(Kaytee Gillis/ Psychology Today) — Nora sat by the window, watching the snow accumulate on top of the cars and neighborhood rooftops. December was always a difficult month for her, ever since the passing of her sister, three years ago. Without anyone to hold the family together, she had lost contact with the rest of her siblings, even though she longed to be a part of their lives.
She still fell back into that childhood mindset during the holidays. She became that little girl on Christmas morning, waiting to see if daddy would come home from yet another rampage, experiencing the same feelings of sadness and loss, as well as guilt for feeling this way so many years later, especially when so many seemed to have it worse.
“I feel like I have healed from all of that,” she said during our last session, “but then I hear that holiday music, and I just fall back into those patterns. Is something wrong with me?”
Due to the stress and obligations of the holiday season, it is normal to feel a bit stressed or even overwhelmed during this time. For many, the excitement and good feelings about this time of year evoke a feeling of happiness, which is able to overshadow many of the stressors that accompany social obligations. (…)