{"id":22298,"date":"2023-11-13T02:05:29","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T10:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/truecare.org\/?p=22298"},"modified":"2026-02-01T09:18:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T17:18:51","slug":"holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Blues: Managing Your Mental Health During the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>The holidays are typically portrayed as joyous times full of celebrations, laughter, and connecting with loved ones. But not everyone experiences the holidays in this way.<\/strong> Countless individuals in the U.S. and abroad experience the \u201choliday blues,\u201d which can make the season a very challenging time of year.<\/p>\n<h2>What Are the Holiday Blues?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>The holiday blues are defined as temporary feelings of anxiety, depression, sadness, loneliness, and other negative emotions. <\/strong>Many individuals with already diagnosed mental illnesses are affected by the holiday blues as their normal symptoms worsen during this time of year, but even those without regularly occurring <a href=\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/world-mental-health-day-need-know\/\">mental health<\/a> challenges can experience the holiday blues.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"height: 20px; border: 0px solid #D6D6D6; border-top-width: 2px;\" \/>\n<h4>If you or someone you know is suffering from a mental health problem, please contact our <a href=\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/wellness-services\/behavioral-health\/\">behavioral health department<\/a>. We have locations located in San Diego and Riverside counties, such as Encinitas, Oceanside, Perris, and San Marcos.<\/h4>\n<h4>If you are having an immediate personal crisis, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/national-helpline-database-4799696\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CALL A NATIONAL HELP LINE HERE<\/a><\/h4>\n<hr style=\"height: 35px; border: 0px solid #D6D6D6; border-top-width: 2px;\" \/>\n<h2>What Are Some of the Signs and Symptoms?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>The holiday blues can affect anyone.<\/strong> Those with a mental illness, those who have experienced loss or trauma, and those prone to stress are more likely to struggle with mental health challenges during the holidays.<br \/>\nSymptoms include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sadness<\/li>\n<li>Fatigue<\/li>\n<li>Tension<\/li>\n<li>Frustration<\/li>\n<li>Loneliness<\/li>\n<li>Isolation<\/li>\n<li>Sense of loss<\/li>\n<li>Dissatisfaction<\/li>\n<li>Hopelessness<\/li>\n<li>Overwhelming stress<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The holidays can bring about painful memories or an acute awareness of a loss you\u2019ve experienced, which are both catalysts for the holiday blues.<\/p>\n<h2>Tips for Managing the Holiday Blues<\/h2>\n<p>Mental illness is very serious, so any feelings of anxiety, depression, or overwhelming emotion should be taken seriously and dealt with appropriately. Even if your feelings are temporary, it\u2019s best to stay on top of your mental health to ensure you remain emotionally and physically healthy long-term.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re struggling with the holiday blues, here are some tips for managing your mental health this holiday season:<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Recognize the holiday blues for what they are.<\/h3>\n<p><strong>The holiday blues are temporary feelings.<\/strong> They do not dictate your present-day nor determine your future. Your feelings cannot control you, and they don\u2019t get to determine how much or how little you enjoy yourself this holiday season.<\/p>\n<h3>Take time for yourself.<\/h3>\n<p><strong>It can be easy to get caught up in non-stop parties, traveling to see family, and countless holiday-related events.<\/strong> But if you are easily overwhelmed in large groups of people or if you get burned out quickly when you\u2019re around others, you need to make sure you are taking time for yourself. Be sure to take care of yourself and set limits and boundaries with spending time with others.<\/p>\n<p><strong>At the same time, don\u2019t isolate yourself. <\/strong>Plan times to get together with friends or family and just enjoy each other\u2019s company, and make sure you\u2019re spending time with positive, caring people who have your best interest at heart. Staying active and spending time in the sun are also great ways to take care of yourself and boost your mood this holiday season.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"height: 20px; border: 0px solid #D6D6D6; border-top-width: 2px;\" \/>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bustle.com\/wellness\/texts-to-send-friend-ask-for-space\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click Here<\/a> for a link to 13 texts to send when you want or need some personal space.<\/h4>\n<hr style=\"height: 35px; border: 0px solid #D6D6D6; border-top-width: 2px;\" \/>\n<h3>Set realistic expectations for yourself and others.<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Unrealistic expectations are a huge contributing factor to the holiday blues<\/strong>, so don\u2019t get out of control with your planning and the expectations you place on others. Be realistic about how much time you can and will spend with others, how much money you\u2019re going to spend on gifts, and how much time you\u2019re going to spend by yourself resting and recharging. Overextending yourself or failing to live up to your own expectations are big catalysts for feelings of dissatisfaction and sadness.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"height: 20px; border: 0px solid #D6D6D6; border-top-width: 2px;\" \/>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.innerbody.com\/how-to-deal-with-stress#learn-to-set-boundaries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click Here<\/a> to learn why saying no is not selfish.<\/h4>\n<hr style=\"height: 35px; border: 0px solid #D6D6D6; border-top-width: 2px;\" \/>\n<h3>Don\u2019t overindulge.<\/h3>\n<p><strong>The holidays are full of delicious treats and yummy foods<\/strong>, and there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in alcoholic beverages as well. Overindulging can lead to feelings of sluggishness and fatigue, as well as feelings of guilt and shame. Be patient and realistic with yourself. Don\u2019t eliminate the opportunity to indulge, just be sure to limit what you\u2019re consuming and be sure to eat holiday foods and drink alcohol in moderation.