The holiday season is soon upon us and for most of us, it’s a time to celebrate with family and friends. Some people, however, tend to experience the holiday blues. Reasons for feeling depressed vary from person to person. Being alone or away from family and friends, financial difficulties, grieving for loved ones who are no longer with us, taking on too much with regards to hosting during the holidays, are just some examples of why people experience depression. Here are 5 ways to help you overcome those holiday blues.

1. Keep active. Enjoy your holiday season by getting out of the house and engaging in activities. Working out, yoga and dance classes are some examples that will help you not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. Find a workout or activity buddy to help keep you motivated.
2. Volunteer. Helping others not only makes you feel good, it may also show you just how fortunate you truly are. Feelings of gratitude can help decrease any negative thoughts you may be experiencing.
3. Talk to family and friends. Expressing how you feel to family and friends can be cathartic. That love and support you receive from your loved ones can help you overcome those holiday blues.
4. Stop the negative self-talk. Whenever a negative thought about yourself pops into your head, turn it into a positive one. The more you pay attention to your thoughts, the easier this will become, and eventually, you will notice how much your negative self-talk has diminished.
5. Seek professional help. If you feel like your depression has become too overwhelming to deal with on your own, therapy is a great option. A therapist can provide you with effective tools to help you work through your depression. If the depression persists and starts to affect your daily functioning, a psychiatrist and/or medical doctor can also help by prescribing medication to help you cope.

As someone who also tends to experience the holiday blues, overcoming those feelings takes effort. Finding the tools that work best for me, however, and utilizing those coping skills, make all the difference. If you’re experiencing depression, we can help. Give us a call at (954) 832-3602 if you’d like to sharpen your parenting skills. We are located in Hollywood, FL.

Suicide and crisis hotlines. If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, the National Prevention Lifeline can help provide you with support. Give them a call at 1-800-273-8255 or chat online with a professional. Go to their website to find out more:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

With the Crisis Text Line, you can communicate via text by texting HOME to 741741 if you are experiencing a crisis. Check out their website for more information:

https://www.crisistextline.org/

Alicia Emamdee is the author of the YA Romance novel, “Aloha Self-Esteem?” which is created specifically for teen girls and the challenges they face with regards to their self-esteem in our society today. Written as a love story, the book provides ways to help increase self-esteem and gain self-confidence.