Christmas and Depression

Has the Grinch stolen your Christmas?
It’s the most wonderful time of the year... well, not for everyone. The month of December can be a particularly difficult time of year for those dealing with family conflict, loss, break-ups, divorce, loneliness, mental health issues, stressful end-of-year deadlines, poor eating & drinking habits and increasingly, cold and dark winter days. From this list, it is easy to understand that the holiday season might feel not-so-merry and bright for everyone.

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According to the National Institute of Health, Christmas is the time of year when people experience a high incidence of depression. Research backs up the view that the festive season tops the list of the most uncomfortable times of the year, beating Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve and summer holidays.

Why, is the Grinch in full force during the season? Is it because of the dark winter weather that increases the incidence of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? For some people, they get depressed at Christmas and even angry because of the excessive commercialisation of Christmas, with the focus on gifts and the emphasis on "perfect" social activities. Others get depressed because Christmas appears to be a trigger to engage in excessive self-reflection and mulling over the inadequacies of life in comparison with other people who seem to have more and do more. Still others become anxious at Christmas because of the pressure to spend a lot of money on gifts and thereby increasing their personal debt. Other people report that they dread Christmas because of the expectations for social gatherings with family, friends and acquaintances with whom they'd rather not spend time. And finally, many people feel very lonely at Christmas, because they have suffered the loss of loved ones. A huge three million older people dread Christmas due to loneliness.

Which options do we have for a less gloomy and better Christmas?

• Be happy and talk openly about how you feel to family or friends.
• Let go of others’ expectations. Set your own personal boundaries regarding money spent on gifts.
• Choose only those social events you want to attend and actively enjoy each moment while you are there.
• Reach out - become involved in giving in a non-monetary way through charities and worthwhile causes that help less fortunate people. Consider serving meals for the homeless during the Christmas holiday. Invite a homeless or lonely elderly neighbour to your home to share your Christmas dinner.
• Avoid excessive introspection over Christmas issues. Feel and act in ways that make you break free from the past.
• Learn to please yourself and be bluntly honest. Be grateful for what you have in your life, rather than focusing on what you do not have.
• Eat, drink and be merry but in moderation. Actively choose to do interesting and fun things only; it does not need to imply any cost.

Empower Yourself
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Lis Horwich