Yes, you can absolutely start depression treatment during the holidays—and for many people, it’s actually the optimal time to begin care. The side effects of modern depression treatments are typically tolerable and limited to the time around treatment sessions, while clinical improvements can begin within hours rather than requiring weeks to develop (Stein et al., 2021). Starting treatment during the holiday season allows you to access professional support when seasonal stressors are most intense, rather than attempting to survive December and January hoping to begin care when you’re already in crisis.
The practical concerns about holiday treatment—family obligations, travel plans, financial pressures, and social stigma—are all manageable with proper planning and realistic expectations. What’s not manageable is delaying necessary mental health care during the year’s most psychologically challenging period. Understanding the actual logistics of beginning depression treatment during the holidays, rather than the assumptions people make about timing challenges, can help you make informed decisions about when and how to prioritize your mental health.
Addressing the Cost Reality
The financial aspect of holiday depression treatment often creates the biggest hesitation for people considering care. Treatment costs typically range from $400-800 per session for rapid-acting approaches, with most people requiring 4-6 sessions over 2-3 weeks for optimal results. However, December treatment timing often provides financial advantages that don’t exist at other times of year.
Many people have met their insurance deductibles by December, meaning that treatment costs may be significantly reduced compared to starting fresh in January when deductibles reset. The combination of met deductibles and year-end flexible spending account balances can make December treatment substantially more affordable than identical care started just weeks later.
The hidden costs of delaying treatment often exceed the direct costs of beginning care during the holidays. Lost work productivity, relationship strain, and functional impairment during untreated seasonal depression can create economic impacts that dwarf treatment expenses. One study of treatment-resistant depression found that people experienced an average of 45% reduction in work performance during severe episodes, lasting an average of 3.5 months when treatment was delayed.
Dr. Waleed Mansour’s experience treating mental health emergencies throughout his decades of practice in Chicagoland emergency departments has shown him the economic cost of delayed care repeatedly. Emergency department visits, potential hospitalization, and crisis intervention services cost significantly more than proactive treatment while providing less comprehensive long-term support.
Payment plans and scheduling flexibility can address immediate financial concerns while ensuring that cost barriers don’t prevent necessary care. Transparent pricing without surprise costs allows for realistic budgeting and financial planning that accounts for both treatment expenses and the economic benefits of restored functionality.
Scheduling Around Holiday Obligations
The perceived scheduling conflicts between holiday obligations and depression treatment often prove less problematic than people anticipate. Extended evening hours until 7 PM accommodate holiday shopping, family gatherings, and work obligations that intensify during December. Most holiday events occur on weekends or specific days, leaving ample scheduling opportunities for treatment appointments.
Holiday vacation time actually provides scheduling advantages for many people. Accumulated time off and reduced work obligations during holiday weeks often create more flexibility for medical appointments than exists during regular business periods. Taking advantage of holiday vacation for mental health treatment represents strategic use of existing time off rather than requiring additional leave.
The American Psychiatric Association emphasizes the importance of maintaining regular mental health care during holiday periods, noting that treatment consistency becomes more important rather than less important during high-stress seasons (American Psychiatric Association, 2024). Virtual consultation options can address travel concerns while maintaining treatment continuity during holiday travel periods.
Family obligations don’t have to conflict with treatment schedules when both are planned strategically. Many people discover that having professional support actually improves their ability to participate meaningfully in family gatherings and holiday traditions rather than merely surviving them through willpower alone.
Managing Stigma and Family Reactions
The fear of family judgment about beginning mental health treatment during the “joyful” holiday season represents one of the most significant barriers to seeking necessary care. However, family reactions often prove more supportive than anticipated when approached with clear communication about health priorities and treatment goals.
Holiday gatherings provide natural opportunities to discuss mental health treatment with family members who might not otherwise understand the need for professional care. When relatives observe holiday struggles firsthand, they often become more supportive of treatment decisions rather than resistant to them. The visibility of depression symptoms during holiday stress can actually help family members understand the medical necessity of treatment.
Since the late 1990s, Renew Ketamine & Wellness Center has observed that people who begin treatment with family awareness and support show better treatment adherence and outcomes than those who attempt to manage care secretly. Open communication about treatment goals and schedules allows family members to provide appropriate support rather than inadvertently creating obstacles.
The stigma reduction approach involves framing mental health treatment as medical care rather than personal weakness or character deficiency. Just as no one would delay treatment for diabetes or high blood pressure because of holiday timing, depression treatment represents necessary medical intervention that shouldn’t be postponed for social convenience.
Step-by-Step Treatment Initiation Process
Beginning depression treatment during the holidays follows a systematic process that addresses both clinical and logistical concerns. The first step involves comprehensive evaluation that examines your complete mental health history, current symptoms, and treatment goals within the context of seasonal challenges and holiday stressors.
