EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — As the holiday season kicks off, mental health experts are cautioning that many people may experience a shift in mood, often linked to seasonal depression.
Shorter days, colder weather, and the pressures of the holidays, particularly around Thanksgiving, can trigger symptoms.
Clinicians note that early signs of seasonal depression extend beyond normal stress and may include persistent sadness, loss of energy, changes in sleep, and withdrawal from family or friends.
With Thanksgiving gatherings adding to expectations, experts advise setting clear boundaries, such as limiting time at stressful events, planning breaks, or communicating needs with loved ones.
“That’s where speaking up also comes into play because you want to be able to say, Hey, I’m not doing great. I need help. And delegating is important because you can say, I feel a little overwhelmed doing this dish or preparing this party,” said Fernando Duval, a certified child and adolescent and general psychiatrist, and an assistant professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences.
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