How to Get Through The Holidays When You’re Depressed
2. GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO SAY “NO”
You don’t have to attend every holiday party or engage in competitions to buy the biggest or best gifts. It’s okay to be choosy about the holiday madness in which you participate, says psychologist and coach Ashley B. Hampton. And you can also ease yourself into obligations. Let’s say you’re expected to go to the office holiday party. You might put parameters on how long you’ll stay—plan to go for 30 minutes, then see how you’re feeling, for example.
At the same time, when you’re feeling blue, sometimes it’s tempting to isolate yourself, when the best thing for you might be to get out and have a little fun, she says. “If it’s something they think they may like, go for it,” she says. But having the option to leave early or not go at all can sometimes shift the situation from an obligation to a choice, which can remove some of the stress.