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to drink plenty of water!<\/p>\n<h3>Face negative feelings in a healthy way.<\/h3>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re dealing with loss, loneliness, or isolation this holiday season, do your best to face those things in the healthiest way possible.<\/strong> This may mean talk therapy or sharing your thoughts with a close friend or family member. Acknowledge the struggle that you\u2019re facing and do your best to create new, positive memories this holiday season to associate happier feelings with the holidays.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"height: 20px; border: 0px solid #D6D6D6; border-top-width: 2px;\" \/>\n<h4><strong>Conversation Tip:<\/strong> \u201cCan we talk? I have had some feelings that I need to discuss with someone.\u201d<\/h4>\n<hr style=\"height: 35px; border: 0px solid #D6D6D6; border-top-width: 2px;\" \/>\n<h3>Don\u2019t overcommit.<\/h3>\n<p><strong>This goes along the same line as setting realistic expectations.<\/strong> Don\u2019t try to pack too much into your schedule when you know you won\u2019t be able to handle it all. Be selective in the plans you commit to, and be sure to stick to your normal routine as much as you can. Make sure you\u2019re getting enough sleep, as exhaustion can bring about a slew of unwelcomed negative feelings and poor decision making. Additionally, don\u2019t overcommit financially, as that will just add stress to your life. Don\u2019t spend too much money on gifts for everyone, and don\u2019t commit to attending too many expensive holiday events. The more you limit your spending, the better off you\u2019ll be both during the holidays and afterward.<\/p>\n<h3>Stay positive.<\/h3>\n<p><strong>It can be hard to stay positive when life is hard and you\u2019re struggling with mental health.<\/strong> The holidays are typically a time to look back on the previous year, so try to do so positively. Acknowledge the changes that have occurred in the last year, whether positive or negative, and try to have an optimistic outlook on what you\u2019ve accomplished and what you hope to accomplish in the upcoming year. Don\u2019t allow yourself to stay in a negative mindset and focus only on shortcomings and unmet expectations, but give yourself credit for the positive changes that have occurred and do your best to look at the upcoming year with hope, optimism, and excitement.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>If you or someone you know<\/strong> is suffering from a mental health problem, please contact TrueCare\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/wellness-services\/behavioral-health\/\">behavioral health department<\/a>. We have locations located in San Diego and Riverside counties, such as Encinitas, Oceanside, Perris, and San Marcos.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>TrueCare behavioral health clinics provide a welcoming place where you can feel safe, respected and valued while receiving the treatment you need.<\/strong> Our compassionate behavioral health specialists help you understand your condition and the available treatment options. Our primary goal is improving your mental and physical well-being so you can become the person you want to be.<\/p>\n<p><strong>One out of five Americans experience a mental health crisis at some point in their lives. Please don\u2019t delay getting the care you need.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/contact-truecare\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7014 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/truecare-schedule-appt-svg-buttons-blog-304x54-1.svg\" alt=\"truecare schedule an appointment button\" width=\"300\" height=\"57\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you are having an immediate personal crisis, CALL A NATIONAL HELP LINE <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/national-helpline-database-4799696\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Resources:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealth.org\/basics\/what-is-mental-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.mentalhealth.org\/basics\/what-is-mental-health<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nami.org\/blogs\/nami-blog\/november-2015\/tips-for-managing-the-holiday-blues\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.nami.org\/blogs\/nami-blog\/november-2015\/tips-for-managing-the-holiday-blues<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychology.org\/resources\/the-holiday-blues-how-to-cope\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.psychology.org\/resources\/the-holiday-blues-how-to-cope\/ <\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE<br \/>\nThe information, including but not limited to text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website, are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read on this website.<\/em><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/#organization\",\n      \"name\": \"TrueCare\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/\",\n      \"logo\": {\n        \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/#logo\",\n        \"url\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/truecare-logo-header-205x45-1.svg\",\n        \"contentUrl\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/truecare-logo-header-205x45-1.svg\"\n      },\n      \"sameAs\": [\n        \"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/healthtruecare\",\n        \"https:\/\/x.com\/healthtruecare\",\n        \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/truecare.health\/\",\n        \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/health-truecare\/\",\n        \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCIN83htaiuzCzfzdiKXPCTw\",\n        \"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/healthtruecare\"\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/#website\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/\",\n      \"name\": \"TrueCare\",\n      \"publisher\": { \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/#organization\" },\n      \"potentialAction\": {\n        \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n        \"target\": {\n          \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n          \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n        },\n        \"query-input\": \"required name=search_term_string\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#webpage\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/\",\n      \"name\": \"Holiday Blues: Managing Your Mental Health During the Holidays\",\n      \"isPartOf\": { \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/#website\" },\n      \"breadcrumb\": {\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#breadcrumb\"\n      },\n      \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#primaryimage\"\n      },\n      \"datePublished\": \"2023-11-13\",\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#blogposting\",\n      \"headline\": \"Holiday Blues: Managing Your Mental Health During the Holidays\",\n      \"description\": \"Learn what the holiday blues are, common signs and symptoms, and practical tips for managing your mental health during the holidays.