4 Tips to Manage Depression During the Holidays

When November and December roll around, it triggers the start of the holiday season. Festive lights, social gatherings, and holiday shopping are front and center this time of year. While the holiday season can be exciting and joyful for so many, for others, this time of year can bring on all sorts of negative feelings and emotions. 

The weather changes, pressure to spend lots of money, and increased social interactions can wear on anyone, but it might be particularly tricky to navigate when you have clinical depression. 

If you’re worried about your depression rearing its ugly head and ruining your holiday season, our team led by psychiatrist Venice Sanchez, MD, at her practice in Newport Beach, California, wants to offer some practical ways you can manage big emotions, low mood, and loneliness this fall and winter. 

1. Move your body and go outside

Exercise is one of the best ways to combat depression symptoms. Even though this busy time of year may not leave you with a lot of extra time on your hands, squeezing in some walking, jogging, yoga, or even a strength-training session could do wonders for your mental health. And the more you do it, the better you’ll feel. 

Being active outside could boost your mood even more. When you leave the confines of your house, it can reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation. Plus, time spent outdoors has even been linked to decreased risks of mental issues in the long run. 

2. Give back to others

During this time of year, plenty of organizations seek volunteers to give back to the community. You can explore opportunities to support those who need a little extra help by running a toy drive or serving food at your local soup kitchen. 

Volunteering has been shown to provide multiple mental health benefits such as giving you a sense of purpose and meaning, helping you develop empathy towards others, and making you feel like a part of something bigger than yourself. 

3. Stay anchored to trusted loved ones

When you’re going through a tough time — especially around the holidays, it can feel easy to withdraw and isolate. However, during this time of year, it’s more important than ever to stay connected to those you love and trust. 

Be purposeful in sharing how you feel with your closest friends and family members. They can help you process your feelings and thoughts, and may even provide some fresh insight on how you can get more support.  

4. Prepare some healthy coping mechanisms

If you know that spending time with certain co-workers or family members is difficult for you and worsens your negative emotions, set healthy boundaries for yourself. This could mean skipping out on some holiday gatherings or keeping a good friend close by while spending time with difficult people. 

In addition, you can keep a list of things handy that always seem to boost your mood. It could be journaling, meditating, or practicing a favorite hobby. Whatever it is, keep it visible as a reminder that there is always something you can do to re-center and improve your symptoms. 

To learn more about how to navigate depression this holiday season, book a session with Dr. Sanchez by calling or using our online booking feature today.