Thanksgiving is about gratitude, tradition, and time with family and friends. However, for many people, this season can also bring emotional and mental challenges.
What should be a season of joy and connection can feel like loneliness, grief, anxiety, or stress. In fact, 51% of people report feeling lonely around the holidays even when they are around loved ones.
If you’re experiencing emotional heaviness this Thanksgiving, you are not alone. Your feelings are valid and there are ways to get help.
Coping with Grief During the Season of Gratitude
Feelings of grief and loneliness don’t take a backseat because it’s a holiday. Familiar spaces and participating in traditions can bring up memories of those who are no longer with us.
There are small things that can help bring comfort and connection back into this season. That may be beginning a new tradition, spending time outdoors, practicing gratitude, making new traditions, or even volunteering in the community.
Gratitude is powerful because it encourages the mind to focus on what is meaningful rather than on what feels missing. Even setting aside 10 minutes a day can create a noticeable shift in mood and perspective.
Here are a few practices to try:
- Journaling: Write down one or two things you’re grateful for each day. These can be small but will help shift the focus from what’s missing to what’s meaningful.
- Reflection: Take a moment to look back on your day and write down any positive interactions, moments, or wins.
- Appreciation towards others: Send a text, write a card, or make a quick call to family and friends. Expressing gratitude helps strengthen connections and helps ease feelings of loneliness.
- Create a gratitude jar: Write small affirmations or kind thoughts on slips of paper and place them in the jar throughout the week. Revisit them to gain encouragement or positivity for the rest of the week.
“Gratitude practices are powerful tools that help regulate emotions and reduce anxiety and depression by inviting positivity. Even when done at home, they create small moments of peace that support the healing process,” said Dr. Teejay Tripp, chief medical officer at Serenity Mental Health Centers.
When Self-Care Isn’t Enough
Self-care and gratitude can offer emotional relief during seasons such as Thanksgiving. But it’s equally important to recognize when additional support is needed. If grief, depression, or anxiety becomes too heavy to manage alone, specialized care may help.
Everyone’s healing journey is different. Serenity Mental Health Centers is committed to helping people through every stage of their healing journey. They offer a range of personalized treatments, including:
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-medicated treatment that uses magnetic pulses to gently stimulate specific areas of the brain responsible for mood regulation, motivation, focus, and more. Serenity sees an 84% response rate and a 78% remission rate, with results lasting 3 years+ for most patients.
- Ketamine Infusion Therapy can rapidly restore balance to brain circuits involved in mood and thought patterns, often providing relief in hours rather than weeks.
- Medication Management is where a full medical evaluation is done to determine if medication is necessary for a patient based on their history, symptoms, and goals.
Gratitude Practice Paired with TMS
Healing involves both medical treatment and emotional support. At Serenity, patients incorporate gratitude into their TMS sessions. With the guidance of a TMS Technician, they journal, complete positivity exercises, and set weekly goals.
“Integrating gratitude practice and goal setting with TMS treatment helps patients stay engaged and find hope. It shows them that they are accomplishing meaningful goals, and that ongoing success continues to bring positivity into their lives,” said Dr. Tripp.
No matter what this season looks like for you, Serenity Mental Health Centers is here to support your well-being.
Book an appointment today at serenitymentalhealthcenters.com or call 844-310-1649.
