Christmas Depression
by online psychotherapist Beth Mares
What do the sights and sounds of Christmas evoke for you? Peace, joy, a sense of belonging? For some people it is just the opposite.
For Sally G., the sight of Christmas decorations brings back her childhood memories of feeling left out--hers was the only Jewish family on her street. The Christmas season seemed to go on for ever. It still does.
For Alan T., this will be his second Christmas after splitting up with his wife, and the first without his children--his wife gets them this year. When he tries to make holiday plans he just gets depressed.
Gordon D. would be happy if Christmas was cancelled--for good. Every Christmas season brings back childhood memories he would like to forget. The sinking feeling--would his father get drunk and ruin everything again this year? Or if Gordon was very, very good--if he tried even harder than last year--would his father stay sober so they could be happy like the families on T.V.? It never worked, and as Christmas approaches all the old feelings come back.
Ash P., Errol G., and Bettina S. all live alone. For reasons of distance, geographical or emotional, they do not see their families. "Christmas Day's the worst," says Bettina. "Everything's closed."
Janice M. feels so uncomfortable around her family that she skipped Thanksgiving this year--and is still feeling guilty. The thought of Christmas gives her a headache, and she cannot figure out why. She has model parents--a devoted mother and a highly respected father--and she wonders what is wrong with her. After Christmas she gets a cold and feels depressed for weeks. She wishes she could go to sleep and wake up after the "festive season" is all over.
Alice R. is engaged in a constant battle with her weight, and she knows why she gets depressed during the Holidays. There is the irresistible food her female relatives keep pressing on her; the discussions about diets; the comments on everyone's appearance; and worst of all, the comparisons with her female cousins, who always have more promising boyfriends (those who are not married already), better jobs, and of course, better figures.
Christmas depression often begins or gets worse after Christmas.
Other than family dynamics and other human relationship issues, the main cause of depression that begins in December or January is the physiological effect of low light, which affects some people more than others, causing lethargy and sleep disturbance. In part because the effect of low light is cumulative, seasonal affective disorder often begins or gets worse after Christmas.
Light therapy and a practical-minded psychotherapist can help affected people to navigate this time of year. I work throughout the holiday period, and if I have openings I'm happy to accept new clients at that time.
Copyright © 1996 Beth Mares
Since updated
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