Helping a Loved One Through Major Depression During the Holidays

The holidays are meant to be joyful and light, but for someone battling major depression, they can feel impossibly heavy. Here’s how to support your loved one — and yourself — through this season with empathy, patience, and hope.

For many, the holidays bring connection and celebration. But for those living with major depression, this time of year can amplify feelings of sadness, isolation, or guilt. Expectations of cheer and togetherness can deepen the contrast between how they feel inside and what the world seems to demand from them.

Changes in routine, financial pressure, shorter days, and strained relationships can all contribute to worsening symptoms. Even well-meaning social gatherings can feel overwhelming. Under “normal” circumstances, depression causes persistent sadness, fatigue, sleep changes, and loss of interest — the holidays put these symptoms in a pressure cooker.

At Sound Psychiatry and Wellness, we understand how complex this season can be when someone you love is struggling. Compassionate support, understanding, and professional guidance can make an enormous difference.

Why the holidays can make depression worse

There’s something uniquely challenging about depression during the holidays. The lights, gatherings, and cultural emphasis on joy can highlight what your loved one feels they’ve lost. Many people with depression experience:

Increased social pressure, which can heighten anxiety and self-doubt
Seasonal affective changes, as shorter, darker days impact mood-regulating hormones
Financial and emotional stress, from travel, gift-giving, or family dynamics
Grief or loneliness, especially for those missing loved ones or dealing with major life changes

These overlapping issues can leave a person feeling more isolated than ever — even in a room full of people.

How to support your loved one with empathy and understanding

You can’t “fix” depression, but you can be a steady, compassionate presence. The most powerful help often comes through small, consistent actions:

Listen without judgment

Let them talk freely, without rushing to offer advice or cheer them up. Simple phrases like “I’m here for you” or “You’re not alone in this” can mean more than you think.

Encourage, but don’t press

Extend invitations gently, and understand if they decline. Sometimes being included — even if they say no — helps them feel valued.

Offer practical help

Tasks like cooking, shopping, or child care can feel impossible when someone’s depressed. Offering specific help (“Can I drop off dinner Tuesday?”) can ease their load.

Remind them it’s okay to seek professional help

Depression isn’t weakness; it’s a medical condition that responds to care and treatment. Encourage them to reach out to a mental health provider.

Having someone simply show up — calmly and consistently — can be life-changing.

Don’t forget to care for yourself, too

Supporting a loved one through depression can be emotionally draining. You may feel helpless, anxious, or even frustrated — and that’s okay. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so tending to your own mental and physical well-being is essential.

Set healthy boundaries around your time and energy
Rest, exercise, pray, journal, and connect with your own support system
Don’t isolate yourself; talk to trusted friends or a counselor
Remember that your love and presence matter, even if you can’t see immediate progress

Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s what allows you to stay compassionate and grounded for the one you’re supporting.

How Sound Psychiatry and Wellness can help

At Sound Psychiatry and Wellness, we believe healing is a journey best traveled with understanding, evidence-based care, and support for both patients and their families. Drew Pittman, DNP, PMHNP-BC, provides compassionate psychiatric care for major depression — helping people rediscover hope and equipping loved ones with the tools to walk alongside them.

We offer telehealth appointments for your convenience, so help is always accessible — whether you’re at home, traveling, or caring for someone who has difficulty leaving the house.

Drew provides expert, compassionate mental health care to adults in Colorado, Ohio, Florida, and Massachusetts in a private virtual setting.

Major depression can make the holidays feel dark — but light still exists, and help is available. If you or someone you love is struggling, reach out. Sound Psychiatry and Wellness is here to listen, support, and guide you toward healing.

Call Sound Psychiatry and Wellness or request an appointment online today. Together, we can bring compassion, stability, and hope into this season — and beyond.