holidays

5 Simple Tips for Navigating the Holidays When You Have Depression

5 Simple Tips for Navigating the Holidays When You Have Depression

For people with depression, the holidays can be a particularly challenging time. Often, people with depression have a negative view of themselves and their lives. If their idealized beliefs about what the holidays should look like don’t match their perceived reality, it can be very difficult to manage. They may feel inadequate when perusing social media or receiving holiday cards, and seeing only happy news that people share. It perpetuates existing feelings that their lives don’t meet expectations and that others are doing much better.

When people are depressed they often withdraw and self-isolate and the emphasis on spending time with family and friends during the holiday season can be exhausting. There is more on their to-do lists, more gatherings, and more social interactions that can also be stressful.

If the holiday season is emotionally intense or chaotic for you, these tips may help:

5 Simple Tips for Maintaining Healthy Boundaries During the Holidays

5 Simple Tips for Maintaining Healthy Boundaries During the Holidays

This quick guide to healthy holiday boundaries can help you stay focused and true to yourself.

Healthy boundaries can be challenging to navigate, but setting and communicating them is important for your health and wellbeing. They create a clear framework that tells others how to treat you and sets mutually respectful expectations about how your relationship works.

9 Simple Tips for Managing Holiday Stress and Overwhelm

9 Simple Tips for Managing Holiday Stress and Overwhelm

For many people, the holiday season is a happy and joyous time spent celebrating with family and friends. But this time of year can also be very stressful. The holidays can be overwhelming, tiring, financially draining, and full of mixed emotions….So, if the sudden appearance of pumpkin spice, Christmas music, and a plethora of gift wrap evoke  feelings of anxiety, sadness, or panic, you are not alone!