\",\n      \"image\": {\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#primaryimage\"\n      },\n      \"publisher\": { \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/#organization\" },\n      \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n        \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#webpage\"\n      },\n      \"datePublished\": \"2023-11-13\",\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n      \"articleSection\": [\"Health and Wellness\", \"Mental Health\"]\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#primaryimage\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/truecare-blog-holiday-blues-featured-image-blog-700x466-1.jpg\",\n      \"contentUrl\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/truecare-blog-holiday-blues-featured-image-blog-700x466-1.jpg\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n      \"@id\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#breadcrumb\",\n      \"itemListElement\": [\n        { \"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 1, \"name\": \"Home\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/\" },\n        { \"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 2, \"name\": \"Blog\", \"item\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/\" },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n          \"position\": 3,\n          \"name\": \"Holiday Blues: Managing Your Mental Health During the Holidays\",\n          \"item\": \"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/\"\n        }\n      ]\n    }\n  ]\n}<\/script><\/p>\n<span class=\"et_bloom_bottom_trigger\"><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The holidays are typically portrayed as joyous times full of celebrations, laughter, and connecting with loved ones. But not everyone experiences the holidays in this way. Countless individuals in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":22310,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70,113],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-and-wellness","category-mental-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Managing Holiday Blues &amp; Mental Health | TrueCare<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The holidays are typically portrayed as joyous times full of celebrations, laughter, and connecting with loved ones. But not everyone experiences the holidays in this way. Countless individuals in the U.S. and abroad experience the \u201choliday blues,\u201d which can make the season a very challenging time of year. The holiday blues are defined as temporary feelings of anxiety, depression, sadness, loneliness, and other negative emotions. Many individuals with already diagnosed mental illnesses are affected by the holiday blues as their normal symptoms worsen during this time of year, but even those without regularly occurring mental health challenges can experience the holiday blues.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Managing Holiday Blues &amp; Mental Health | TrueCare\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The holidays are typically portrayed as joyous times full of celebrations, laughter, and connecting with loved ones. But not everyone experiences the holidays in this way. Countless individuals in the U.S. and abroad experience the \u201choliday blues,\u201d which can make the season a very challenging time of year. The holiday blues are defined as temporary feelings of anxiety, depression, sadness, loneliness, and other negative emotions. Many individuals with already diagnosed mental illnesses are affected by the holiday blues as their normal symptoms worsen during this time of year, but even those without regularly occurring mental health challenges can experience the holiday blues.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"TrueCare\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/healthtruecare\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-11-13T10:05:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-01T17:18:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/truecare-blog-holiday-blues-featured-image-blog-700x466-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"700\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"466\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Shannon Mbuthia\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@healthtruecare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@healthtruecare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Shannon Mbuthia\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Shannon Mbuthia\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/#\/schema\/person\/d7b523d5dae4e25b689b6b9cd100f742\"},\"headline\":\"Holiday Blues: Managing Your Mental Health During the Holidays\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-11-13T10:05:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-01T17:18:51+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/\"},\"wordCount\":1311,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/truecare-blog-holiday-blues-featured-image-blog-700x466-1.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Health and Wellness\",\"Mental Health\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/\",\"name\":\"Managing Holiday Blues & Mental Health | TrueCare\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/blog\/holiday-blues-managing-your-mental-health-during-the-holidays\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/truecare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/truecare-blog-holiday-blues-featured-image-blog-700x466-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-11-13T10:05:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-01T17:18:51+00:00\",\"description\":\"The holidays are typically portrayed as joyous times full of celebrations, laughter, and connecting with loved ones. 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