday season. This is why we are happy to offer support with a variety of mental health services in addition to depression treatment. We are happy to offer multiple services including therapy for BIPOC and neurodivergent populations. We also provide anxiety treatment, trauma therapy, PTSD treatment, mood disorder treatment, and bipolar disorder treatment. Feel free to visit our blog to learn more today!
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