TIPS FOR PREVENTING HOLIDAY STRESS AND DEPRESSION

Have you ever experienced stress and depression during your holidays and wondered how to prevent it? Here are pleasing tips for preventing holiday stress and depression, including acknowledging your feelings, being realistic, setting aside your differences, sticking to a budget, planning, and more.

While most people know holidays are meant for celebrations and joy, others often experience different emotions. It can be when loneliness, stress, sadness, and depression strike. However, this does not have to be the case. If you are going with your partner on vacation, it is up to both parties to consider having great moments together. Let your holiday season be full of joy, peace, love, and celebration. According to Ying et al. (2014), negative feelings can greatly prompt depression and stress during the holiday season.

Moreover, this is also the moment when your urge to pick or pull increases as you feel uncomfortable. But you do not need to let the negative feelings get the best of you and your partner during the much-awaited holiday. It is always better to recognize your holiday triggers and plan with your partner to cope without misunderstanding. But what do you think are the causes of holiday stress and depression?

Causes of Holiday Stress and Depression

Santino (2016) stated that most people prefer a celebrative and peaceful holiday. Having a joyous and amazing time with your partner is something that everyone desires. However, things might not always happen as you desired. The celebration mode might not be the case for others, especially when depression, sadness, and stress kick in. Numerous reasons can also be the main cause of depression and stress on holiday. These causes include;

Stressful Schedules

Are you dealing with a small or large family? You might not find it challenging for a small family since you can easily plan for everything without any challenges. Dealing with a large family is technically stressful. Coordinating schedules and balancing holiday obligations might not be easy as many thought. It becomes even more difficult when you have children. Moreover, Altena et al. (2020) explained that spending too much time with your family in a limited space may induce stress.

Putting Pressure on Yourself

Are you the one organizing the holiday gathering? There must be a lot on your plate. Organizing a successful event is never an easy task. Living up to your expectations might be challenging, leading to stress and depression.

Separation from Loved Ones

When you are separated from a loved one or lost a family, it can negatively impact your holiday season. According to Tiwari (2013), the loneliness one feels after losing their family leads to depression and stress, making your holiday season sad.

Loneliness

Loneliness can result from a breakup or the loss of the special people in your life. Losing someone you love takes away the joy. This is where one gets depressed and stressed during holidays. Also, isolation can lead to grief, depression, and stress.

Family Dynamics

Family dynamics are common nowadays and can greatly affect your holidays; most people tend to be regretful, especially when going for a holiday after fighting with a family member. Generally, family feuds and conflicts within the family limit you from enjoying or celebrating during your holidays.

Seasonal Depression

Your holidays can always coincide with seasons like winter and summer. In winter, you will experience a plunge temperature which might not make you feel comfortable. This can greatly impact your holiday negatively, thus spoiling the celebration and joyous mood.

Tips for Managing Holiday Stress and Depression

Getting smoothly through the holiday might be tough, but it is always good to experience happiness during your holiday season. Here are some amazing tips that will help you minimize your stress and depression during the holiday season;

Acknowledge Your Feelings

Acknowledging your feelings is crucial, especially when going for a holiday season. If you have broken up with your lover or lost a family member, understand that that is normal to grief or feel sad. Expressing yourself is essential in getting through the sad moments. So, do not force yourself to go for a holiday.

Reach Out

Consider seeking out religious, community, and social help if you feel isolated and lonely. Numerous people would offer to give you the support you need. Also, volunteering your precious time to visit o help the needy will help uplift your spirit and increase your friendships.

Be Realistic

Not every holiday needs to be perfect unless you have all it takes to make it superb. Generally, being realistic can be your savior and prevent you from being stressed or depressed. The family grows and changes, traditions will also change, and you can not always make everyone happy. However, you can always find new ways of making your holidays happy and peaceful, including sharing emails, videos, or pictures.

Set Aside Differences

Setting aside all your differences with your lover or family members is essential to enjoying a happy and stress-free holiday. Learn to accept your friends and family members even if they do not meet your expectations. This allows you to have peace of mind whenever you celebrate the holiday with them.

Stick to a Budget

Before you plan to go shopping or gift your family members and friends, it is essential to budget what you are planning to spend or what you can afford. Always stick to your budget, and do not focus on pleasing everyone. Use the little you have or can access and enjoy a joyous and happy holiday season.

Learn to Say No

If you do not want to be left feeling overwhelmed, then learn to always say no to things that are not worth your attention. Your family or friends will always understand when you accept you do not have and will not participate. This will always give you peace of mind during the holiday season.

Plan Ahead

What do you want for your holidays? Planning ahead or before the holiday is essential for stress-free and happy moments. Plan everything you need for a successful holiday and make a shopping list. This prevents last-minute scrambles, and you might even forget to buy essential things for your holiday.

Do Not Abandon Healthy Habits

Are you planning to make your holiday season a free-for-all moment? As much as it might be great for all your friends, it is always great to employ a healthy habit. Overindulging will only make you feel guilty and stressed.

References

Altena, E., Baglioni, C., Espie, C. A., Ellis, J., Gavriloff, D., Holzinger, B., ... & Riemann, D. (2020). Dealing with sleep problems during home confinement due to the COVID‐19 outbreak: Practical recommendations from a task force of the European CBT‐I Academy. Journal of sleep research, 29(4), e13052.

Santino, J. (2016). Signs of war and peace: Social conflict and the uses of symbols in public in Northern Ireland. Springer.

Tiwari, S. C. (2013). Loneliness: A disease?. Indian journal of psychiatry, 55(4), 320.

Ying, L., Wu, X., Lin, C., & Jiang, L. (2014). Traumatic severity and trait resilience as predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among adolescent survivors of the Wenchuan earthquake. PloS one, 9(2), e89401.