Holiday Mental Health
This common holiday stressor often involves finances, schedules, and expectations.
What is holiday stress?
A mild form of low mood some people experience during winter months.
What are the winter blues?
Taking slow, deep breaths can activate this calming nervous system response.
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
Feeling sad or lonely during the holidays is this type of experience.
What is a normal emotional response?
This basic need is often disrupted by late nights and travel.
What is sleep?
This practice helps reduce stress by keeping attention on the present moment.
What is mindfulness?
This condition is linked to reduced sunlight and seasonal changes.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
Writing thoughts and feelings down is known as this coping strategy.
What is journaling?
This emotion often arises when expectations don’t match reality.
What is disappointment?
Eating regular meals supports this aspect of mental health.
What is mood regulation (or energy levels)?
Setting these can protect your time and energy during the holidays.
What are boundaries?
This vitamin is often connected to mood and sunlight exposure.
What is Vitamin D?
This grounding technique involves naming 5 things you see, 4 you feel, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, and 1 you taste.
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 technique?
Grief during the holidays may increase due to this factor.
What are reminders of loss or absence?
Taking breaks from social media can help reduce this feeling.
What is comparison (or overwhelm)?
Saying “no” to extra commitments can help prevent this emotional state.
What is burnout?
This daily habit can improve mood and energy during winter.
What is regular physical activity (exercise)?
Replacing unhelpful thoughts with more balanced ones is called this CBT skill.
What is cognitive restructuring (or reframing)?
Holding two opposite emotions at the same time is known as this.
What is ambivalence?
Scheduling enjoyable activities on purpose is called this depression skill.
What is behavioral activation?
This hormone increases during stress and can impact sleep and mood.
What is cortisol?
Light therapy is most commonly used to treat this condition.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
This skill involves treating yourself with kindness instead of criticism.
What is self-compassion?
Allowing emotions without judging them is a key part of this therapy approach.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
Reaching out to others for help is an example of this protective factor.
What is social support?