Amidst all the hoopla of Christmas there can be some hidden feelings. The surface happiness can hide some underlying depression, anxiety or grief. Christmas as the special time it is, can be a reminder of missing the old times, the loved ones no longer with us or perhaps the first time away from home in a different place. Not every family lives around the corner from each other. Often siblings, children, cousins can be spread across the country or even the world. Wanting everyone to be together is just not feasible! If it is the first Christmas after a loved one's death it can bring the blues faster. Recognizing how one is feeling and knowing it is not unusual to have some down times or a low mood let's all the emotions of the season prevail. Pulling out favourite pictures, watching the home movies or videos, putting a Christmas decoration on the tree as a reminder or whatever let's all the feelings be normalized helps with the days of feeling down. If there are family conflicts Christmas can be a time they rise to the occasion. Spending too much time together can exacerbate them. So limiting the time can help. Often everyone comes together to satisfy one family member but it may not be the happy time wanted. There can be a Donny Downer in every family! Stay away from him! The competitive one is another annoyance. My gift cost more than yours! Or the- I was so busy with my life, I did not have time to get anything for anyone! The Blues can be caused by those negative people that exist in families! So what to do! Gravitate to those people that mean more. Maybe say no to a function or two if they have become out of hand! Create your own Christmas season. Do the things that have meaning to you and yours. For your children, make new traditions that will be their memories. With your grandchildren, find some fun stuff to do- less is more so make them simple. Sometimes just a walk in the snow or making the best snowman works for the Canadian child! The time together! Sometimes the blues can be conquered by telling people in your lives how much you love them and just being together is the best Christmas. If you are missing someone, have a good cry! If we can't cry with our grief when can we? Christmas colours are red, green and white but sometimes blue creeps in!
#christmasblues#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#normalizeyourfeelings#rememberingyourlovedones#seasonalblues
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