Garth Rattray | It’s not a merry Christmas for many

The commemoration of the birth of Jesus was piggybacked on a pagan holiday because the Romans sought to incorporate and subdue the boisterous holiday of Saturnalia. It was a celebration of the winter solstice, which began after December 20. December 25 was initially the date that the sun god Sol Invictus was celebrated.

Nonetheless, most Christians celebrated Christmas as a time to remember the gift that God gave to the world, His only son Jesus the Christ (whose real Hebrew name was Yeshua). However, a few Christian denominations spurn Christmas. They may have been vindicated because ‘Christmas’ was hijacked by the Coca Cola company in 1931 when they resurrected the old German Saint Nicholas (a fourth century Mediterranean Bishop) and marketed ‘Santa Claus’ as what we know of him today – a commercially contrived, jolly-looking, plus-sized elf designed to boost sales.

Now, Santa has his claws into everything. The season has become less and less about the remembrance of God’s gift to the world and more and more about sales and parties. In countries where Christmas is celebrated, between the gifts, food, celebration, and travel, massive sums of money are spent from November 1 to December 31.

The commercialisation and hype lead most people to encourage great expectations of prosperity, love for one another, happiness, feasting, mirth, and levity during the season. However, when one, some, or all of those expectations are not met, some people experience the holiday blues or become clinically depressed.

Although the statistics show a double figure percentage decrease in murders in 2024, when compared to 2023, there has been 1,085 people killed up to early December, and almost 1,000 people were injured. We must always keep in mind that injuries from criminal activities leave many people maimed or permanently disabled. Reported rapes decreased by 25 percent and stand at 341 since this year.

SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION

There has been a significant reduction in road fatalities since 2024; however, in early December the figure was 320 and rising. And there are people who were seriously injured by motor vehicle crashes who will never fully recover. Other major traumatic events include losses due to scamming, fraud, burglaries, robberies, and fires. These events take a massive toll on the expansive web of surviving victims, their family members, relatives and friends.

For most people the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic was exceedingly traumatic, not only because of the illnesses and deaths, but also because of the isolation and prohibition on gatherings of any kind. In fact, suffice it to say that the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19 between March 2020 and early 2024 is about equal to 9 years of road traffic fatalities.

The major cause of death among Jamaicans remains cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Therefore, many citizens have reasons to grieve. Many people are also ‘grieving’ their financial difficulties. Although we are performing well macro-economically, micro-economically things are very tough. The much-vaunted prosperity eludes the vast majority of our citizens.

People experience ‘Christmas depression’ because of the suffering or loss of a loved one who is infirmed or conspicuously absent during the celebratory season. Another reason for the holiday blues is the financial and social pressure to create the perfect holiday atmosphere. Whenever people fall short of or are unable to achieve their holiday goals, they may feel pressured, anxious, overwhelmed, crestfallen (sorely disappointed in themselves), or outright depressed.

FEELING ABANDONED

Some people spend the jolly season alone, feeling abandoned / rejected and left out. Loneliness is a risk factor for physical and mental disease. Loneliness at Christmas time is especially devastating because, ostensively, everyone else is having a grand time in the company of others.

Because of all these things, Christmas is the time during which people tend to experience depression. December is also the time of year when the suicide rate is highest. However, Christmas depression is not taken seriously enough and not given the attention that it deserves. Coping with Christmas depression is particularly difficult because everyone else appears to be full of joy. Those suffering from the holiday blues therefore find it difficult to become the proverbial wet blanket and spoil the fun that others are having by expressing their feelings of sadness during the festive season.

This leads to the vicious cycle of feeling depressed and feeling more depressed because you are feeling depressed when everyone around you seems to be happy. That makes you feel horrible about yourself, which adds to your depression and so on and so on. Then the psychological self-flagellation begins, and it never ends well.

There are people who suffer from Christmas depression without any obvious cause. However, the hustle, bustle, long lists of things to buy and things to do are more than enough to precipitate the holiday blues. Then there is a feeling of guilt of feeling depressed without anything tragic occurring in your life.

There are several coping mechanisms that can ameliorate or dispel the Christmas blues.

1. Don’t be shy to reach out to loved ones and friends.

2. Volunteer at community events geared towards that time of year.

3. Exercise.

4. Take time out to rest and pray / meditate.

5. Initiate or join a support group for others suffering from Christmas depression.

6. Reduce your involvement and financial expenditures during the season.

7. Avoid stressful things and people.

8. If necessary, do not hesitate to contact a healthcare professional.

9. And most of all … just do you.

Garth Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice, and author of ‘The Long and Short of Thick and Thin’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com