Do You Dread This Time of Year? |
Is this a time of year that you actually dread and are embarrassed to admit it? Many people feel this way, sometimes me! During the holidays, we’re often surrounded by people and environments who are all wrapped up in the joy and chaos of the season. You may not share their enthusiasm, at least not this year, and feel left out. Perhaps you try, but are just going through the motions, either for the sake of appearances or for friends and family members. You may feel that your life has been interrupted by your mood disorder or other mental health condition and has not become what you had hoped for, that you’re missing out on the connections, relationships, life events, successes, or experiences you see others enjoying. You might believe that life is for other people. This can lead to enormous stress and distress.
Holidays are most often for family. This can be a mixed bag! When your mood and energy levels are down, it can be difficult to muster the effort to engage in various holiday activities, especially since you may have no interest in doing so, feel distant, disconnected, and are fatigued. Yet you may feel pressured to participate, coming either from within yourself, from friends and family members, or from idealistic expectations and an image of what this time of year was perhaps once like or what they “should” be like now. Trying to reach these unrealistic images will only bring you disappointment and........