Christmas with
Mental Illness
By T. Jaden Ozwell
Thanksgiving and Christmas bring a lot of
epithets into the public square.
Snowflakes
and nativities call out "Joy! Hope!
Peace!" while songs cheerily claim "it's
the most wonderful time of the year."
But happiness and peace are not the season's
main companions for many.
While other groups certainly struggle during
the holidays, I'd like to talk about those who experience mental illness in the
form of mood disorders — because I'm right there
with them.
Although the CDC has disproved the myth that the USA's suicide rate is highest in December,
the fact remains that other concerns such as depression, anxiety, and substance
abuse often worsen during this time
of year.
Mental health is not merely measured in how
many people die.
Counselors and other mental health
professionals almost universally find it necessary to be especially attentive
to their clients as Christmas approaches.
The effect of Christmas on those with mood
disorders or addictions is usually a culmination of many factors. Being around
family brings up many memories, whether of the family itself or of other things
in childhood, and of course for others the lack of family connections because
of abuse, estrangement, or death becomes most obvious at Christmas.
Sometimes, the simple fact that so many people
love Christmas is difficult to handle.
When I was most depressed, I found that being
around very happy people was actually more depressing, because it showed me the
disparity between myself and "normal" most starkly.
And of course all the parties, church events,
and packed stores are difficult for those with anxiety disorders.
Any or all of these factors affect all types of
substance abusers, with deaths from alcohol poisoning being especially
prevalent at Christmas.
All of this is to say that if you or someone
you care about find the holidays cause a lowered mood rather than the joy
Christmas decorations proclaim, it is a common issue and should never be taken
personally.
Those struggling are not failing to grasp the
gift that is Jesus; they are interacting with a constellation of other
realities that will exacerbate whatever symptomology they experience.
So please, make room for us to take care of
ourselves during this season. Understanding means more than any Christmas gift.
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