How to Beat the Holiday Blues: 3 Tips for a Brighter Holiday Season
The holidays can bring great joy. But why do some people feel sad this time of year? The pressure to show excitement combined with the rush of holiday activities and obligations can be deeply challenging for people struggling with stress, depression, and grief.
麻豆视频Department of Psychiatry experts Anna Defayette, Ph.D., and Morica Hutchison, Ph.D., offer the following tips for beating the holiday blues:
Feel all the feelings
Feel your emotions in a safe way. Acknowledge them. Take time to cry or express your feelings instead of burying or denying them.
A recent survey shows you鈥檙e not alone. It鈥檚 ok to feel sad about missing family 鈥� 47% of Americans do; worried about affording gifts 鈥� 46% of Americans do; or nervous about contracting and spreading COVID-19 鈥� 43% of vaccinated adults do, too.
Reframe your thinking
Recognize and reframe unhelpful thoughts. Don鈥檛 believe everything you think. Ask yourself if your thoughts are true and helpful. If they are not, ask 鈥淲hat would be truer or more helpful for me right now?鈥�
If you need help processing your thoughts or they鈥檙e starting to disrupt your life, it might be time to ask for help. Explore 5 reasons to speak with a Mental Health professional, with information on how to find the right mental health service for you.
Build your tribe
Seek support from others鈥攏ot just from family and friends but from religious communities, community organizations, social events or volunteering. There are also apps like and that can connect you with people who have similar interests.
Make a plan for people to check in with you or a plan for getting through something especially challenging.
For more on these tips, view this from Defayette and Hutchison.