How to Overcome Holiday Blues with Mental Health Counseling

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy, cheer, and celebration. But for many people, it can be one of the hardest times of the year. There are a number of reasons for this, including financial stress, family dynamics, loneliness, unrealistic expectations, and mental health conditions.

If you’re struggling with the holiday season, mental health counseling can help. A therapist can teach you coping skills, help you to develop a treatment plan, and provide support during this difficult time.

With family, boundaries setting can be helpful to set limits on your energy:

For example, if your mother has a habit of making critical comments about your appearance and you have told her in the past that her comments are hurtful, but she continues to do it. What can you do?

This holiday season, you decide to set a boundary with your mother. You tell her that you love her and want to spend time with her, but that you will not tolerate any negative comments about your body or appearance.

If your mother makes a critical comment, you can say something like:

“Mom, I appreciate that you’re trying to be helpful, but your comments about my appearance are hurtful. I’ve asked you before to please stop, but you continue to do it. I’m not going to tolerate this anymore. If you make another negative comment about my appearance, I’m going to leave.”

If your mother continues to make negative comments, you can follow through with your request and leave. This may be difficult to do, but it is important to enforce your boundaries.

Here are some other tips for setting boundaries with family members during the holiday season:

• Be clear and direct about your boundaries.
• Be assertive, but respectful.
• Be prepared to walk away if your boundaries are not respected.
• Remember that you have the right to set boundaries, even with family members.

If you are struggling to set boundaries with family members, a mental health counselor can help. A therapist can teach you coping skills and support you during this process.

Here are some other ways that mental health counseling can help you to overcome holiday blues:

• Identify and address the underlying causes of your symptoms. A therapist can help you to understand the root of your holiday blues and develop strategies for coping.
• Develop coping skills. A therapist can teach you coping skills such as relaxation techniques, stress management strategies, and communication skills.
• Provide support. A therapist can provide a safe and supportive space for you to talk about your feelings and experiences.
• Help you to develop a treatment plan. If you have a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, a therapist can help you to develop a treatment plan that is right for you.

If you’re struggling with the holiday season, please consider reaching out to a mental health counselor at Stride Forward Counseling. We can help you to overcome holiday blues and enjoy this time of year.