As of 12:01 am EST today, the holidays began in my house. Before that time I do now allow anything Christmas in my house – no lights, no lists and no music – especially that chipper Feliz Navidad song the plays over and over and over in my head like some kind of Guantanamo torture technique.

Don’t get me wrong – I love the holidays. I love everything about the holidays. I just hate what the holidays do to me – and I am not talking about my love handles. I get too happy and I cry. I get nostalgic and I cry. I get lonely and I cry. I miss my parents and I cry. I read The Littlest Angel and I cry. I watch those diamond commercials with some guy giving his girlfriend a big honkin’ rock and I sob.

I don’t feel sorry for myself. I simply feel TOO MUCH. There are too many feelings and they are too strong. I get angry at the guy with the Porsche who takes up two parking spaces at the mall so I don’t ding his precious Porsche’s doors. I get annoyed by clerks who can’t  make change. I get anxious about getting my damn Christmas cards mailed. I get very sad because it is just me, my daughter, our dog and her bunny. No aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings or grandparents. Just the four of us.

I have heard it said that mental illness is a threefold disease: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. So if you know someone with a mental illness – and let’s not forget that alcoholism and addictions ARE MENTAL ILLNESSES – watch out for them. Find out what they are doing for Hanukkah or Christmas Eve. If they have no plans, invite them. Make sure they have at least one gift to open. Call them for no reason but to say “hello.” If you see they are isolating and withdrawing, check on them. You can’t imagine how frustrating it is for us. We know this is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. Believe me, we know.

Do what you can. Do it without judgment, a sense of obligation, pity or pretense. Whatever you do, just DO NOT play that Feliz Navidad song.

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From Psych Central's website:
PsychCentral (November 27, 2009)

    Last reviewed: 27 Nov 2009