Kesha's got some solid tips for beating the holiday blues.
'It's not selfish to take time for yourself.'
If you have a tough time getting through the holidays, Kesha's got some great advice.
The past few years have been a bumpy ride for the singer-songwriter — largely sidelined while she battled producer Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, who she maintains sexually assaulted her, in court — but Kesha Rose Sebert emerged as a true force to be reckoned with in 2017. In August, she released "Rainbow," her first album since 2012, to absolutely rave reviews. A month prior, she opened up about using her art as an outlet to cope with depression and an eating disorder.
Despite the triumphant year, she, like millions around the world, struggles around the holidays.
Kesha's message is simple: Give yourself a break, avoid falling into "shame spirals," and do what you need to in order to feel OK.
"The holiday season is supposed to be the most festive and fun time of the year, but sometimes, it can quickly become a stressful and emotional time," she began her tweet, drawing on an essay she wrote in Time.
"This is especially true for those of us who struggle with mental illness — be it depression, anxiety, addiction, or any other challenges."
"I've developed a mantra: It's not selfish to take time for yourself," she tweeted, offering up a list of self-care suggestions, including things like going for a walk, having a chat with a therapist, or practicing meditation.
"It's not your responsibility to try to make the whole world happy."
She stressed the importance of resisting the feeling that you should be obligated to feel happy around the holidays. Sometimes, people just aren't, and that's OK. What's important is to avoid falling into a shame cycle.
"It's just another day — don't put unrealistic expectations on it, and don't beat yourself up," she adds.
Whatever your reason for feeling a bit down in the dumps — whether, like Kesha, you recently lost a loved one, or you're just not able to get into the holiday spirit — try to give yourself a well-deserved break.
If you're struggling, it's important to know that you're not alone.
Back in 2015, Tim Lawrence wrote a thoughtful story about some of the struggles people face around this time of the year and what to do about it. In 2013, Time published a story by health writer Alexandra Sifferlin with some additional tips. If you're not feeling so great, it's good to remember just how extremely common this is. You're never, ever alone.
If you're feeling suicidal or are otherwise in need of immediate help, remember that groups like Crisis Text Line (text START to 741741) and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800-273-8255). They are there 24/7 if you need them.