7 Tips for Managing Holiday Sadness

What do I do About Holiday Sadness?

Hint: Alcohol, Casinos, Video Gaming, Sweets, Sex, Food are not in the list below!

By Cindy Anderson

Tis the Season to be Jolly but sometimes we are Melancholy! Both emotions are a part of our experiences, and both are valid.  Feelings are like a thermometer to indicate that things are A-OK or not so great.  Due to exciting holiday events, and indulgences, we can feel overly joyful (is that possible you may ask?) or overly sad. This blog is about addressing the sad, even angry side of the spectrum.  We enter into the holidays hoping for good things to happen.  Then we set up ourselves for a big letdown.

There are myriads of reasons that we feel holiday blues. Relationships with friends and family don’t always go so well; in fact, those relationships can be very prickly.  Our budget may not allow for all the purchases we wish to make! We get sick.  We are in physical pain. We weren’t invited to a party. Maybe there’s a sad anniversary at the holidays.  But if you find that your sadness isn’t temporary, and lingers for several days, you may need to do something more to tackle it.

Here is a list of tips for beating back the Holiday Blues:

1. Be aware – be in touch with yourself. Know what situations are difficult for you.  Though we cannot avoid all of these situations (dinner with Aunt Myrtle for example), just knowing what is difficult can help you power through it.
2. Practice self-talk. “Even though I am ________(fill in the blank: uncomfortable, feeling sad, feeling angry) I can get through this, and it won’t last forever.”
3. Evaluate reasons for your sadness. Are there aspects to your life you can change? Are there things you cannot change, which you just need to grieve and accept?
4. Evaluate whether you are thinking clearly. Is that remark really meant to cut you down? Are you thinking bad thoughts about yourself that are unfounded?
5. Move your body. It’s the last thing you want to do when you feel sad, but even 10-15 minutes can boost the mood.
6. Find something meaningful in the moment, and for the long term. Nurturing your plants or pets can give you a mood boost. Or volunteering at the food bank.  Do something nice for someone you love.
7. If the blues don’t go away, consider talking to a trusted person, or a therapist.

A little bit of holiday sadness is normal for anyone; a lot of holiday sadness may be normal for someone who is grieving a loss during this timeframe. Knowing that you are the captain of your ship will help you navigate these choppy waters.  Brainstorm your own way to curb the sadness and enjoy some meaningful moments during the holiday season!

If you fing that you need more help, reach out to us or check out these mental health resources or dial or go to 211 to talk to someone right away.