Summer is gone, and fall will soon fade into winter and the holiday season. While this should be a time of joy, family, and eating a lot together, it can be stressful and difficult for families to deal with teenagers, especially if those teenagers suffer from depression. It seems that the holidays can trigger violent and risky behavior, and even suicidal thoughts, in teens who are prone to depression.
Luckily, you can do quite a few things as parents to help your child have a wonderful holiday season. But, of course, if you see your teen getting more and more depressed as the season progresses, it’s important to get them help somewhere, such as https://polaristeen.com/teen-depression/, as soon as you can.
But for more less severe cases, you can find upbeat and fun ways to deal with depression in your teen over the holiday season.
Decorate together
For many teens, some of their fondest memories are decorating with their families during the holiday season. So, decorate as a family. Install any lighting and other things you want for Christmas this year and make sure to tackle everything from the tree to the outside of the house together. Not only will this build great memories, it will take your teen’s mind off of being depressed as well, at least for a bit.
Don’t forget to exercise
During the holidays, it’s easy to get out of your routine and forget to exercise. The same holds true for your teen. You can find quite a few quick and easy exercises that can be done during the holiday season that release endorphins, which help to create positive feelings. Your teen doesn’t have to run 3 miles a day, though. A simple walk around the block or even doing a few exercises together can ward off depression during the holidays while keeping everyone a little healthier.
Make sure your teen eats healthy foods
While you most certainly already encourage your teen to eat healthy, it can become quite a task during the holiday season with all of the unhealthy stuff lying around, not to mention the tendency to hit the fast food joints on the way home from a shopping trip.
Taking the time to prepare foods that are full of vitamins, minerals, and vegetables can help your teen’s sense of well-being and keep them healthy at the same time. Preparing meals ahead of time, so that you can just pop them in the oven or microwave will save you some time and give you the peace of mind of knowing that you are doing everything you can to prevent your child’s depression from surfacing.
You can even keep celery, carrot sticks, and plenty of fruit in the fridge for your child to snack on during this busy season of the year. While nothing is wrong with indulging in all of the foods that come with a festive holiday season, it’s best to limit what your teenager eats for not only their mental health, but their physical health as well.
Enjoy the season together
One of the best and most beneficial ways you can help your teenager battle depression during the holiday season is by enjoying the season together. Do things together, such as curling up on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn and watching Christmas movies.
These are just a few of the top things you can do to help your child deal with depression during the holiday season. Patience is key, and love is important.
