The holidays are often seen as a time of reflection and celebration with loved ones. However, amidst everyday stressors and increased commitments to friends and family, this festive season can also bring feelings of exhaustion or sadness, commonly referred to as the holiday blues or holiday depression.
Due to the demands and emotions of the holiday season, the holiday blues can be experienced by anyone, from people with prior mental health conditions to those who love the winter holidays and have never experienced them before.
The most common signs of holiday blues begin during the holiday season (November and December) and include:
Feelings of sadness or grief
Fatigue
Loneliness or isolation
Sense of loss
Overwhelm or anxiousness
Irritability
Changes in sleep patterns or appetite
Ways to manage the holiday blues:
One of the most important ways to manage holiday blues is to prioritize rest and self-care. Engaging in activities that both fulfill you and replenish your energy can better equip you to handle the emotions and stressors of daily life, as well as the holiday season.
Examples of supportive coping mechanisms include:
Spending time in nature, exercising, participating in hobbies, journaling and meditation.
Setting realistic expectations for yourself around your commitments, including holiday activities such as shopping, cooking, entertaining and attending holiday parties.
Spending time and talking with loving and supportive people in your life.
Starting a new family tradition, like making vision boards or playing board games.
Decluttering, cleaning and organizing your home environment.
These activities can foster a sense of control over your environment, boost your mood and encourage calmness and focus throughout the holidays.
When to seek help for the holiday blues
Remember, it’s normal to experience a range of emotions during the holidays. By acknowledging your feelings and prioritizing self-care, you can navigate the season with resilience.
If the holiday blues start to feel unmanageable or you need immediate support, you can call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — a free, confidential resource available 24/7.Personalized care is also available at Renown Behavioral Healthto support your mental health and overall well-being.
When someone is facing a mental health emergency, they need a safe, calm place to go. The Renown Crisis Care Center is now open again—offering 24/7 support for adults in crisis who need help right away.
Nurturing Your Child's Back-to-School Mental Health
The back-to-school season is here, and ensuring your child's successful transition involves more than just school supplies and schedules. At Renown Children’s Hospital, and in collaboration with Nevada Pediatric Psychiatry Solutions, we understand the vital role that mental health plays in a child's overall well-being and academic performance.
As we take a trip through the human body, we eventually reach the mind, holding the keys to our thoughts, memories and behaviors. And although the mind is resilient, it might not always feel that way, especially amidst the obstacles many face day-by-day.
That’s where the importance of mental healthcare comes in – and northern Nevada needs it more than ever. In Washoe County alone, nearly one in five community members reported two or more straight weeks of poor mental health. With feelings of distress, depression, anxiety and stress on the rise, not to mention how addiction disproportionately affects Nevadans, we need a team of professionals devoted to helping the mind heal.
Enter the Behavioral Health department at Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), where healing always remains top of mind (pun intended). From the providers on the frontlines to the administrative staff handling everything behind-the-scenes, every member of this team has one commitment in mind: standing beside people as they find their way forward.
