Everyone loves the holiday season, right? Peace, love, joy, good company… what more could anyone ask for?

Not everyone feels what I mentioned above. The holidays can actually be the most difficult time of the year for some people. I want to talk about a few of the factors that could go into this.

Depressive episodes:

The holidays can be a breeding ground for those of us who suffer from depression. It can be difficult to see others around you enjoying themselves when you are unable to experience these festive feelings yourself. It can be an incredibly isolating feeling. You may feel totally alone, like nobody understands. You might keep everything to yourself because you don’t want to bring down the others around you. All of these feelings can lead to despair. “What hope is there if I can’t even be happy at this time of year?”

SAD (Seasonal affective disorder):

Seasonal affective disorder is the sort of depression that is related to the change in seasons. People with SAD are often affected during the winter. They are likely to start experiencing symptoms in the fall which continue throughout the winter. People may refer to SAD as the “winter blues.”

SAD can take away a lot of your energy, leaving you tired and sluggish. You might find that you are sleeping more than normal. These symptoms can suck the joy out of life. You may lose interest in familiar activities and lack the energy for social interactions.

The loss of loved ones:

The holidays can be a tough time for those who have lost people close to them. You might feel that you are experiencing grief more often than peace or happiness. Memories of past years can make it feel unbearable to know that these loved ones are not here to share in the holidays anymore.

“It isn’t the same without them.” This can make the holidays feel very lonely. Especially when you are remembering someone who is very special to you.

The holidays can also be difficult for those who are away from home. Whether they are away on a work assignment, on post in the military, dealing with health problems, etc. This year some people may not be able to be with loved ones due to the coronavirus pandemic.

I sincerely hope that we are all able to experience some measure of happiness this holiday season. But make sure to remember those who might be struggling this time of year.