Dealing with the Christmas Blues?
Some years ago, I came across this very helpful article. I wish I could acknowledge the original author, but I can’t. However, I believe it might be God’s word to you today. May you be encouraged and blessed as you read it. Part two will follow.
Poppy
Now that Thanksgiving is over, most of us are seriously beginning to prepare for Christmas. Some have already begun to experience “Holiday Blues”. According to the National Mental Health Association, some causes of Holiday Blues are:
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Unrealistic expectations
- Over commercialization
- Financial constraints
- Inability to be with one’s family and friends
- Loneliness
- Past failures
- Anxiety about uncertain future
Some of these symptoms are avoidable. We can turn off the TV so that we don’t have to be bombarded by commercials advertising new cars, jewelry and all kinds of products that are packaged very attractively. We can go to bed earlier and exercise more and cut down on foods that aren’t good for us.
However, there is nothing we can do about other symptoms. If we are out of work or under employed, we may be struggling to get enough to eat or a place to stay or transportation. Lack of funds may cause us to not be able to spend time with family and friends who live in other areas of the country. When we are already feeling bad about the employment situation, expectations for family gatherings can exacerbate the situation and cause us to plunge into depression.
Past failures cannot be undone. Unavoidable loneliness may be due to death of a loved one or divorce or empty nest syndrome. We might be unrealistically expecting loved ones to travel to see us when they are not able to do so.
We need to ask ourselves if we have an unrealistic idea of what Christmas should look like. Are we trying to prepare for houseguests while continuing with all our regular activities? Do we desire for the decorations and food to be perfect? Is our shopping list too long? Are there parties or other activities that we can eliminate?
We shouldn’t be surprised that after Christmas and New Years Day, we could be dealing with the effect of too much eating, drinking, and spending and not enough rest. We might also be dealing with our unrealistic expectations – things just didn’t turn out the way we had expected them to turn out.
Watch for some tips on coping with the blues in Part two.
Let me know if I can support you at this time. You matter to God and to me.
Poppy