I'll Have a Blue Christmas?

      I was all set to do a typical article on overcoming the holiday blues. I decided to provide you with cold, hard statistics when what to my wondering eyes should appear? An article saying I had it all wrong. The New York Times referenced an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association authored by John Buckman and James Hillard, respectively the vice chairman of the psychiatry department and professor of psychiatry at the University of Virginia.

      The study said there is not one single solid indicator that depressions increase during the holidays. Typical measures of general psychiatric health are usually down in December. The number of suicides, psychiatric hospitalizations, psychiatric emergency room visits, outpatient psychiatric appointments and even letters to advice columnists all decrease in December.

      What the study did show is the holiday season intensifies the major emotions we already face. In most cases, lovers love more, happy people are happier, angry people get angrier, sad people get sadder. No doubt, there are a number of people who despise the holidays. But these Grinches are in the minority. One issue that was discussed was the anniversary depression. That is, there are some who have experienced tragic events around the holidays. Naturally, the holidays are a sad reminder. Not to mention those who have recently suffered loss will inevitably experience sadness as they learn to face the holidays without their loved ones. However, on the whole, the holiday season does not cause greater depression than usual. Rather it magnifies what was in our hearts already.

      Thus, the holiday season is a unique time for us. It is a great microscope, magnifying our nature. If something is amiss this time of year, our first response should not be to chalk it up to a “Blue Christmas.” Rather, we should examine what this means about us all the time. Are we fussing with our siblings a lot around Christmas? That says something about what we think about them all year round. Are we really depressed? That is likely not just a response to the season. Are we on edge and anxious? We probably have temper issues all the time that lie beneath the surface. Are we worried about money? That is probably not because we only spend too much money around Christmas.

      Remember Philippians 4:6-9, when we rely on God, follow His will and think on His things, the God of peace will be with us. The peace that passes understanding will guard our hearts and minds. If that peace is not guarding our hearts and minds in December, it is probably not just holiday blues. We need to take a closer look at God. We need to examine what choices we are making all year round. We need to consider where our minds focus usually. When we get that under control, we won’t be blue over a white Christmas.

Edwin L. Crozier