The holidays are often portrayed as a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but for many living with depression or grief, this season can feel unbearably heavy.In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, host Terry McGuire and psychologist Dr. Anita Sanz speak with grief expert Krista St-Germain about how to navigate the emotional complexities of the holiday season when you’re struggling with loss, sadness, or mental exhaustion.Krista explains the difference between grief and depression, why both can coexist, and how social expectations and “holiday perfectionism” can make it harder for us to honor what we’re truly feeling. She shares compassionate, practical strategies for setting boundaries, communicating your needs, and letting go of the guilt that often comes with saying “no.”You’ll also learn Krista’s “N-O-W Method”—a simple three-step process for sitting with emotions instead of resisting them:Name what you’re feelingOpen to itWitness the physical sensations until they passThe conversation closes with a powerful reminder: If someone’s going to be disappointed this holiday season, make sure it’s not you.Primary Topics Covered:How grief and depression overlap but differ in focusWhy holidays amplify emotional pain and lonelinessHow social “shoulds” worsen depression during celebrationsThe importance of rewriting family rituals after lossHow to communicate your needs to othersSetting healthy boundaries without guiltHow to stop “pre-feeling” bad emotions before eventsUsing the N-O-W method to process feelings mindfullyWhat to do when loved ones can’t understand your griefHow to honor your emotions instead of performing for othersTimestamps:00:00 – Introduction and welcome01:45 – Grief vs. depression: how they overlap and differ04:25 – Understanding grief as a response to all kinds of loss07:00 – How accomplishments can unexpectedly trigger grief08:10 – The pressure of “holiday happiness” and unrealistic expectations09:28 – Giving yourself permission to change traditions10:21 – Communicating your needs to family and friends11:13 – Handling pushback and advocating for yourself12:17 – Respecting different ways of grieving within families13:06 – Avoiding “should” thinking during the holidays13:28 – How anticipating bad feelings makes things worse14:34 – Learning to feel your feelings with the N-O-W method17:48 – When loved ones expect you to act happy18:04 – Boundaries: “Someone’s going to be disappointed—don’t let it be you”19:37 – Why feeling guilty often means you’re doing the right thing20:12 – Grieving lost dreams and unmet expectations21:08 – The value of mindfulness and emotional witnessing22:49 – Giving others permission to be disappointed23:25 – Reframing conflict and emotional honesty25:32 – Challenging the expectation to “perform” happiness26:10 – The lack of grief education in our culture26:40 – Depression and grief: two misunderstood emotional experiences27:01 – Using EFT (tapping) to manage difficult feelings27:18 – Closing reflections and hope for the holidaysExplore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.comFacebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

Ver todos los episodios