As we are in the midst of holiday season, many talk about the excitement of decorating their homes, sleeping in, visiting family, and enjoying festive foods. Although this time of year may be favored by the majority, there are still many people who dread the holiday season. This may leave many questioning how this could be possible. Who doesn’t enjoy staying home, eating food, and opening gifts?
The sad truth is that many face seasonal depression in the late fall to early winter which takes the fun away from the holidays. The individuals who experience seasonal depression often feel a lack of motivation, less excitement during events, and may find social gatherings draining. It’s not that they don’t want to be surrounded with their loved ones, it’s that they may find it tiring at the given moment. There may be some family members who understand and accept this phenomenon, but there are also many who don’t believe in seasonal depression and think that these individuals may be faking it for attention or to skip out on all the work that goes into the holidays, or the cleaning up afterwards.
Beside those who face seasonal depression stand those who have a negative relationship with food. Almost every winter holiday, no matter the religion or origin, is celebrated with family feasts and tables full of food.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the period between late November and early January has the most reported weight gain. It is also a known fact that people indulge in food more than usual on holidays. People who have a negative relationship with food will often try to use the holidays as an excuse to eat food without feeling guilt, however, it doesn’t mean they won’t have any negative thoughts that night. There is always that one family member who makes remarks on their family members’ weight and keeps an eye on how many plates are eaten. It almost seems as if these family members don’t understand how long their worlds can linger in someone’s head.
There are also those who are facing money problems who cannot afford a proper meal for their families, much less any presents. Some children go to school, hear their classmates talk about their holiday plans, and begin to wish they could experience the holidays the same way. Some of these children who do not have much at home form rich memories and understand the true importance of little moments, while others do not. Meanwhile, their parents are feeling the pressure of trying to save up money while also wanting their children to be happy with all they desire.
Then there are the homeless, who don’t have a family or money to celebrate the holidays. Oftentimes they are disregarded or seen as lazy. Majority think the homeless have brought their life situation upon themselves, while in reality no one knows what brought them to the point of homelessness. They are the ones who see families walking together while they sit on the bare, cold, concrete ground often lacking the proper clothing for winter or anything at all to eat.
Many don’t celebrate the holidays because of recent deaths in their families. Understandably, the way in which one handles grief varies, but grief is an intense emotion that overpowers happiness and the holidays become less of a priority in the given scenario. No one should be forced to be happy when they aren’t, and should instead focus on giving themselves time to process their emotions. This is not the ideal time to worry about cooking a family dinner or cleaning the house to impress the guests. In such scenarios, many people associate the holiday with the given loss and refrain from celebrating it in the future.
Even though the holiday season is always depicted as a joyful time with Christmas music playing in every store and the appearance of festive foods on every menu, that isn’t always the case. Don’t downplay the statements of someone who says s/he won’t be celebrating the holiday season this year. Instead, try to be as understanding as possible and to view their side, offering support if needed. Try to be the reason someone looks forward to this season rather than being the person who makes them dread this holiday season, and just know that not everyone has the same spirit.
