I posted on Instagram asking, “What are YOU doing for the holidays?”
I then said, “For me, holidays are just regular days. I’ll probably be alone, sleeping if I can. My life is all about eating, sleeping, and working. Holidays won’t change that. Something’s definitely wrong with my life! 😆”
I meant it to be funny, not sad. It’s my own fault I don’t have special holiday plans. I’m not desperate to do anything, and I’m definitely not mad at people who do. But my friends and followers responded with sad faces, like I wrote something tragic.
The HECK?
Well, I’ve decided to make the most of this holiday. I could let loneliness drag me down, or I could choose not to let it. No friends coming over? No problem. I’ll go to theirs. And I’ll definitely binge-eat Korean food!
The point is, don’t spend the holidays depressed. Depression is a feeling, it’s not supposed to be a lifestyle.
Just because we can’t have all the fun doesn’t mean we have to drown. I bet you also know that binge-eating popcorn at home in the pajamas you’ve worn all day isn’t the same as hanging out with friends.
Choosing to avoid depression is a win. It’s not settling for less, it’s about finding satisfaction. Wallowing is boring. Have fun!
Depression doesn’t care about the holidays. If you’ve ever felt super depressed during the holidays, you know how much it sucks. But you’re not alone! Many people struggle to get through the day, so don’t even talk about the holiday.
LMAOOO!
Funnily, the holidays itself can actually stir up the pain and loneliness. Finding what works for you is important, so here are three things that help me:
Let Yourself Cry!
You know, you might actually feel depressed during the holidays because of the past ones. If you need to cry, don’t just cry for 30 seconds and go to sleep, try to feel things differently this time, and a good thing to do is to time it. Instead of crying for 30 seconds, set a 10 minute timer to cry. That way, you can quickly jump back to reality without spiraling down. Depression does not have an expiration date. There are things that you’ve worked through or are working through that will still make you sad during the holidays. But, I think feeling things differently by crying is important.
Be Comfortable.
If you’re feeling depressed, wear the most comfy clothes possible. Red pjs, a big-ugly Christmas sweater and fluffy socks. Don’t fake it, just look like what you actually feel. Nobody would care what you wear as long as you are there, trust me. Sometimes, self-love is going to the party in that ugly but comfortable sweater.
It’s the Best Time To Stay Off Social Media.
A lot of our depression around the holidays comes from the fact that you’re always checking what others are up to. Over the years, it becomes a bad habit, but you know it deep down that you make yourself sad when you see people on social media celebrating with their big families. Staying off your social media and remembering that social media is all highlights, not the real thing helps (I mean.. you can never tell what goes on behind the camera and when you compare yourself to what you see, you’re actually comparing your reality to highlights).
What methods have worked or are working for you?
