Olivia BeeThe holidays can be tough, especially if you suffer from depression, anxiety, an eating disorder or any other form of mental illness. Kesha knows about these struggles firsthand, and has penned an op-ed about the subject for TIME.
In it, she shares her own experiences and offers tips to getting through the holidays.
“It was during the holidays when I hit a low moment and with the help of my mother decided to seek help for my eating disorder,” she reveals, adding, “Around the holidays, I often feel like I’m supposed to be everywhere, with everyone — all with the added guilt that it’s the season of giving.”
She says she’s developed a mantra to help fight this feeling: “It’s not selfish to take time for yourself.”
Kesha suggests taking a break from the holiday craziness by taking a walk in nature, talking to a friend or therapist, forgoing a holiday gathering in favor of personal time, or downloading a meditation app.
“Just do whatever helps you calm down and gives you a break from the stress,” she writes. “It’s not your responsibility to try to make the whole world happy…If you take a little time for yourself, you will actually be much better company for those around you.”
She concludes, “This holiday season, I will be missing a beloved member of my family who passed away recently, but I have to remember to be thankful for the family that I do have and careful not to fall into an existential crisis downward spiral. And most importantly, just remember to give yourself a break!”
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