Christmas for most is the happiest time of the year. Families reuniting for a celebration, taking breaks from jobs and duties to focus once on having that jolly spirit, and kids getting a break right before semester one finals.
Believe it or not, the end of the year can bring some anxiety to people. That might sound absurd, but according to Harvard Medical School’s article Holiday Stress and the Brain, “Sixty-two percent of respondents described their stress level as ‘very or somewhat’ elevated during the holidays, while only 10 percent reported no stress during the season.”
I believe that this stress should be something people are aware of during the holiday break and new year’s
The primary reason why people are anxious about Christmas is because of financial troubles. While we all expect gifts and presents around the tree, the spirit of giving during Christmas is also about taking, so pressure to give the best gift is on. Around one third to half of adults go into credit card debt during the holiday season, says marketplace.org.
So people are already in debt from gifts, and we haven’t even arrived at our family or host for the holidays. Most people travel from work or school to visit their loved ones at Christmas. Also, those plane tickets and car drives are expensive. With the rising cost of resources like petroleum and shortages of pilots during the holidays, it costs thousands of dollars just to show up.
The next major portion focuses on family. Now, this may or may not be present in your family situation and I am not assuming that they all come with negative feelings, the reasoning here is just a generalization of multiple factors from a sociology standpoint. If you the reader are comfortable with seeing your family and enjoy spending time, that is great.
What I am talking about is the nuclear family dynamic of awkward conversations around the dinner table, time spent away if a sibling is in college, work, or the military, and the touchy topic of relationships and the dreaded childhood divorce. Sociologist Reuben Hill, founder of the idea of Family Stress Theory, noticed that the separations and reunions were crises within the family system, and he spotted some patterns.
He noted how the family’s internal and external resources can elevate the stressful event, influencing how the family interprets and makes meaning of the inciting event. All three of these factors combined – the event, available family resources, and the family perception of the event – interact to influence and determine the outcome of the crisis.
When looking at the problems, there is a clear trend. Most people are trying to adhere to a “perfect” Christmas, and we can all see it: gifts under the tree, a perfectly prepared dinner, and spending time with family. Social media like X and Instagram also boost this feeling by constantly comparing what things look like to others about the “best Christmas”.
However close we can achieve this perfect presentation of holiday magic, for most that is not the case. Stress, problems, accidents, and canceled flights all happen; it’s a dependent variable we cannot control no matter the jollyness of Christmas.
Yet, there is a part which we can control, which is spirit. If we take a sympathetic and understanding approach that not everything has to be perfect, it may curb some of the stress that some are pressured during the holiday season.
Looking into help with anxiety, there is a silver lining. If we prioritize self-care, manage these expectations, stay present with our emotions and mindfulness, and be realistic about our feelings first before the pressure of Christmas, it may be the best gift of all.
Be kind to yourself, Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year.
