{"id":24861,"date":"2016-12-20T22:00:33","date_gmt":"2016-12-21T03:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=24861"},"modified":"2016-12-21T10:00:25","modified_gmt":"2016-12-21T15:00:25","slug":"dale-peacock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/dale-peacock\/","title":{"rendered":"For many reasons, Merry Christmas isn’t always merry: Dale Peacock"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It’s Christmas and we are all filled with joy, right? Sadly, happiness seems to be particularly elusive for some at this time of year.<\/p>\n

(By the way, a quick glimpse at a calendar demonstrates how religiously diverse we are: December is a month that encompasses the Christian and Jewish celebrations of Christmas and Hanukkah and includes spiritually significant days for Muslims, Buddhists, Pagans and Zoroastrians. But since it is mostly the celebration of Christmas that is so filled with angst, that’s where I’m focusing.)<\/p>\n

Whether we are religious or not, every message around this time of the year is about how happy we should be. We’re bombarded with words and images that show people being joyful and grateful and celebrating with family and friends and colleagues. It’s easy to feel like a freak or an outcast if you don’t feel that way. The darker reality is that depression, suicide and suicide attempts increase during this time and lots of research shows that almost half of the people interviewed experience the festive season as something to be dreaded.<\/p>\n

The ‘why’ of it isn’t just one thing. It’s many things and different for everyone. Sometimes, sadness is a very real immediate grief caused by the death of a loved one. This is the case in our extended family this year as we mourn the passing of a young mother far too soon. Or is it the first Christmas since the death of a loved one or the anniversary of that event?<\/p>\n

The dark wintry weather affects some people more than it affects others and for the most severely impacted there is even a name for it \u2013 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).<\/p>\n

The truth is that most of the seasonal sadness is related to unrealistic expectations and a habit some of us have to indulge in excessive reflection as one year winds down and another is about to begin.<\/p>\n

Some people are troubled and even angry at the excessive commercialization of Christmas, with its focus on ‘stuff’. They long for a time when Christmas was about family and goodwill and simple pursuits. I’m not sure that it was ever that way but in our memories it was. And given the Black Friday brawls \u2013 not in Canada yet, thank goodness \u2013 stressful family get-togethers, he\/she\/and ours Christmases and credit card debt afterward, there’s reason to be glum.<\/p>\n

My biggest annoyance at Christmas is the nonsensical claim that there is a war on Christmas if \u2013 God forbid \u2013 you say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. I have never once heard ANYONE chastised for saying Merry Christmas. I tend to say it myself out of habit but I’m thrilled when anyone wishes me well no matter how they phrase it. Christians in North America are a privileged and majority group. You do not get to play the victim card. It is just frankly absurd no matter what Bill O’Reilly tells you.<\/p>\n

If you try to celebrate Christmas in some more modest and meaningful way, it’s still easy to get dragged down by self rumination leading to the conclusion that your life isn’t quite as good as your neighbour’s life. This is only made worse if you have a friend or family member who sends out the dreaded ‘Christmas Newsletter’ recounting their financial, emotional and spiritual successes of the past year, which usually concludes that Junior was accepted to Harvard and Missy is very close to finding a cure for cancer. Of course it sucks to be you when your life is measured against such perfection, even if it’s likely somewhat exaggerated.<\/p>\n

There are some tried and true coping mechanisms suggested each year by mental health professionals and clergy and even your grandma:<\/strong><\/p>\n