11 Ways To Fight Depression During The Holidays (And After!)
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Getty Finding joy during the holidays can be difficult when you are trying to figure out how to beat depression, whether you suffer from clinical depression or from depression due to the loss of a partner or loved one, a big change in your life like the loss of a job, a divorce or illness. Grief is a lot to process at any time of the year, much less when others around you appear to be glowing with annoying holiday spirit.
Your own good memories can become haunting instead of joyful, as you feel forced to realize how much your life has been changed by the loss.
The first step in making it through the holidays is to prepare yourself in advance.
Below are 11 helpful ways to help you learn how to fight depression and make the best of “the most wonderful time of the year.”
1. Surround yourself with loved ones.
Don’t isolate! Surround yourself with family and friends who understand you. They can be there to help you, especially if they have been through a similar situation. Having a good support system in place will help make it a little easier. If you’re all alone, go where there are other single people, like a mall, a gym or yoga class, or the movies. If you’re not mobile, watch movies or TV shows that make you laugh.
You can also consider adopting a pet for companionship!
2. Help someone less fortunate than yourself.
Spending time helping others will help take the initial focus off yourself and place it on someone else who is in need. Consider volunteering at a local shelter or soup kitchen, or donate time or toys to your favorite charity. Spend time with people in nursing homes who may not have family of their own. Volunteering and helping others during this time will also help to give you a greater sense of fulfillment, self and purpose.
Don’t be surprised if you find it difficult to volunteer at a charity that’s related to a loss. You might want to pick something completely different, and not associated with your grief. On the other hand, everyone is different, and many become inspired and motivated to donate time and money to the exact cause that has taken their joy for the season.
3. Take a vacation.
Maybe you want to get away so you do not have to be at home during the holidays! Vacations have become an alternative outlet for those spending the holidays on their own, either by circumstances or choice. Many travel agencies or destination resorts offer packages that revolve around holidays for singles. Vacation may be just what you need to heal.
4. Create a new tradition.
Spending time thinking about old holiday traditions can be a painful reminder of the loss. Instead of drudging through painful memories, use this time to create a new tradition that makes you smile. Think of something new that you can do each year to make the holidays something to look forward to instead of something to dread. Be as creative as possible and see what exciting new traditions you can come up with.
5. Honor your loss.
Memories are one of the most important things that exist after the death of a loved one or loss of something important in your life. If you are depressed following the loss of someone you loved, it's important to find ways to honor and include them in the holiday festivities. Keep in mind that memories are tinged with both happiness and sadness. Embrace whatever emotion the memory creates.
Consider lighting a special candle, creating Christmas ornaments using your loved ones photograph, cooking their favorite dish, visiting one of their favorite places, or singing their favorite holiday song. And remember, there’s nothing wrong with a good cry.
6. Hold off on the drinks.
Having a drink of your favorite tasty beverage might sound like a good way to relax and reduce your stress level during the holiday, but try to avoid using alcohol to self-medicate your mood. Alcohol is a depressant and can result in making you feel even more depressed and/or causing you to engage in behaviors or do things you would not normally do, i.e. having sex with strangers to cope with feelings. Instead of tossing back a few drinks, consider some alternative forms of expressing your grief such as exercising or writing in a journal.
7. Love yourself.
This includes self-pleasuring and self-pampering. Buy yourself a Christmas present — whether it’s chocolate, a massage or a spa treatment. You may even want to buy yourself a new sex toy and give yourself orgasms over the holidays, which reduce stress and boost your mood with much-needed feel-good brain chemicals.
8. Stay busy.
Keeping busy is important to helping your peace of mind and healing. It is important to find hobbies and other ways to occupy your time. The more time you spend participating in positive activities, the less time you have to spend feeling sorry for yourself and focusing on the loss. Spending all your free time focusing on loss will only keep you wallowing in the pain and prolong your depression.
9. Give therapy a chance.
Therapy can be a great way to help you move past loss and get your life back on track. Do not be ashamed or embarrassed to seek help from an experienced professional.
You can share your thoughts and feelings with someone who can provide a totally unbiased point of view. A therapist can also provide you with tools and strategies to help you heal as you move forward.
10. Embrace your emotions.
Do not be afraid to express your feelings or to allow people to comfort you. If you are alone because someone close to you has passed away, or because your marriage or relationship has ended, realize that it is natural to feel sadness, grief, anger or even joy and happiness. No one way is right or wrong. Everyone has their own way of grieving a loss, so however you grieve is right for you.
11. Give it time.
Healing is not going to happen overnight. As long as you remain committed to healing and moving forward, the journey becomes easier with time.
Keep in mind that the actual anticipation of any holiday is so much worse than the actual holiday. The most important thing to remember is there is no right or wrong way to celebrate the holiday season when you are battling with depression, and that one the best way to cope is to plan ahead, take it easy and remember that you must go on living and thriving.
Dr. TaMara Griffin is a certified clinical sexologist, sex therapist, best selling author and powerful motivational speaker with more than 20 years of experience speaking, writing and teaching about sexuality. She has published numerous books and articles, is the owner of L.I.F.E. by Dr. TaMara — Live Inspired Feel Empowered LLC-LIFE, serves as Editor-in-Chief of Our Sexuality! Magazine, and is the National Correspondent for the Association of Black Sexologist and Clinicians. She is also a member of the American College of Sexologists International. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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