The holiday season can be a time of good cheer, with excitement over gift giving and spending time with family, the joy of attending seasonal events and the wonder of viewing colourfully decorated homes and public areas.
But not everyone has a rosy impression of the season. Many things can leave one feeling added stress, and at worst, depression.
Worries over money are common. Many of us place a lot of pressure on ourselves to find the right gifts for people, or feel like we’ve spent enough. Others worry that they simply won’t have enough to buy gifts for children or others.
In traditional and blended families, the pull can be strong to try pleasing everyone and scheduling a gathering time that works for all, regardless of how unrealistic it may be.
For people who lost a loved one during the year and are facing the first Christmas without them, grief can take a heavy toll.
People are reminded to acknowledge their feelings, whether those are sadness, anxiety, being overwhelmed, or others.
Reaching out to friends or family members, maybe going out for coffee or lunch to talk things over, can be a good way to avoid feeling isolated or to prevent resentment from brewing inside.
-Black Press