The most wonderful time of the year is here once again. The smell of fresh pine, the holiday cheer in the air, and festive music played in nearly every cafe or restaurant are all traits of the holiday season. While it brings a time of celebration and relaxation for other people, queer and trans people are mostly lonely and depressed at this time of the year.

For the LGBTQ+ community, the holiday season comes with an added sense of depression for a lot of reasons. According to various reports, the rate at which queer and trans people commit suicide is the highest during the holiday season. The lost friendships and family estrangement makes them dread the holiday season.

Also, queer and trans people going home to celebrate the holiday season means entering a toxic space again where they cannot be fully themselves. However, you can deal with holiday depression efficiently this holiday season and have a great time. Not sure how to do that? HomoCulture shares a few tips on how queer and trans people can have their mental health in check this holiday season.

Set Boundaries

Whether you have decided to come out yet or not, you must lay down boundaries where necessary. No human has to do anything they don’t want to. Therefore, if you want to keep your mental health in check this holiday season, learn to say “No” to anything that triggers your emotions and makes you feel anything less.

Connect With Others

Before the December festivities begin, take some time to identify people you trust with whom you can connect, whether in person, on the phone, or via video chat. The goal is to establish a healthy connection with those who can be there to provide support when you need it the most. Someone who can be a good listener and be there for you, ideally a queer or trans person who can understand your situation.

Self-Reflect

Before the holidays, take some time out of your busy schedule to self-reflect. Ask yourself what made you feel good in the last holiday season. Whatever that is, create a plan before the holiday season begins this year and then put the plan into action to have a great time.

Focus on Self-Care

A basic but important tip is to prioritize your self-care routine. Maintaining a healthy sleep cycle, diet, and workout routine and taking time for an activity that restores your energy is essential at this time of the year.

Seek Professional Help

The holiday season can also bring many emotional flashbacks. If confiding in your trusted friends or practicing your self-care routine does not sound enough, you can always contact a therapist for some focused psychological support.

Do you have any other tips that you can share with HomoCulture readers? If so, leave a message in our comments section below!