The Holiday Season as we know it is kicked off by Thanksgiving and leads us all the way through the New Year. It is a two-month stretch of time that is always marketed as “the happiest time of the year!” On the surface, what’s not to like, right? Nostalgic images are everywhere, elaborate dinners with friends and family abound, gifts are given and received, and the cold, crisp weather has us curling up in front of fireplaces and wrapping ourselves in cozy scarves. Yet, like so many things, fantasy doesn’t always match reality.
Well, hello holiday blues!
It’s no wonder that the expectation of holiday cheer leaves so many feeling depressed or stressed, or both. And the reasons are myriad, but our first clue lies in that one word: expectation.