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Surviving Your Family of Origin At Christmas Dinner
You Need Not Give Them Your Soul
Most survivors have families of origin that were responsible for their forming complex post-traumatic stress disorder through committing chronic child abuse. So, the holidays, especially Christmas, are very difficult for them.
This article will explore the hazards of having a dysfunctional family of origin and ways to ease pressure and disappointment.
What are the Holiday Blues?
According to NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness), approximately 1 in 5 adults have some form of mental health disorder. For those who have formed complex post-traumatic stress disorder, dealing with having a mental health condition combined with the holidays often brings increased depression and anxiety.
The holiday blues or holiday depression causes the holidays to, instead of being a time of rejoicing, turn into a time of painful reflection and loneliness. Even people who are not survivors of childhood trauma can experience the blues during the holiday season. Christmas places unusual demands on them, leaving them exhausted.
The most common holiday blues symptom is depression or recurring feelings of sadness that begin as the holiday season starts. While not all people who have the holiday…
