I’ve been a little depressed lately.
Wait…did I say that out loud?
Doesn’t matter. It’s true either way. That’s right. I’m a therapist, and I’ve been depressed lately. It’s actually remarkable how predictable this sort of thing is for me.
Whether we’re celebrating Advent, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, the arrival of Saint Nick, or good old-fashioned family-togetherness, it’s only natural that we look forward to this time of year with hope and eagerness in our hearts.
But sometimes all of that hope and eagerness can begin to look an awful lot like expectations. You know, the kind that inevitably lead to disappointment, frustration, or sadness. They seem especially potent around the holidays.
At one point or another, you’ve probably thought might be something wrong with you because you can’t seem to get and stay happy.
No matter how many self-help books you read, counselors you talk to, or prescription meds you take, happiness just isn’t sustained.
You experience moments of relief from unhappiness but you always end up back where you started.
Unhappy? Join the party…