Turkeys, Jingles, and Seasonal Depression

As the holiday season creeps around the corner, a change in my social media feed has become unpleasantly evident. Videos about POVs and clips of GRWMs have turned to couples snuggling with each other in matching PJ pants, and I don’t know how to feel about it. Like being yanked up and down from dream to reality, I’m constantly conflicted on whether or not I should feel happy to be on holiday break from school, or upset because I have no one to spend it with.

The older I get, this confusion of emotions occurs at the same time every year; mostly caused by social media rubbing it in my face, many call it social media-induced “seasonal depression.”

Social media-induced seasonal depression isn’t a type of internal sadness where I feel as though I am suffering through it alone, because I witness the effects of it in comment sections every day. Videos of friend group gift exchanges usually mass produce digital spitballs like, “I hate my life.”, “Life is so unfair.”, “Why can’t I be happy too?” Comments like these are easy to overlook, which is why many go through social media-induced seasonal depression undetected. It’s easy to put on a fake smile during the holidays, because everyone around you is so overwhelmed with joy to notice.

From what I’ve observed, social media-induced seasonal depression begins around your mid-teenage years. I’ve pondered why it is, but I’ve come to conclude that it’s during the perfect intersection of all life’s awkwardness: relationships, maturity, self-esteem, and most of all, growth in social awareness. During this time, it is also very common for us to neglect help from others and/or fail to reach out for help if needed. Social media pressures can be a daunting battle to face alone, and the “most wonderful time of the year” only makes it worse.

I’ve been there; you might feel guilty to reach out for help during what is supposed to feel like a joyous time, because others may come down with you. However, it is imperative that you get help to feel like you belong in a universal community of love and happiness. 

Help is not only found in your closest friend or trusted adult; it can be channeled through acts of service toward yourself. For example, if loneliness and anxiety from being single suddenly attacks you through your screen, take yourself out for an unplugged “me day” and find value in your independence and self-love. It may not be easy to reach out to another human-being for assistance through a rough digital world, but that should not be an excuse for why you continue to let yourself feel down.

With your best foot forward and one-hundred percent effort in, turn this paradoxical season into one built for your happiness.

Author: Cayden, 16

NoFiltr Youth Innovation Council, Digital Resource Expert