Christmas Issues Blog Series

Young man with a thought bubble saying 'Why am I so alone?' and a woman with a thought bubble saying 'How can I pay for all of this?'

1. Problems at Christmas

Posted on: 5 January, 2015 by Theresa McGee

The Christmas holiday period is a time of happiness, love and sharing — a time when families and friends come together to share gifts and food. At least, that is what we are led to believe. But in reality, for many people, Christmas is a sad time of year. Instead of parties, celebrations, and family get-togethers, it is filled with worry, fear, loneliness and depression…

Sad looking woman sitting on a chair with a Christmas tree in the background

2. Post-Christmas Blues

Posted on: 5 January, 2015 by Theresa McGee

For some, Christmas is a depressing time of year and many people suffer from post-Christmas blues. Christmas can also be a time of great loneliness and the jollity surrounding the festive season can make loneliness particularly difficult to bear. Everyone seems to be having a good time with their friends and families, and this magnifies the feelings of loneliness…

Man sitting at his desk with a pile of bills and a distressed thought bubble

3. Financial Problems at Christmas

Posted on: 5 January, 2015 by Theresa McGee

One of the biggest worries people have at Christmas is the financial cost. A recent survey found that around one million people in the United Kingdom are still paying for Christmas 2013. And no doubt their debt will get even bigger after Christmas 2014. Many people take out loans to cover the holiday period, and often this involves payday lenders or other loan companies…

Two parents arguing with an upset young girl in the foreground

4. Family Problems at Christmas

Posted on: 6 January, 2015 by Theresa McGee

Families can be a source of grief at Christmas. People are often obliged to spend time with relatives they would rather avoid. Families may be fragmented by marital breakdowns, divorce, long-standing feuds or other relationship conflicts. People also drink too much at Christmas which can cause arguments and even violence and the whole atmosphere can be one of stress and anxiety…

Sad woman on her bed with her head on her pillow

5. Bereavement at Christmas

Posted on: 6 January, 2015 by Theresa McGee

Many people associate certain times each year with a sad time in their life. This may be due to depression, loneliness, redundancy or the loss of a loved one.

For those who are grieving because of the death of a loved one, Christmas can be a particularly difficult time. The fact that someone you love is no longer with you to enjoy the celebrations can be unbearable and the pain can be acute…

Sad man at his desk with a thought bubble of depression

6. Unrealistic Expectations at Christmas

Posted on: 6 January, 2015 by Theresa McGee

One aspect of Christmas which causes problems is that of unrealistic expectations. We are bombarded with images in the media of what the perfect Christmas looks like when, in reality, there is no such thing.

We all want the ideal Christmas, and the focus is on perfect gifts, endless fun, great social activities, wonderful family gatherings, sparkling lights, beautiful Christmas carols, love and goodwill etc…