Depression and anxiety are especially difficult to deal with during the holiday season because there’s an expectation that you should feel joyous and generous. That added pressure can make you feel even more alone and anxious. If this resonates with you, know that you’re not alone! Continue reading to learn more about why depression and anxiety flare up during the holidays and what you can do about it — including scheduling a hypnotherapy appointment at Revibe Therapy in Winter Park and Lake Nona.

SIGNS AND SOURCES OF HOLIDAY DEPRESSION

If you’re someone who experiences sadness every year during the holidays, you might not think of your feelings as a sign of depression or anxiety. That’s why it’s important to understand and recognize the symptoms of depression. Learn more about the symptoms of depression from the Mayo Clinic here. Knowing these signs empowers you to seek help and start finding ways to feel better — which may include hypnosis for anxiety or depression here at Revibe Therapy!

THE SIGNS OF DEPRESSION INCLUDE:

• Persistent feeling of sadness
• Loss of interest
• General discontent
• Too much sleep or not enough sleep
• Excessive hunger or poor appetite

SOURCES OF HOLIDAY SADNESS AND ANXIETY:

• Stress
• Fatigue and travel
• Unrealistic expectations
• Financial stress
• Loneliness
• The inability to be with loved ones

HEALTHY (AND UNHEALTHY) STRESS RESPONSES

Balancing the demands of the holiday season is a challenge for anyone! If you suffer from depression or anxiety, the holidays can cause your symptoms to flare up. It’s important to be aware that this may happen and to be prepared with coping techniques. That may mean scheduling out hypnotherapy appointments at Revibe Therapy to make sure you have devoted space to self care.

TIPS FOR COPING WITH HOLIDAY STRESS

There are plenty of strategies to deal with stress and sadness, and it’s important to have some in your back pocket to turn to when you start feeling bad. The biggest thing you can do, though, is to give yourself a break! It’s okay to be sad, even during the holidays. Just think of it as an important time for self-reflection and inner growth.

• Make realistic goals and expectations
• Pace yourself and don’t take on more than you can handle
• Try not to compare this holiday with ones in the past
• Volunteer to help others and to feel less lonely
• Find activities that are free, like walking through your neighborhood and looking at decorations
• Spend time with supportive people and limit your time with those who bring you down
• Take a deep breath and enjoy the moment!

UNHEALTHY STRESS RESPONSES

We all slip into bad habits sometimes, and holiday anxiety can cause us to feel so overwhelmed that we end up reacting in unhealthy ways. This is especially true if you don’t think of yourself as being depressed or anxious and are just “trying to get through the holidays.” Try not to respond to stress with excessive drinking, over-eating, insomnia, or over-sleeping. If you respond to stress by smoking, Revibe Therapy can help, with our hypnosis for smoking cessation therapy. Schedule a consultation in Winter Park and Lake Nona.

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD)

Even those who are not diagnosed with anxiety or depression can suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It is a type of depression that is caused by the changing seasons. If you start feeling sad as the days grow shorter and the weather gets colder, you may have SAD.

You shouldn’t brush off your feelings or think of them as something you just have to tough out each year. Your mental health affects every part of your life, and it’s something you can take control of! Whether that means exercising more, eating healthier, getting a light therapy lamp, or heading to the doctor, do what you need to do to feel better. Here at Revibe Therapy in Winter Park and Lake Nona, we use hypnotherapy and psychotherapeutic interventions to help people struggling with depression live happier, healthier lives.

REVIBE THERAPY WINTER PARK AND LAKE NONA

Here at Revibe Therapy, our hypnotherapy professionals are always happy to consult with clients in Winter Park and Lake Nona about how hypnosis can help with issues like depression, anxiety, and seasonal affective disorder. The holidays can be a challenging time, and we’re here to help!

We always encourage our clients to consult with their doctor and use hypnotherapy in conjunction with other therapies, like medication prescribed by a psychiatrist or going to regular therapy sessions with a counselor. Contact us today to schedule a consultation in Winter Park and Lake Nona.