Three tips for handling the holiday blues

Amidst the joy and excitement of the holiday season, it’s easy to overlook the challenges that so many people encounter this time of year, especially when it comes to dealing with loss of loved ones, Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD), and other significant issues. It can be even harder to cope with these issues when it seems like you are alone in your experience, when you think you have a responsibility to keep up a brave face for those around you; when you feel like you can’t bear the pain or manage the emotions that come with thinking about that which you are missing.

Know that those thoughts and feeling are real, and they are OK (if not inevitable). HOWEVER, those thoughts and feelings don’t need to overwhelm you or bring down the spirit of you, those around you, or the season…not if you don’t let them.

The little things mean the most: Think about and appreciate the “little things”: Remember traditions that have most helped you to find joy this time of year: baking your favorite cookies, hearing your favorite songs, playing your favorite games, having some hot chocolate (aka a cup of marshmallows with a little cocoa mixed in)…whatever little things you love, use them as needed to bring you a smile, happy thought, or warm feeling…

Focus on the positive: Take an inventory of what you have in your life that is important to you. A great way to do this is with gratitude exercises. Make a list of people, places, things, and experiences/occasions that you are grateful for, in your life. They can be big or small, few or many, but the more, the merrier. You can get a lot from looking back at this gratitude list, thinking about it, and continuously adding to it.

Talk to others about how you are feeling: This is, understandably, often the hardest thing for many of us to do, but it is important to do. You don’t need to go through this alone. As much as your instincts might tell you to keep that brave face on, as much as possible, to avoid “bothering” or “burdening” others with your negative thoughts/feelings, or as much as you may want to try to keep it out of mind. The more you avoid, bury or isolate those thoughts and feelings within yourself, the more overwhelming and pervasive they will grow to be.

Know that the holidays are tough for most everyone but soon they will pass and open up to a New Year full of opportunities.