Getting through the Holiday Stress

The holidays can be extremely hard on people with problems or those going through emotional or mental stress. It is a widely believed myth that the holiday season has the highest suicide rate overall compared to the rest of the calendar periods. But according to a study by Mayo Clinic's Olmsted County research over a 35 yr. period, the suicide rate during the winter holiday season is actually lower than the overall rate in the rest of the year! The National Center for Health Statistics data also confirms this as well. So why is the myth prevalent? Perhaps there is actually a bit of truth to the "reasons" the myth poses as causes for a season of suicide and depression. In other words, the reasons given for this belief actually may be quite true and even prevalent: high stress, feelings of inadequacy and lack of control, loneliness and isolation.

I am not going to give tips to help you over these types of typical "humps" because they're just pop psyche advice in my opinion. Instead, I will try to give an idea of what problems many people experience on a yearly basis. These may not help many people who are seriously depressed or those in critically distressing life changes, but it can help many more people out who would simply like to enjoy the season like they once did.

It is fairly simple, really. Just think of the demands put on every person this season. What is all the advertising pointing us towards, beginning even before the Turkey has been set on the Thanksgiving table? We're constantly being reminded of our expectations of joy, peace on earth, good will toward men and gift-giving and loads of delicious food, fun, social celebration with friends and family.