Although the holidays are supposed to be joyous and happy times, often times they are not. They can magnify loneliness and depression, increase anxiety, or cause sadness over lost loved ones. Often times, what we think the holidays should be, and what they actually are end up being very different. We have all seen the happy holiday movies with the perfect family and perfect holiday celebration. Not many of us have that experience in real life. Or, we remember the holidays when we were young and are distraught that the holidays now are so different. The holiday season for many of us is filled with anxiety and stress.
We spend more money than we have, fighting crowded stores and overpriced malls. We overcommit ourselves, and have some sort of engagement every night for the month of December. We often have to spend time with people we don’t necessarily like. Everyone has the one in-law or aunt that causes violent fantasies of murder and mayhem. We eat junk food, drink too much caffeine to make up for the loss of sleep, we aren’t exercising as well, and the list is endless. For others, the holiday season is empty and isolated. The holidays remind us of who we have lost, and the month of December is filled with grieving for old losses. Either way, the holidays are not the fun filled time that is portrayed in Hollywood.
According to a 2006 survey by Mental Health America, parents, women, and minorities are most likely to feel the holiday stress. Latinos feel the most stress during the holidays, followed by Native Americans and parents. Finances are the most common source of holiday stress, with women worrying more about the money than men. Missing a loved one who has died is also a source of stress over the holidays, affecting African-Americans and Hispanics much more than other ethnic groups. And finally, according to the study, having too much “to do” can cause many people to feel stressed out over the holiday season.
Some people feel it more after the holidays are over. During December, most of us are busy and with family and friends. It is only after the New Year, that there is time for the aftermath of the stress to become apparent. There can be a sharp letdown following the holidays. "Americans are stressed during the holidays – we’ve long known this," said David Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America. "However, on January 2, when a person may expect the stress let up, they instead find themselves feeling down, physically ill or anxious. This is because stress takes a serious toll on a person’s overall health – both ‘physical’ and ‘mental’. We need to help people manage stress better – they’ll feel better, they’ll be healthier and they’ll probably enjoy the holidays better."
So beware of the holiday stress and set aside some alone time just for you.
