Christmas can be a daunting time for many, especially to those of us who are prone to depression. It’s known as 'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year' but for many, myself included, it’s filled with anxiety and depression.
Some people get depressed at Christmas because of the excessive commercialisation of the season, with the focus on gifts with high expectations of perfect, happy families enjoying luxurious celebrations and gifts, but not all of us are able to live up to these ideals. Others get depressed because Christmas appears to be a trigger to engage in excessive self-reflection and rumination about the inadequacies of life (and a "victim” mentality) in comparison to other people who seem to have more and do more. Others become anxious at Christmas because of the pressure (both commercial and self-induced) to spend a lot of money on gifts and incur increasing debt. Others report that they dread Christmas because of the expectations of social gatherings with family, friends and acquaintances that they'd rather not spend time with.
For those who have recently lost a loved one, Christmas can intensify feelings of grief and sadness. Many others experience feelings of isolation, financial pressures or increased family conflict that make the season a very stressful time of year For people without a significant other, who don’t have family or who live far from family, the holidays can be especially tough. While longing for company, lonely people may isolate even more, leaving them feeling even worse.
Now try and imagine someone suffering from depression or anxiety being constantly told to snap out of it, or just to smile. It is not as simple as that. Life can often be to unbearable, time does not have a magic formula . It is not something that can be quickly overcome, and is not a sign of emotional weakness. Generally not a lot of people are that informed about mental illness and come out with ill-informed, uneducated statements that do not help one bit. The stigma that we can suffer from can be immense, we need to confront these stigmas, and keep challenging the fears, myths and stigmas that still surround mental illness. Each source of stigma, is a barrier that is difficult to overcome, that can shatter hopes of recovery, leaving an individual feeling devastated and isolated.There are so many misconceptions that we have to unlearn.
I for one have witnessed, that it is never an easy road, that anyone regardless of their personality, lifestyle or background can suffer from. Depression is different for everyone. Don't contribute to the stigma. There are many free services available that offer mental health support at this time of year, such as the Samaritans who can be reached on 116 123 (UK)https://www.samaritans.org. If your symptoms of stress, anxiety or depression are severe or long lasting, see a doctor who can provide some guidance and treatment options.
Do hope yours is a good one, best wishes, and take care. Heddwch/Peace
