The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. From the twinkling lights, parties, gifts, decorations, to the festive music, everything around us seems just so cheery. But for many people, the holidays are an incredibly difficult and emotional time. The holidays can bring about a sense of sadness, anxiety, grief, and even depression. We call this, “The Holiday Blues.”
What are The Holiday Blues?
The holiday blues refer to feelings of sadness, loneliness, anxiety, grief, and stress that some people experience during the holiday season. Unlike clinical depression, which is more persistent and may require more long term, professional treatment, the holiday blues are typically temporary and linked to the holiday season itself. The Holiday Blues can start as early as October- when Halloween kicks off the anticipation and sometimes dread of entering into the holiday season and they can hang around as long as February or Valentine’s Day.
Though temporary, these feelings can still be overwhelming and have a significant impact on your mental health.
Common Triggers of The Holiday Blues:
- Loneliness and isolation: The holidays emphasize family and togetherness, which can be difficult and triggering for those who are alone or have strained, toxic, complicated, or abusive family relationships. Or maybe you have close family relationships but your family lives far away, out of town, out of state, or even out of the country. Plane tickets are extremely pricey during the holidays and not everyone can afford to visit their families during the holidays.
- Financial stress: The pressure to buy gifts, attend events, and partake in holiday traditions can strain finances, leading to financial stress, anxiety, embarassment, or even shame. The commercialization of the holidays often makes it easy to feel like you’re not doing enough if you’re not spending a ton of money on the latest trends or popular gadgets.
- Grief and loss: The holidays can be a painful reminder of loved ones who are no longer with you. Traditions that once brought you joy may now feel hollow, and the absence of those you’ve lost can feel particularly pronounced during the holiday season.
- Unrealistic expectations: The pressure to create the “perfect” holiday can be overwhelming. Whether it’s hosting the perfect dinner, buying the perfect gifts, or being cheery all throughout the holiday season, these expectations can lead to burnout and disappointment when reality doesn’t measure up. But the thing is- it never will. There is no such thing as the perfect holiday. Your unrealistic expectations are setting you up for failure.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): The shorter days and colder weather can contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that occurs at certain times of the year. The lack of sunlight can affect your mood and energy levels, making the holiday blues feel even more intense. Check out my blog to learn more about SAD and discover if you are suffering with the condition.
Coping Strategies for The Holiday Blues:
Though the holiday season may be extremely challenging or triggering for you, there are things you can do to ease the difficulty and to find peace and maybe even some joy during this time. Here are some ideas. Please let me know your ideas in the comments! I would love if you would feel comfortable sharing how you manage the difficulty of the holiday season. Hopefully your tips and strategies will help others.
- Acknowledge Your Feelings: It’s okay to feel sad, lonely, or stressed during the holidays. Recognize your emotions and give yourself permission to experience them without judgment.
- Set Realistic Expectations: Let go of the idea that the holidays need to be perfect. Focus on what’s meaningful to you and allow yourself to celebrate in a way that feels authentic.
- Create New Traditions: If old traditions bring pain, consider creating new ones. This could be as simple as taking a walk on Christmas morning, volunteering at a local charity, hosting a low-key gathering with friends, or skipping the holidays all together! Who says you have to celebrate the holidays? You’re an adult, you get to make your own rules.
- Reach Out for Support: Lean on your support system. Talk to a trusted friend, join a support group, or seek professional help. Reaching out can make a big difference. You can book a free coaching consult call with me HERE
- Practice Self-Care: Self-Care is always necessary but especially during the holiday season. Take the time to care for yourself. This is could include maintaining your regular habits like your bed time routine, eating well, physical movement, and engaging in activities that bring you joy.
- Limit Social Media Exposure: Social media can contribute to feelings of loneliness. Seeing everyone else’s seemingly perfect holiday may have you comparing yourself to others and bring up feelings of envy. Limit your time on these platforms if they make you feel worse, and remember that what you see online is often a highlight reel, not the full picture.
- Be Mindful of Alcohol Consumption: While it might be tempting to use alcohol to cope with holiday stress, it can actually exacerbate feelings of depression and anxiety. Drink in moderation and be mindful of your consumption.
When to Seek Help:
If the holiday blues persist or worsen, it may be a sign of a more serious issue such as clinical depression. If you’re struggling to cope, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can help you navigate your feelings and develop strategies to manage them. If you are looking for some emotional support this holiday season, you can book a free consult call with me HERE.
The holiday season can be a difficult time, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. By acknowledging your feelings, setting realistic expectations, and taking steps to care for yourself during this time, you can navigate the holiday blues and find moments of peace this season. It’s okay to redefine what the holidays mean to you, to celebrate in a way that feels right for you, or to skip the holiday season altogether.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed this holiday season, reach out to someone you trust, and remember to be gentle with yourself.
Listen to the Podcast Episode:
I recently released a podcast episode all about the holiday blues and how to manage it. Listen on your favorite podcasting platform and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and leave me a review- it helps my podcast to grow!
If you’re missing someone special this holiday season, read my blog to discover many ways you can honor your loved one and their memory.