Tending To Teen Depression During the Holiday Season

With the holiday season fast approaching, many families are very eager to spend time together and enjoy some relaxation and bonding after a long and stressful year. The holidays present an opportunity for parents to enjoy some quality time with their children and catch up on the events that have shaped their year. 

However, while holidays are ideally fun and exciting for most teenagers, they can nonetheless be very stressful for some. This is especially true if they have suffered a recent loss of a loved one or if they have a family member who is affected by a terminal illness. It is not very uncommon for teens to suffer from debilitating depression during the holiday season. 

If your teenage son or daughter is struggling with depression during this time, here are some of the tips that you can employ to help them cope with their uncomfortable feelings. 

Ensure they Eat a Healthy Diet

It is very easy for your child to succumb to unhealthy eating habits when dealing with depression during the holidays. They may start binging on unhealthy fast foods to distract them from their feelings, or refuse to eat at all. As their primary caregiver, you should ensure that your struggling teenager partakes a healthy diet in order to promote their physical and mental wellbeing. Make sure that your teenager takes in regular meals with lots of fruits and vegetables. It is also vital that they drink lots of water to keep their bodies healthy. 

Employ Humor to Help them Relax

The physical and mental health benefits of laughter have been proven beyond dispute. Studies have shown that laughter can help reduce blood pressure, release tension in the body muscles and improve metabolism. If your teenager is struggling with depression, helping them to laugh more can greatly help alleviate their negative feelings and promote physical wellbeing. Try sharing jokes with them as often as you can, or watch comedies which they like together with them.


Encourage them to Exercise

Engage in physical exercises can greatly alleviate depression since it helps boost the production of endorphins, which are feel-good hormones. Even a simple exercise like walking or jogging can improve blood circulation in the body and promote better mental and physical health. You should, therefore, encourage your teenager to take part in exercises. Going on morning jogs together, for instance, will not only enable your child to become more active, but it will also allow you to bond with them.


Help them Confront their Negative Thoughts and Feelings

It is very easy for depressed teenagers to fall into a vortex of negative thoughts and feelings which makes it impossible for them to enjoy life. If these issues are not dealt with appropriately, they may lead to suicidal thoughts. To avoid this eventuality, you must support your child in confronting these unwanted thoughts and emotions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help your depressed teenager to examine their thoughts and develop healthy mechanisms of coping with them whenever they arise. 

In Conclusion

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of relaxation and bonding. By applying these tips, you can help your child overcome their depression, so that they can enjoy this festive season along with friends and loved ones.