Depression is a prison where you are both the suffering prisoner and the cruel jailer.
Dorothy Rowe

In 1835 a man visited a doctor in Florence, Italy. He was filled with anxiety and exhausted from lack of sleep. He couldn’t eat, and he avoided his friends. He was very depressed.

The doctor examined him and found that he was in prime physical condition. Concluding that his patient needed to have a good time, the physician told him about a circus in town and its star performer, a clown named Grimaldi. Night after night he had the people rolling in the aisles. “You must go and see him,” the doctor advised. “Grimaldi is the world’s funniest clown. He’ll make you laugh and cure your sadness.” “No,” replied the despairing man, “he can’t help me. You see, I am Grimaldi!”

In 1963, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year was recorded and released by pop singer, Andy Williams, for his first Christmas album. But for many people, it’s the “worst time” of the year. People become depressed during the holidays for a variety of reasons…

Stress: The holidays can be a time of increased activity, which can be stressful to manage. There’s a sense of being overwhelmed with too much to do and too little time.

Fatigue: When we cut something out because of time pressure, it’s often sleep. So, when we need those extra resources of rest, they’re even more depleted. That can send us into a spiral of unhappy thoughts and attitudes.

Unrealistic expectations: The holidays often lead to unrealistic expectations about how things should go. We have pictures of the ideal but are confronted by the real. Every Hallmark Christmas movie concludes with a happy ending. It’s not accurate. Then, we see friends and loved ones posting who seem to have wonderful times. It only makes us feel worse. 

Financial stress: The holidays can be expensive, which can lead to financial stress. We get caught up in the spirit of giving and forget that it’s followed by the January of bills due. We add people to our Christmas list out of obligation or give more than we should or can afford because of either family or peer pressure.

Isolation: The holidays can make people feel isolated or lonely, especially if they’re unable to be with loved ones. Those feelings are heightened when there is an empty spot at the table from a recent death. 

Separation from loved ones: The holidays can involve separation from loved ones, which can be difficult. Sometimes it’s because of the distance and it’s impractical to return home. It might be work responsibilities, particularly if the holiday falls in the middle of the week. Then, there are those in the military who can’t come home or those in necessary jobs like law enforcement or rescue where their work is mandatory.

Unresolved Family Dynamics: Unresolved family issues contribute to holiday depression. The unresolved issues there before the holidays don’t go on a holiday break. Memories of old wounds have a way of curdling your eggnog. Add a few too many drinks and things that should be left unsaid…aren’t, and old wounds are reopened. 

From those first Thanksgivings and Christmases they’ve been messy. Hygiene wasn’t a priority at that first Thanksgiving (germaphobes would have been in shock). If scratch-and-sniff Bibles were a thing, we’d smell the stench when we read about the first Christmas. Unlike the beautiful scenes from children’s story Bibles, Jesus’ birthplace was a dirty, stinky manger. Jesus was born in a mess. Think about it: Jesus Christ, Immanuel, which literally means “God with us,” chose to be born in a mess. And now Jesus promises to be with us always, even in our mess. A wonderful verse to cling to during those messy holidays is Hebrews 10:23: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. The Message Bible paraphrases it this way: Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. [God] always keeps his word.

Just as we plan for the big Thanksgiving dinner or purchasing Christmas presents, we must plan and prepare for the stress and depression that often floods in with the holiday rush. 

What can you do? 

Take your spiritual vitamins. The holidays aren’t the time to cut on time in the Word. If anything with Thanksgiving, we should be reading those passages like the psalms that focus on gratitude and thankfulness. Re-read the Christmas narratives. Because they can be overly familiar, perhaps read them in a different version than you normally use. Maybe focus on the many fulfilled prophecies from the Old Testament of Christ’s first coming. 

Remember the reasons for the seasons. I hate the term “Turkey Day” and doubt the turkey is thankful. Most of us tend to be weak when it comes to a habit of gratitude and thankfulness. Yet, Thanksgiving is a time to count our blessings. For a Christ-follower, we have everything that matters – we’re forgiven, have God’s grace in this life and eternity in Heaven. 

Christmas reminds us of that first Christmas gift, God’s Son, who was born to die for our sins. Christmas is about giving, not as a lost world thinks – getting. We have the message of joy and hope that begins here but doesn’t end in this world.

Plan something to look forward to. The Bible teaches the principle of rewards for faithfulness. God has designed us so that having something to look forward to helps us persevere in some of the hassles and pains of the present. Besides making sure that you have adequate rest, please reward yourself in the midst of the holiday season. It doesn’t have to be big. It does help though with our mental and emotional equilibrium. 

For me, it’s watching a Christmas movie that always touches my heart, It’s a Wonderful Life. I think to some level all of us feel like George Bailey and wonder if we’re making a difference. I know I do. But it’s not angels who have the big picture, it’s my Heavenly Father. He knows the final impact of seeds that we sow. One day I want to hear Him say, Well, done good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23). In the midst of Christmas chaos, have a reward that reminds you of the Father’s eternal one. 

That great preacher of yesteryear, Charles Spurgeon struggled with dark nights of the soul. On one occasion he said: I find no better cure for that depression than to trust in the Lord with all my heart, and seek to realize afresh the power of the peace-speaking blood of Jesus, and His infinite love in dying upon the cross to put away all my transgressions. Holiday depression can be debilitating. As Christ-followers, we know that His grace is enough…and we’re all going to get Home before dark!