Christmas isn’t merry for us all

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/12/2023 (741 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For many of us, the Christmas season is a time of joy and wonder; a time to celebrate, socialize with friends and family, and eagerly look forward to the future.

For others, Christmas is a time of stress, anxiety and loneliness; a time when feelings of sadness and fatigue can overwhelm us.

We suffer from the burden of expectations to be happy, to spend more money than we should, to eat, drink and be merry when it isn’t good for us. All of that can create a swirl of emotions, a sense of being overwhelmed, and a desire to be left alone.

For those who are experiencing those feelings, know that you are not alone. A number of scientific studies have found that a significant portion of our population experiences the Christmas blues each year. Beyond that, a 2014 study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that an astounding 64 per cent of Americans with a diagnosed mental health condition such as depression reported feeling worse over the festive season.

According to that same study, many participants reported feelings of fatigue, tension, loneliness, frustration, sadness and loss, which tend to be magnified during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

In other words, it is completely normal to feel indifferent, depressed or even antagonistic about Christmas. Lots of people feel that way, and there are plenty of reasons to have that view about Christmas this year in particular.

So much is happening in the world to fuel our anxieties these days — for example, the higher cost of food and services, the shortage of affordable housing, rising interest rates, uncertainty about our economy, the deteriorating state of our health-care system, the war in Ukraine, the Gaza conflict and the potential for political instability in both Canada and America — that it is difficult to set aside our worries and pretend to be happy, when we really just want to go home and hibernate.

Running from our anxieties and hiding at home in isolation often worsens the problem, however. Indeed, a National Institutes of Health report indicates that “loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher rates of depression, a weakened immune system, heart disease, dementia and early death.”

The report recommends trying to stay active by finding an activity you enjoy, being physically active, volunteering, staying in touch with friends and family or even adopting a pet.

That’s good advice, but there’s something we can all do to help cure the Christmas blues, starting with remembering that Christmas isn’t merry for everybody.

While we are partying, wrapping presents and sharing the joy of the season with friends and family, we must also be sensitive to the pain, stress and loneliness that many others are going through.

Even more importantly, we can make a positive difference by taking the time to reach out to those we know who might be alone or going through a rough time.

Check on them, listen to them and spend time with them. Be a good and supportive friend.

It will be good for them and good for you, too. And by taking those simple steps, you may each find and experience the true joy of Christmas.