Mental Health Around the Holidays

Introduction:

While holidays are often celebrated as a time of joy, they can also evoke feelings of loneliness, stress, and anxiety. Region IV Public Health Training Center explains,” The holiday blues is a term that describes feelings of sadness, anxiety, or stress that occur during the holiday season. These feelings are often linked to the pressures of holiday expectations and financial strain.”

What About the Holidays Intensifies Feelings of Sadness?

Although there is no singular reason as to why sadness can be intensified during the holidays, sources suggest it’s inherently a mix of financial stress, loneliness, unrealistic expectations from the media, grief, and difficult family dynamics.

Financial Stress:

Not everyone spends the holidays in the same way. Financial stress, especially around the holidays, greatly contributes to mental health as it places immense pressure on people to overspend on things like gifts, travel, and hosting. In turn, this can often overshadow joy and trigger depression. 

Holidays are heavily commercialized all around the globe. Commercialization, in this case, refers to the transformation of traditional celebrations into major shopping events. These are typically driven by retailers with intense marketing, sales, and media to boost revenue. Secular figures like Santa or the Easter Bunny go from harmless traditions to being central in selling products, which frequently overshadows their original purpose. 

This is important because it often leads to unrealistic expectations of what the perfect holiday looks like. Media portrayals further this by making it easy to feel like a failure if you can’t afford certain items or experiences, leading to feelings of further inadequacy and sadness. 

Such emotions may be intensified for those already struggling with debt or job loss. Psychiatrist.com explains,” Research from the University of Skövde highlights a link between financial stress and impulsive spending. It can trigger a brutal cycle as financial anxiety drives more spending, leading to deeper financial woes, which spurs on more anxiety.”

Loneliness:

When the season calls for a sense of togetherness and happiness, there is an extended pressure to have a perfect time, a notion that doesn’t always align with reality. As curated images around us show perfect family moments, our own solitude or lack of connection can feel larger than ever. 

Even if someone is surrounded by people, if they already feel disconnected, the lack of true belonging can feel painful, making the person feel out of sync. This ultimately creates a painful contrast between the cheer of others and one’s own internal sadness. 

Conclusion:

The holidays can be cheerful for many but saddening for others. During this time, it’s important to practice self-care, maintain routines, and try not to withdraw from those who matter to us. No one has full control over their emotions, but by trying small habits (and reaching out to someone you trust), they can be managed.

References: 

• “Content - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center.” Rochester.edu, 2025, www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?contenttypeid=1&contentid=209. 

•  “The Holiday Blues: A Public Health Perspective - Region IV Public Health Training Center.” Region IV Public Health Training Center - the R4PHTC Helps Build and Sustain a Skilled Workforce with Free Learning Tools and Support Designed to Meet the Unique Needs of Our Region., 3 Dec. 2024, r4phtc.org/the-holiday-blues-a-public-health-perspective/. 

• “The Holidays Hit Harder as Stress and Spending Spiral.” Psychiatrist.com, 23 Dec. 2024, www.psychiatrist.com/news/the-holidays-hit-harder-as-stress-and-spending-spiral/.