For a large number of people, the beginning of the holiday season signals a time of stress and pressure. When the stress and pressure that amounts to what feels like overload, all of the holiday planning, events and get-togethers can begin to feel like a chore. Watching others appear joyful can have the strange effect of making someone with depression or grief feel even worse and can cause individuals to compare their life with others, causing a vicious cycle of increased stress and sadness.

Column: Managing stress during the holidays – Southgate News Herald