The holiday season is often thought to be the brightest time of the year, full of family, love, and joy. But, for many, it’s just the opposite. It’s not uncommon for this time of year to be the hardest for people, especially people who are living with mental health issues like depressive disorders. In fact, according to a study published by the NAMI, 3 out of 5 adults say that their mental health issues get worse over the holiday season. So, if you’re dealing with holiday depression, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to get through the season.

Practicing Gratitude to Help Get You Through the Holidays

One of the things that can help you combat negative symptoms of mental health issues like depression during the holiday season is gratitude. Gratitude is the act of practicing thankfulness for the things in your life that you’re appreciative of. Practicing gratitude can help to improve mental wellness by reducing symptoms of depression and even improve a person’s chance of obtaining mental healing through treatment.

There are many different ways to practice gratitude, but it can be helpful to find the best way for yourself. Being able to pinpoint the things in your life that you are grateful for can help you to see the bigger picture during the holiday season. And, distract yourself from the things that may come up during the holiday season like family differences, monetary problems, etc. that can trigger depressive symptoms.

Ways to Practice Gratitude This Holiday Season

Gratitude can be practiced in a number of ways. Some examples of different ways to practice gratitude in order to manage negative symptoms of mental health issues like depression include:

• writing down the things you’re grateful for in a journal
• make a daily routine to say five things you’re grateful for
• thank people for how they’ve influenced your life in a positive way
• use mindfulness practices like breathing exercises or meditation
• remember to focus more on others’ intentions

Other Ways to Manage Depression During the Holidays

While gratitude is something you can practice on your own, sometimes, it can be beneficial to use other forms of help to manage symptoms of depression during the holidays. Professional treatment can provide you with the tools necessary to overcome symptoms of depression and other mental health issues that can come during the holiday season. Some therapies that are available through treatment that may help to decrease the severity of mental health symptoms include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• ACT skills
• Medication management
• TMS
• Neurofeedback
• Direct Current Stimulator Therapy
• and more

Reaching Out for Help During the Holiday Season

Are you struggling with depression symptoms this holiday? Reaching out for help can assist you with managing the symptoms of mental health issues like depression. Outpatient services can allow you to get the help you need while still being able to celebrate the season with your loved ones. Find out more about the services available at Yellowbrick on our website.