How to prevent holiday stress and depression
The holidays aren't always cheerful for me, but I feel pressure to get excited. Do you have any tips for how to get through the season?
During the holidays, it can be thrilling and fun to get wrapped up in the excitement of the season. But for some people, this time of year isn't always something to look forward to. Instead, holidays and the memories associated with them can cause stress, anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation.
If these feelings sound familiar to you, know that you're not alone. Philip Izzo, MD, a psychiatrist at Mirmont Treatment Center, part of Main Line Health, explains how common feelings of holiday depression are and offers some advice for how you can cope.
Check out the video below to hear Dr. Izzo's tips.
While it's not uncommon to feel stressed, anxious or depressed during the holidays, know that feelings like these don't need to be a part of your normal routine.
Dr. Izzo also advises of the importance of gathering safely during the holidays, to minimize the risk of contracting COVID. Ways to be safe include:
- Families getting tested before gathering
- Monitoring for any signs or symptoms of COVID
- Protecting elderly or immunocompromised family members