The holidays are finally here. For many people, that means spending more time with family members, or maybe even staying with some if you’re traveling from out of town. While the holidays are great for reconnecting with loved ones and celebrating the season, they can be difficult when you’re dealing with depression.
You’re facing your own internal battle, and now, on top of that, it seems like the world is at war. Watching TV was your normal go-to that you used as a way to relax and unwind after a long day. Now, your TV screen and social media feeds are filled with images of war, death, and destruction from the ongoing war with Russia and Ukraine.
Dealing with depression is never easy. Even when things are going well in your life, depression can make you feel hopeless, helpless, and unmotivated to do anything that used to interest you. In challenging times, those thoughts and feelings can be overwhelming. When things aren’t going well in your life, depression will always want to rear its ugly head and make things worse. Being able to cope can feel like a full-time job.
Toxicity in the workplace is a big problem that doesn’t seem to be going away. It’s one thing to not like your job. But, if the toxic environment you’re exposed to each day is impacting your mental health, that’s a different story. Signs of toxicity in the workplace can include your opinions not being heard or valued, gossip, rumors, bullying, and narcissistic leadership.
Feeling lonely as a parent is more common than you might think. When you really think about it, parenthood is socially isolating. You give every moment of your time to your kids, but take little time for yourself or your relationships. You might be able to distract yourself from your own isolation for a while, especially if you have a busy schedule. But, eventually, those feelings can catch up with you.
Getting officially diagnosed with depression can bring on a whole new wave of emotions and thoughts. If you received a diagnosis, you’ve probably been struggling with symptoms for a while without knowing what they really meant.
