Surviving the Holidays When Your Mental Health Feels Tender
For many people, the holidays are painted as joyful, cozy, and full of connection. But the truth is, the holiday season can also bring stress, grief, exhaustion, and emotional overload. If you’re finding this time of year difficult, there is nothing wrong with you—you’re human.
The holidays often stir up a lot at once: family dynamics, financial pressure, memories of loss, unmet expectations, and the unspoken pressure to “be happy.” Even positive gatherings can feel overwhelming when your nervous system is already stretched thin.
If this season feels heavy, here are a few gentle reminders to help you get through it.
You don't have to feel what you're "suppose" to feel
There is no correct emotional response to the holidays. Some people feel joy. Others feel sadness, numbness, anxiety, or a mix of everything. All of it is valid. You are not failing the season because your experience looks different than someone else’s.
It’s okay to take breaks—from people, plans, and conversations
Stepping outside for air, leaving early, declining an invitation, or changing plans does not make you rude or ungrateful. It means you are listening to your limits. Protecting your energy is not selfish—it’s necessary.
Boundaries can be quiet
Not every boundary needs an explanation or a confrontation. Sometimes a boundary looks like:
Changing the subject
Not engaging in old arguments
Saying “I’ll think about it” instead of “yes”
Giving yourself permission to rest
Small, quiet boundaries still count.
Your body often needs care before your thoughts do
When emotions feel intense, logic usually isn’t the solution. Gentle body-based care can help more than trying to “talk yourself out” of how you feel. This might look like slowing your breathing, stretching, stepping outside, holding something warm, or simply pausing for a moment before responding.
You are allowed to grieve—even during celebrations
If you’re missing someone, mourning a relationship, or grieving a version of life you hoped for, that grief doesn’t disappear just because it’s a holiday. You can hold both grief and moments of connection at the same time.
You don’t have to do this alone
Support doesn’t always mean having all the answers—it means having a place where you don’t have to carry everything by yourself. Reaching out for support, whether to a trusted person or a mental health professional, is a sign of care for yourself, not weakness.
If you need a brief pause during the holiday season, we offer a Free Emotional Reset—a short, self-guided grounding tool designed to help you slow down, name what’s happening internally, and choose one steady next step.
However you’re moving through this season, know this: you are doing the best you can with what you’re carrying. That is enough.