Healthy Tips for Dealing with the Holiday Blues Near Danville, KY
While the holidays are often portrayed as ‘the most wonderful time of the year,’ the holidays and the winter in general can be stressful and difficult for many people. Whether you struggle with addiction due to some specific time in your life related to the holidays or just start to feel depressed or like your in need of additional support this time of year, you are not alone. At Central Kentucky Addiction Center, our team, led by addiction specialist Dr. Leslie, provides addiction treatment and counseling for those struggling with addiction and we want to set you up for success this holiday season.
Healthy Tips for Dealing with the Holiday Blues
- Revisit the mechanisms that helped you jump start your recovery.
Whether your addiction recovery began with a trusted friend, family member, health care worker, religious services provider, support program that offers meetings, or regular phone calls with a sponsor, revisiting your roots and using the tools that helped you begin your path to recovery will help you set your self up for success against the holiday blues, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or a potential relapse. Renewing affirming social practices can help you build a network of other individuals recovering from addiction and can ensure you have people supporting you on your journey. - Schedule an additional appointment with our team.
If you feel that your recovery may need reinforcement this holiday season, you can schedule an extra appointment with Dr. Leslie and our team. Counseling services and medication assisted treatment, both of which are provided at Central Kentucky Addiction Treatment, can be a great way to battle seasonal depression like the holiday blues and can get through the winter grounded in your recovery. - Practice good self-care.
While this tip may seem simple, practicing good self-care can ensure that you feel good and up to the challenge of facing the holiday blues. Whether your holiday blues are triggered by the colder weather, certain seasonal memories, or extended time with your family, practicing self-care can help you stay connected with your mind and your body to determine your needs, goals, and boundaries as you make it through the holiday season. - Make an effort to spend time outdoors and get sun exposure.
It has been proven that one of the many causes of the holiday blues is a lack of Vitamin D and exposure to sunlight. While we do face some cold weather in Central Kentucky, any effort you make to get outside and feel the sunshine can help you battle the blues. If it is too cold to go outside, you can keep your window treatments open to allow sunlight into your home instead, or invest in a lamp that is approved for light therapy. - Give back this holiday season.
It can be incredibly rewarding to give back during the holiday season and express gratitude for all that you have. Whether you want to volunteer at a local shelter, church, food back, or other type of charity, volunteering your time for others is sure to give your mind and body a boost again the onset of the holiday blues. While there is always the potential for stress and frustration, the holidays are a great time to take a step back and recognize everything you have to be grateful for.
Contact Us
We wholeheartedly believe that no one should have to struggle with opioid addiction alone, especially during the holidays. Dr. Leslie is a board-certified Addiction Medicine specialist and can work with you or a loved one to help jump-start or maintain your recovery this winter. In addition to opioid addiction, Central Kentucky Addiction Treatment offers support for other forms of addiction such as alcohol, addiction.
Contact us today to talk to a member of our staff about dealing with seasonal depression like the holiday blues. We proudly serve Danville, Kentucky and the surrounding areas.
