Tiffany Baker is the certified community behavioral health clinic project director at Singing River Services in Gautier.
“You do see some loneliness and some fatigue and other issues that come about with the holiday season,” she said. “But the most that we really see is depression and anxiety.”
Baker adds that people often attach high expectations to the holidays. While some may thrive in family gatherings and gift giving, she says it leads to feelings of failure and inadequacy for others.
“Loneliness during the holidays is a big issue that a lot of people deal with,” she said. “This may be because their family is far away, or incarcerated or maybe even they've lost a lot of loved ones.”
These conditions can create a feeling of chronic loneliness for some people, which Baker says can lead to depression, anxiety or even physical health problems.
“As far as the financial strain, people want to be able to provide gifts that bring joy and happiness to all of their loved ones or people they care about,” she said. “The pressures around that sometimes are really intense and just too much when sometimes you're struggling to pay everyday bills that we have due.”
Some signs of dealing with holiday depression include a loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed or feelings of isolation. Baker says there are tips to help manage holiday depression.
“Make sure you set realistic expectations,” she said. “Avoid striving for that perfect holiday and focus on what's meaningful to you. Create your own traditions. Make sure you stay connected. Reach out to friends. Attend community events or volunteer even. That's a great way to combat isolation. Also, during this time, make sure that you prioritize self-care.”
The risk of conflict at family gatherings can contribute to the development of holiday depression. Baker says it’s important to set healthy boundaries.
“We all love to get around our family, but there's always that chance that something may happen,” she said. “What I would do is think about what boundaries you want to set and set them before you go to the event. Know what will be okay and what will not be okay to you. When is the time that maybe you should leave, when you should say something or when can you overlook it?”
