Navigating the Holidays with Depression
Two weeks ago, we talked about navigating the holidays with anxiety. Those with anxiety may feel triggered by social gatherings, such as holiday meals. They may feel distress trying to keep up with their expectations of a picture-perfect holiday, especially when things go wrong. Toxic family dynamics may make their anxiety feel unmanageable. But what about those with depression? If you feel particularly depressed during the holidays, you aren’t alone. In fact, 55% of people this year reported experiencing holiday loneliness or a feeling of the “holiday blues”. For some, holiday blues aren’t a once-a-winter thing - 3% of the population is impacted by seasonal affective disorder (SAD), otherwise called seasonal depression. Those with major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder are especially susceptible to seasonal affective disorder, with a 20% chance and 25% chance of experiencing SAD respectively. If you’re struggling with depression this December, check out these three tips from Straight...