What is post-holiday depression?

Feeling blue after the holiday season is much more common than you might think. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 64% of adults experience post-holiday blues. The holidays are typically a joyous time filled with excitement and lots of social interaction. However, feelings of financial, physical, and emotional stress are also common. 

After experiencing the excitement, joy, and buzz of the holiday season, life might suddenly feel boring or lonely. The contrast between social interactions, parties, gatherings, and gifts, compared to the days that follow, might lead to feeling empty or emotionally let down. 

During the holiday season, the days are shorter, and your sleep might be disrupted due to added responsibilities. Your bills may be higher around the holidays, and there’s often more pressure to make purchases, which can increase your overall stress. All of this added stress and responsibility can add to your low mood after the holiday season. 

Post-holiday depression, not to be confused with clinically diagnosed depression (e.g., major depressive disorder), is a period of feeling physically and emotionally drained. You might also feel lonely, sad, anxious, or stressed, due to the transition from the holiday season to your normal schedule. So, what does holiday depression look like? 

8 common signs and symptoms of post-holiday depression 

• Low energy or sadness
• Difficulty concentrating 
• Insomnia 
• Lack of motivation 
• Irritability or mood swings 
• Trouble returning to routines
• Stress or anxiety 
• Comparing yourself to others’ highlight reels

If any of these signs feel familiar, know that you’re not alone, and there are small steps that can help. 

6 mood-brightening strategies

• Ease back into routines — Don’t pressure yourself into feeling you need to be productive instantly after the holidays.
  
• Reconnect with a friend — It’s more than normal to feel lonely after the holidays. Staying connected with friends and family, either on the phone or in person, may improve your mood.
  
• Get some daylight movement in — Sunlight and physical activity, even for 10 minutes, can help boost your energy. Getting outside for a quick walk or even sitting outside at a park might boost your mood.
  
• Try gentle self-talk — For example, this might look like: “I’m adjusting; it’s OK to feel off.” Giving yourself grace after the holiday season is important when transitioning in and out of routines.
  
• Create small goals for the week — A little bit of structure may help inspire and motivate you while getting back into a routine.
  
• Seek support if symptoms persist — If symptoms linger beyond two weeks or impact your day-to-day functioning, you should seek support from a licensed mental health professional. 

How Lightfully supports Californians after the holidays

Are you, or someone you know, feeling down or blue this post-holiday season? If you’re ready to reach out to a mental health professional, Lightfully is ready to support you in this journey. 

Here at Lightfully, we pride ourselves on our whole-person-centered care, which is the basis of our clinical model. Our Precision Care Model (PCM) provides a data-driven and evidence-based approach for our clients. This allows our exceptionally trained clinical experts to create personalized and comprehensive mental health treatment plans, designed specifically for you. 

We understand that each client is a person, not only their diagnosis. This is why our levels of care are designed as multidimensional, guiding you through progress that’s not only visible but meaningful to you. Our PCM focuses on the four core processes that may be contributing to your post-holiday depression: 

• Difficulty with emotions 
• Difficulty with thoughts 
• Difficulty with behaviors 
• Difficulty with relationships 

Feeling ready to take the first steps in your mental health journey? At Lightfully, our four levels of care include: 

• Residential Treatment (RTC) 
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)   
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) 
• Virtual PHP (vPHP) and virtual IOP (vIOP) 

Lightfully’s Holiday Short-Term Option is also available for all four levels of care. Our Short-Term Option lasts for around two weeks, but can be extended if necessary. This option can be beneficial for clients trying out mental health care for the first time or looking for support during a specific time, such as after the holiday season. 

For most people, the holiday season may be the only time when their regular schedule is interrupted. Because of the sudden return to normal day-to-day routines, our brain can exaggerate the reality of going back to everyday life, making it seem more anxiety-inducing and depressing than it is. 

Post-holiday depression does not equal weakness or failure. It is simply your mind and body adjusting after a high-energy and high-stress time. 

Change is possible. When you’re ready, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.