Managing stress and depression during the Holidays

This is a guest post by Sonia De Pass.  She is an Licensed Professional Counselor - Intern at Martin Counseling. Find out more about her here.

That much awaited time of year in Houston is here!  We are glad to welcome in milder temperatures.  Pumpkins are everywhere and spooky decorations are on display.  Before you know it, we will be pondering what’s for Thanksgiving dinner.  This is the time of year that creates opportunities to congregate with family and friends, exchange gifts and just share good times.  This time of year, for many can also usher in increased signs of depression and stress.  The responsibilities of planning celebrations, family commitments and the financial burden that the holidays can bring add to the already stressful lives that we tend to live.  In addition, those who may already be living with depression, can find themselves struggling to cope with the demands of the season.  There are things we can keep in mind to help ourselves during this time.  First step is to take a deep breath, exhale, then follow this link to The Mayo Clinic’s tips for coping during the holidays:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544