By Alison Printz, LSW
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… for some people.
Believe it or not, a lot of people do not always feel that way. Holidays can bring on a lot of emotions: sadness, loneliness, frustration, to name a few. There can be many causes of that: a recent or not recent break up, those not in contact with their families, financial obligations, and/or social obligations. In addition, less sunlight each day and colder temperatures can some times bring on SAD, or seasonal affective disorder in some people.
Counseling Hoboken; Mollie Busino, LCSW, Director of Mindful Power. Mollie has had extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Fertility Counseling, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Her work focuses on Anxiety, Depression, Anger Management, Career Changes, OCD, Relationship, Dating Challenges, Insomnia, & Postpartum Depression and Anxiety.
All of these factors make up a formula that can create a shift in how we might feel during the holiday season. Some might embrace it and others might not. Either way, that’s more than okay.There are always other individual factors at play that could influence how we feel at any given time.
So, if you are feeling blue, what can you do?
First off, as cliche as it sounds, self-care is most important. Ask yourself what it is that you feel you need at this time. Do you need to move your body? Take a long walk or go to a workout class. Do you need a creative outlet? Maybe pick up a paint brush or journal. Is it social interaction you’re craving? Call or catch up for coffee with a friend or volunteer in the community.
Second, remember there is no “right” way to do the holidays. Everyone has their own traditions, whether it’s seeing family, spending it with friends, or taking a break to be on their own. Even if you don’t celebrate any holiday, spending the time catching up on hobbies or things you might enjoy with more free time.
Third, remember that scrolling social media can bring on the comparison game when you see happy families, engagements, children, to name a few. We think if we don’t have any of those things, that we’re losing the competition. Remember that what we see on social media is a tiny percentage of someone’s life, not the full picture. If it feels triggering to you, consider taking asocial media break over the holidays. I promise it’ll be there when you get back!
Finally, if you feel as if these issues aren’t resolving despite your best efforts, reaching out to a therapist is always a good idea.