In his “Editor’s Desk” column in the December issue of Psychiatric News, Editor in Chief Adrian Preda, M.D., offers a meditation on the complicated mix of emotions that many people experience during the holiday season. It’s not that they aren’t happy. It’s that they’re also a little sad. And joyful. And nostalgic. And lonely. Learn more in this excerpt from Dr. Preda’s column:
On the surface, this is a time for joy and celebration, but as often happens, reality is more complex. Many of us find that the holidays’ cheer is tinged with a sense of sadness and regret. Loneliness, which is hard enough to bear the rest of the year, grows sharp edges during this season. Then, there are the memories: times past, often seeming better than times present; grief for the loved ones who are no longer with us; and, in the final weeks of the year, each day seems to etch itself in time, moving inexorably forward, one after the next, toward an unavoidable end—another year gone, and a cold reminder that time is slipping away.
As if that weren’t enough, the New Year is looming. When facing an unknown future, should we feel excitement or dread?
Against this emotional landscape, the pressure to conform to the omnipresent holiday cheer can feel like salt in the wound for those already grappling with loss and facing the chasm of times past eroding times present. Is there a better way to understand and navigate this time of the year?
Part of the challenge lies in how we categorize emotions. Most public discourse on mental health tends to split feelings into just two groups: negative and positive. The negative emotions are well known and easily named: sadness, fear, anger, disgust, and anxiety. But when it comes to positive emotions, many people struggle. After happiness and joy, there’s often a long pause.
Read Dr. Preda’s entire column here.
For related information, see the Psychiatric News Alert “Holidays Bring Anxiety for Some but Continue to Be a Source of Merriment for Many.”
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