- Joined
- Dec 3, 2017
- Messages
- 19,592
I am good, but I do know that there are many people who do not do well when it is the holiday season.
1. Depression-- I know that some people get really depressed during the holidays. I had two students whose mother was hospitalized every year before Christmas. I read many people's comments about being alone for Christmas and what can they do?
I've been alone many times on Christmas when daughter would go to be with her dad and his family. I was so glad for her to have the opportunity to spend time with them and his big extended family. The older people, grandparents, great aunts and uncles, are mostly gone now. What a great opportunity for her to get to see and know them. Later, her grandfather thanked me and told me how important it was for them to have her during those times. Her now deceased grandmother is still at the top of her list of all time favorite people.
What did I do while she was gone? One year I painted my kitchen after a bit of remodeling and dry wall work had been done. Another time I hung kitchen cabinets. I also built two tall kitchen cabinets another year. I also would eat whatever I wanted to, read books that I hadn't had time to read, and watched movies that I hadn't had time to watch. I never once felt sad. I got the girl most of the rest of the year.
2. Sadness and loneliness-- there is a big expectation with all kinds of "have to's" for the season. Have to be with family. Have to get and give xxx gifts. Have to, have to, have to.
3. Lack of money to purchase the gifts that people and especially children want.
It is this time of year that I especially try to speak kindly to people, thank them for whatever they are doing, tip more, smile at everyone, and speak to people I see on the streets or anywhere.
I don't eat out much, but this is the time of year that I will take people out to eat. It gives them an outing, a meal, and something to cheer them up.
4. The holidays do happen to be a time where there is much more drinking. Doesn't that also contribute to mental health challenges?
------------------------------------------
Do you encourage others this time of year? Are you someone who struggles with the holidays?
1. Depression-- I know that some people get really depressed during the holidays. I had two students whose mother was hospitalized every year before Christmas. I read many people's comments about being alone for Christmas and what can they do?
I've been alone many times on Christmas when daughter would go to be with her dad and his family. I was so glad for her to have the opportunity to spend time with them and his big extended family. The older people, grandparents, great aunts and uncles, are mostly gone now. What a great opportunity for her to get to see and know them. Later, her grandfather thanked me and told me how important it was for them to have her during those times. Her now deceased grandmother is still at the top of her list of all time favorite people.
What did I do while she was gone? One year I painted my kitchen after a bit of remodeling and dry wall work had been done. Another time I hung kitchen cabinets. I also built two tall kitchen cabinets another year. I also would eat whatever I wanted to, read books that I hadn't had time to read, and watched movies that I hadn't had time to watch. I never once felt sad. I got the girl most of the rest of the year.
2. Sadness and loneliness-- there is a big expectation with all kinds of "have to's" for the season. Have to be with family. Have to get and give xxx gifts. Have to, have to, have to.
3. Lack of money to purchase the gifts that people and especially children want.
It is this time of year that I especially try to speak kindly to people, thank them for whatever they are doing, tip more, smile at everyone, and speak to people I see on the streets or anywhere.
I don't eat out much, but this is the time of year that I will take people out to eat. It gives them an outing, a meal, and something to cheer them up.
4. The holidays do happen to be a time where there is much more drinking. Doesn't that also contribute to mental health challenges?
------------------------------------------
Do you encourage others this time of year? Are you someone who struggles with the holidays?