Holiday Fever: Causes and Cures

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being told when I’m supposed to feel happy, generous, and loving toward absolutely everyone. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not a Bah Humbug Scrooge sort of person. I just want to be me, meaning to be happy and generous when I’m feeling that way in my heart, not when prescribed to be, well, saintly. Enter the holiday season: Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Kwanza, Christmas, and probably others that may be off my radar. Whatever we celebrate or don’t, we’re bombarded with messages that promote goodwill toward all. Actually, I like Thanksgiving because it reminds me to be grateful for all the bounty in my life — my husband and son, my dear friends, other family members, my patients, my work and those who support it, including my writing friends, publishers, and readers of my book, Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love. The Problem with Holidays But I also have a problem with Thanksgiving and other holidays. My challenge of getting through them calmly is small compared to many whose families have gotten more complex than mine. Competing and conflicting loyalties often exist, as divorces, remarriages, blended families, and joint custodies of children have become so common. Thanksgiving in the abstract is lovely, yet it’s about the loneliest time of the year for me. It was my favorite holiday while I was growing up. My mother cooked an amazing meal with turkey, stuffing, candied sweet potatoes topped with melted, browned marshmallo...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Depression Ethics & Morality Family Friends Holiday Coping Personal Boundaries Expectations Traditions Source Type: blogs