Christmas is coming and with it all its rituals, like putting up the tree, the Nativity scene, the Christmas lights, bringing home the nougat, getting the family together, the Three Wise Men… A time of joy, happiness, solidarity (even if it's only one day a year)… But who said that we have to be happy at Christmas? Happiness cannot be forced, even if it's Christmas.
“I don’t like Christmas.” This and other similar phrases such as “I would like to go to sleep and have the holidays over”, “I would like to be able to go to a place where I don’t have to celebrate anything”, or simply “I don’t like Christmas at all”, “I would erase this time of year from the calendar if I could”, are among the most heard these days in the psychology consultation.
But why? All the studies show similar data: excessive spending, gifts, overeating, crowds, traffic, tension with the family… all of this is associated with Christmas, and this makes these dates become a difficult time for many people.
To all this, we must add the most important factor: the pressure of happinessAdvertisements for chocolates, nougat, toys or unattainable products, just in a year where we have had to adjust the economy, survive work or the lack of it.
Still, other people simply don't like Christmas. These people don't get any joy from the holidays. Christmas holidays and refuse to participate in all activities related to the same. They don't like the lights, the tree or any Christmas decorationsthey also do not like to participate in the exchanging gifts, copious family meals and they hate Christmas carols.
However, they usually have reasons behind that “I don't like Christmas”, such as: first of all, the loss of a family member on a date close to the Christmas It can cause rejection at this time, because every time Christmas is coming The person remembers the loss he suffered, and this does not allow him to be happy.
Another common cause is the distance from family that makes it feel aloneChristmas is a time for sharing with family and not being able to do so, people reject the era, due to They can't enjoy it.
Precisely, one of the great evils of our time is the loneliness. The number of people who do not know how to live with themselves is increasing. However, we must remember that Being alone is not the same as feeling alone.. Feeling isolated It is one of the main reasons for depression during Christmas.
Because the sadness that assails many during these holidays is known as “white depression“, “Christmas depression» either «Christmas blues“. According to the European Association of Social Psychiatry, 20% of Spaniards suffer from this problem. The atmosphere of joy and collective happiness motivates longing and sadness due to the lack of family or close friends. It is then when People can get depressed.
Psychologists can say that the main causes of Christmas mood swings are the prospect of meeting up with troubled relatives, the financial outlay that celebrations entail, and the absence of loved ones, whether because they have passed away or because one has separated from them. In the case of missing relatives or friends, melancholy is often related to thinking about one's own death. Many people find it difficult to accept that life is finite.
Last but not least is the personality of the person ; if it is unsociable and he doesn't like to share a table with too many people, it may be that I hate these dates, Well, it means being surrounded by all your family and friends.
In addition, Christmas is an excessively expensive and stressful time for many people, which arises when our body is alerted to external factors and feels that it must protect itself. And what are these factors? In general, they are related to the feeling of a lack of control.
Other situations that function as stressors are: sudden changes in routine, excessive demands, lack of time, family conflict… Moments like these can trigger stress. However, stress, like anxiety, in its proper measure, is a mechanism of adaptation to the environment.
In any case, happiness in itself does not exist. Happiness is built through our attitude. Do I want to have a happy Christmas? And why don't I try to do so?
I'm not one for classics, so look for an alternative. The hardest part is convincing your family. Perhaps it will be impossible with your extended family, but is your nuclear family enough? You have to see what your needs are, share them with whoever you want and make your own Christmas. To do this, it doesn't matter how tight your belt is… your imagination has no limits, let it fly.
You are a classic of Christmas trees, nativity scenes and family meals… If you have small children, you have magic and illusion in your hands, use it! Because this time passes and you will have opportunities to say that you do not like Christmas but you will not have more opportunities to see your children enjoying their Christmas… make them like Christmas! It is only in your hands…
You see, it's not that difficult to be happy at Christmas; a few drops of attitude, sprinkled with magic, garnished with enthusiasm and a huge bow of satisfaction. Whether you like Christmas or not, learn to enjoy it and Merry Christmas!
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