You are a college student in November/December, in the wintry mix of burnout and tears, wondering how on God’s green, gumptious Earth you will get through finals or, if you’re like me, how you’ll be able to relax at all during winter break. On top of that, companies and brands are suffocating you with special holiday deals that you need to get quickly, or else your mom will be sad that she didn’t get a coffee maker that was 15% off!
To quote Taylor Swift, “tis’ the damn season!”
Holidays should signify merriness, warmth, and love. Yet, for those of us with mental health issues, it can be a dismal time of year, and we just can’t wait for spring to come. Personally, I struggled with seasonal sadness during wintertime when I was in my late teens. I wanted nothing more than to hibernate and not think about times gone by or the loneliness I felt.
Nowadays, while this time of year is still not the easiest to get through, I think I’ve found ways to manage around the chilling depths of depression when it does spike.
Let’s start with holiday shopping (oh, the horror)! It is both fun and miserable; fun when I’m shopping for close friends and family and miserable when I’m shopping for pickier people or people without preferences.
A perfect example is my mom. I love her to death, but she can be difficult to shop for, not because she’s picky but because she’s too easygoing with what she wants. Honestly, it’s a virtue but it makes shopping for her very difficult. Yet, the one thing I do know that she likes and will most definitely use are Bath and Body Works body washes. From there, I can learn what kind of scents she likes most and make mental notes for the future.
Start with the pickier people first. Maybe you want to tune in more to conversations with them or just observe their interests a little more closely. If in-person holiday shopping is a trigger, I suggest online shopping or, if you want to avoid shipping costs, ordering items online and picking them up in person. That can be a great way to get outside while minimizing shopping-induced stress.
Also, be sure to buy in doses; don’t try to buy everyone’s gift at the same time (trust me, I made that mistake last year, and doing that when I didn’t have a car yet was a nightmare)! As a rule, if I’m shopping in person, I’ve learned to shop for three people per trip – good things come in threes!
So, you’ve nailed the holiday shopping stress but there is still the looming darkness of the holidays themselves. How do you get around that?
First, try to get as much sun or light as possible. I know that may not seem possible with how early sunset is, but as much as you may want to revel in darkness, it can only exhaust you more and potentially worsen your headspace.
This might sound insane, but cold exposure might also be good. Studies show that stepping outside in the early morning or touching cold water for even a few minutes can be enough to help your energy levels. Plus, once you return to a warmer environment, it feels much more rewarding and soothing for your nerves.
Seasonal depression might be a killer but it shouldn’t kill your ability to lighten your spirits. In general, make plans to go out and squeeze in an outdoor holiday activity. Thank goodness we live in Bethlehem, the Christmas City! There is so much to do during this time of year – Vespers, SteelStacks skating, Christkindlmarkt, and so much more! Heck, you can even just walk through Main Street. and behold all the gorgeous lights at night.
I also find the season to be a good opportunity to engage in childhood nostalgia. I always like revisiting games that I loved when I was younger—Wizard101, Undertale, Runescape – because they can be really good distractions and help me reconnect with myself and what the holiday season used to mean to me.
Maybe while you’re indoors more, you can try a sleuth of different activities to fill your time. Balance your alone time and reconnect with yourself but also with others! Trust me, people seem to be more empathetic and receptive during this time so it never hurts to try talking to a long-distance friend or reaching out to an old classmate.
I hope that even with the holiday humbugs, you can find some mental respite from the seasonal stress. Things may seem dismal and depressing, but where there is darkness, light finds its way of piercing through it. You will get through finals and get through the season while hopefully finding your way around it in the process. Even if you don’t, spring is not too far away so keep holding on!
If you’d like to send me a request, you can fill out my Google form or email me at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.
Stay sane, friends, and remember, yule be okay!