Initial consultation typically requires 60-90 minutes and covers medical history, previous treatment attempts, current medications, and specific symptoms that have worsened during the holiday season. This evaluation process can often be scheduled within 48-72 hours of initial contact, recognizing that seasonal depression intensification requires timely response.
Treatment planning considers both immediate symptom relief and longer-term stability throughout winter months. For people with treatment-resistant depression, this often involves discussing rapid-acting approaches that can provide measurable improvement within hours while establishing foundations for sustained improvement through the challenging winter period.
The treatment schedule typically involves 2-3 appointments per week for 2-3 weeks, followed by maintenance treatments as needed. This intensive initial period provides the clinical support necessary for symptom stabilization while allowing for treatment optimization based on individual response patterns.
Safety monitoring and support coordination ensure that treatment progress is tracked carefully and that family members or support persons understand how to provide appropriate assistance during the treatment period. Results vary by individual, and not everyone responds to initial treatment protocols, but systematic monitoring allows for rapid adjustment of approaches based on treatment response.
Practical Holiday Integration Strategies
Successful holiday depression treatment requires integration with rather than isolation from holiday activities and obligations. Treatment schedules can be coordinated around major family events, travel plans, and work obligations without compromising clinical effectiveness.
Communication with family members about treatment schedules helps prevent conflicts and creates opportunities for support during the treatment period. Rather than hiding treatment or making excuses for appointment times, direct communication allows family members to adjust plans and provide appropriate assistance.
Holiday self-care becomes more manageable with professional support than without it. Having clinical guidance for managing family dynamics, financial pressures, and social obligations provides concrete strategies for handling predictable holiday stressors rather than hoping to survive them through determination alone.
Cleveland Clinic research emphasizes the importance of recognizing when holiday depression requires professional intervention rather than increased self-care efforts alone (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). The distinction between normal holiday stress and clinical depression requiring medical treatment often becomes clearer with professional evaluation.
Three Immediate Action Steps for This Week
First, schedule a consultation appointment before December 20th to allow adequate time for treatment initiation before the most intensive holiday period. Even if you’re uncertain about beginning treatment, professional evaluation can clarify whether your current symptoms require medical intervention or might respond to increased self-care measures.
Second, review your insurance benefits and financial situation to understand the actual costs of treatment during December versus January. Calculate potential savings from met deductibles, available FSA or HSA balances, and the economic impact of continued depression symptoms during the holiday season.
Third, identify one trusted family member or friend who can provide support during treatment and help coordinate schedules around holiday obligations. Having someone aware of your treatment goals creates accountability and practical assistance without requiring extensive family involvement in treatment decisions.
Getting Started with Professional Care
The decision to begin depression treatment during the holidays requires professional guidance that considers your specific symptoms, treatment history, and personal circumstances. Self-assessment and online resources provide valuable information, but optimal treatment decisions often involve factors that clinical evaluation can identify more accurately.
Multiple locations throughout the Chicagoland area—Naperville, Palos Hills, and Loves Park—ensure that geographic accessibility doesn’t create barriers to timely treatment. Extended evening hours through 7 PM accommodate holiday schedules and work obligations that intensify during December.
Emergency medicine training combined with specialized mental health expertise provides unique perspective on both crisis prevention and comprehensive treatment planning. Emergency medicine experience offers insight into seasonal crisis patterns, while mental health specialization ensures that treatment approaches address both immediate symptoms and long-term stability.
The combination of rapid-acting treatment options and traditional approaches allows for personalized treatment planning that matches intervention intensity to symptom severity and timing requirements. Some people benefit from rapid stabilization followed by longer-term maintenance approaches, while others respond well to traditional treatments initiated with proper timing and support.
Remember that beginning treatment represents taking control of your mental health rather than admitting defeat or personal failure. Professional support during challenging seasons provides tools and strategies for managing predictable stressors while addressing underlying depression that makes seasonal challenges overwhelming.
Don’t let holiday timing prevent you from accessing care that could transform your experience of winter months. Results vary by individual, but people who begin treatment proactively rather than waiting for crisis intervention consistently report better outcomes and greater satisfaction with their treatment experience.
Call (630) 475-1855 today to schedule your consultation and begin the process of reclaiming your mental health this holiday season. Evening appointments are available through 7 PM weeknights, and our team understands the unique challenges of managing depression during Chicagoland’s harsh winter months.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2024). Seven Ways to Cope with Holiday Stress. https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/seven-ways-to-cope-with-holiday-stress
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). How To Handle Holiday Depression When It Hits Home. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/holiday-depression-and-stress
Stein, D.J., et al. (2021). Ketamine treatment for depression: a review. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9010394/
Renew Ketamine & Wellness Center provides comprehensive depression treatment throughout the holiday season at our Naperville (630-496-5522), Palos Hills, and Loves Park locations. Our emergency medicine physicians offer specialized care with extended evening hours through 7 PM weeknights to accommodate holiday schedules.