I have never been remotely ashamed of having been depressed. Never. What’s to be ashamed of? I went through a really rough time, and I am quite proud that I got out of that.
-J.K. Rowlings
Do you find yourself getting depressed this time of year?
Maybe it starts with feeling disconnected from others and the holiday spirit at large.
Or
Having too much to do and not enough time to do it all.
Or
It may be related to SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
Or
FOMO
Or
Feeling isolated because you’re so far away from family and friends this year.
Or
Overspending (even after telling yourself you wouldn’t do it again this year).
Or
The buildup and let down of the holidays…
There can be a lot of reasons why you may be feeling sad, depressed or just not like yourself this time of year.
Here are some symptoms of depression that may show up around the holidays:
- Depressed mood
- Sleep changes
- Loss of interest in things you usually enjoy doing
- Lowered level of concentration
- Feelings of guilt
- Decreased energy
- Restlessness/agitation
- Suicidal ideation
- An increase or decrease in appetite
Have you experienced any of these symptoms in your life recently?
If you’re currently pregnant or in postpartum, perinatal depression symptoms around the holidays may look a little different, and may include:
- Sadness/frequent crying spells
- Trouble sleeping/sleeping too much
- Exhaustion
- Agitation
- Feeling disconnected from your baby
- Frequent feelings of anger and frustration
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Trouble remembering things
- Not being hungry or eating more than usual
Have you experienced any of these perinatal symptoms during the holiday season?
So, what can you do if you’re struggling right now? Here are some coping strategies to help with holiday depression symptoms:
- Talk to a therapist
- Talk to your doctor about medication
- Spend time outdoors
- Create time for self-care, every day if possible
- Spend time with loved ones, or do a zoom call if they live far away
- Create a warm and cozy environment (Hygge anyone?)- build a fire in the fireplace, snuggle under a blanket, put on some fuzzy socks or a fleece sweatshirt, cook some soup or sip a warm drink, etc.
What else would you add to this list that’s been helpful to you and your healing?
It can be hard when depression symptoms hit this time of year. A time of year when society says we’re all supposed to be happy and shiny and bright and joy filled people. Know that you aren’t alone in feeling the way you’re feeling, and with help and support you will feel better and be back to yourself soon!
