Holiday Blues Advice: Conquering Christmas-Time Sadness

Let the weak say I am strong by your confession ye overcome; Romans 10: 9-11.

Our everyday lives are filled with cycles of different emotions. The warm spring and summer bring forth vibrancy and vitality, while fall and winter may cast dark clouds over our spirits. As the seasons change and our lives transition, we may experience a rotation of joy and sorrow.

For many, seasonal depression may look like holiday blues. This downcast mood is enhanced during the late fall and winter months and can begin to affect our thoughts, moods, and behaviors immensely. In times of malaise, finding hope and comfort in faith and acquiring helpful strategies to avoid unpleasant realities is necessary to nurture the soul and illuminate the path to brighter days.

Using Faith To Stand Strong Against The Holiday Blues

With seasonal depression follows the holiday blues. Many people don’t have family members or friends to celebrate special occasions with, while others, like me, mourn the loss of loved ones who can no longer join them in celebration. Just a few days before Christmas, I lost my grandmother to septic shock. It was sudden and unexpected as she had been doing perfectly fine weeks ago. Losing her during the holidays was so devastating to my family and me, especially since Christmas was her favorite holiday of all time.

I was upset and quite angry with God for a while. My grandmother stood for unity. She was the matriarch and the glue that held everyone in the family together. She made sure everyone made it home for the holidays and that we all connected, communicated, and fellowshipped with each other. So, I wondered why God would take such an important part of my life away from me. As the seasons grew colder in nature, so did my heart. I began to find myself wrestling with emotions of unhappiness, isolation, and hopelessness. And even though I was displeased with how God allowed things to happen in my life I knew that I had to bring myself to have an honest conversation with him.

In times as such,  relying on our faith as a source of guidance can help us make it through those troubling and heart-wrenching times. Utilizing our faith to combat these challenging times of distress can allow us to tap into a source of resilience that transcends the ongoing negative thoughts within our minds. During the battle of seasonal depression, prayer and meditation with God can become a confidante, reminding us that even in the bleakest moments, there is a purpose and a higher plan that unfolds with divine wisdom.

The Power of  A Good Prayer

For weeks, I didn’t talk to God, which was odd for me because I usually talked with him every day. However, I was still bothered by his choice of taking a piece of my heart away from my family and me, and I was afraid to talk to him about how I was truly feeling. I was also dealing with trying to understand what grief was and how to begin the process of grieving properly. But I knew I had to unpack my feelings, relinquish my pride, and submit to conversing with Him.

Taking time out of your day to worship and talk to God can be a powerful tool for gaining internal balance of the heart and soul. Meditation and prayer can be used to navigate the road of knowledge, understanding, and healing. Being in solitude with the divine, whether it’s listening to gospel music, reading a few chapters from the bible, watching motivational speakers, catching up on an old sermon, or even reflecting on life and how blessed you are even through trying times, allows us to draw closer to the inner peace that God is waiting to grant us. 

But I knew I had to unpack my feelings, relinquish my pride, and submit to conversing with Him.

Nature Heals

While winter may bring about swift winds and cold air, spending time with the beauty of nature that God created can become a unique healer from the nagging emotions of seasonal depression and the holiday blues. Welcoming the bleak and chilly weather can revitalize the spirit and be a mood booster. Walking outside and embracing nature can help clear your mind and carefully gather your thoughts. During the holidays last year, I went home to South Florida, where there isn’t much of a winter. So, taking walks along the beach, jogging on nature trails, and sitting by lakefronts allowed me to sit with my emotions.

Accepting and permitting myself to fully feel my feelings helped me work through them. Going outside and seeing the bare trees and the color changes of the leaves can serve as a reminder that, just as seasons change, so do our lives. And everything is a part of a cycle that includes periods of dormancy and rebirth.

Harmony Within: Nurturing The Mind and Body

While trying to get through seasonal depression and the holiday blues we may begin to focus more on our emotional and mental healing and sometimes forget about our physical well-being. As one begins to heal the heart, our mental and emotional health must align with our physical health as well. Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, a stable and consistent sleep schedule, and participating in some form of exercise are all crucial elements in tackling seasonal depression. Forming these healthy habits not only helps with physical health but also aids in developing fit mental and emotional health.

Additionally, you can care for your physical well-being by going out and buying a gift for yourself or a friend, creating new holiday traditions like Christmas caroling or buying a new Christmas tree, and even doing community service to help those in need during the holiday seasons. 

Embracing Light Together

While we may try handling our burdens all by ourselves, it is also important to share our feelings and emotions with others. We know that isolation is associated with depression. Confiding in family and friends can help fight off seasonal depression. And if you don’t have those family and friends like some of us, finding a therapist, counselor, or mentor to open up and share with can suffice and be equally helpful. Many different online platforms offer resources that can be beneficial.

Our Mental Health Resources page offers a plethora of ways to care for yourself during seasonal depression. Leaning on religious leaders and congregations can provide a sense of belonging and understanding that helps alleviate the weight of our struggles. When my grandmother passed away, I spent a lot of time seeking emotional support from my family and friends. Having someone to listen to you and understand your feelings can be a huge aspect of helping steer through seasonal depression. With their help, I found strength and encouragement in our shared grief, values, and faith.

Reclaiming Your Strength

Let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus. The battle is mental, The war is within our minds. Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, Romans 12:2.

Seasonal depression and the holiday blues can be a lot to deal with and sometimes feel overwhelming. Sadness isn’t the most fun human experience to deal with, but through embracing our faith and guidance from God and adopting healthy coping mechanisms, we can get through these dark times, expecting love, peace, and hope on the other side. As the weather changes, each season does as well, contributing to the beauty of the world, and through faith and wellness, we all can discover the light that persists even in the hardest months of seasonal depression and holiday blues.