Why is everyone overstressed during the holidays?

Answer 1

Because the MEANING of the holidays has escaped us and we now think Christmas and Hanukkah and Kwanza mean shopping for gifts for everyone, special dinners and parties, new clothes for events, decorations for house, yard and cars, and cards for scores of people, along with photos and letters, etc., etc. Stores love it because they get more sales and they start putting up their decorations in October now. It's unreal. If everyone went back to the religious and cultural meaning of the holidays, they'd just enjoy the company of family and friends, go to church or temple, and RELAX.

Answer 2

A person may feel guilty to be an image that is not the person. Family(yup) can put pressure on other members to live up to an image not of the person making. Way of today, families may only get together 1-3 times a year and feel that they must prove why this person/or that person is better or could be doing better. Other reasons can be the need to please everyone of the person life with gifts, cards, an attions.
Any way, you ever had to deal with Holiday shoppers--if you not being pushed, hit, or watching your back so you purse is not stolen. Your grummpy over the cost of things. So, best is to just stand back and send a Holilday card.
Peace

Answer 3

I think a lot of it comes from high expectations.

We all seem to want the "perfect" holiday, so we run ourselves ragged trying to get everything just right. For some it's trying to replicate the holidays of childhood, for others it's trying to establish new traditions, and I'd go so far to say that the reasons are as individual as every one of us.

So we rush around, trying to find the "perfect" gifts, the "perfect" decorations, the "perfect" dishes to cook.

Thing is, nothing in this world will ever be "perfect."

So I've just come to accept that, start my shopping at least six months in advance, do as much as I can online, and try to pace myself.

My holidays are far from perfect--Martha Stewart doesn't live here--but at least I'm usually relaxed enough to enjoy them.

Isn't that the main idea anyway? To enjoy them, not get frashed about them?

Answer 4

We do not see each other but rarely, we all have different opinions about the Holy Days, and the wants for gifts is totally unreasonable, I do not recall anyone ever saying Thank You, for what was received. I have a good reason to avoid the stress this year, and have a nice Dinner in peace at home, and I will have Happy stress free Holy Days Jesus is the reason for the Season.

Answer 5

Because it's a time of a lot of "forced giving" when there's a lot of people who can't afford to "give" so much.
Many families can become quite unbearable during the holiday season---some get so selfish that they become tyranical about what they should be "given"----guilt-trips---"traditions" that were once fun, but have become impractical.
Seriously---the suicide rate always goes up every holiday season---it can be a very unhappy time for some.

Answer 6

We disconnect during the year...due to jobs, bills, fast paced everything, school and most important....not talking to those we love.

So on holidays we try...and we sometimes fail to reconnect...sometimes we want more...and we need more from those friends and family....and they don't know it.

Communication is in our hearts and many times we don't awaken our need for people. Can we transform ourselves and let our needs out? ....not sure....bue that's why we have a heart and soul, isn't it?
Can we walk justly and with love? Can we serve others with a heart full of gratitude and put aside our stress and rushed life?
That's what we hope.

Answer 7

Hi short and sweet,
because everyone is so hyped by the media and big business to beleive that they will be happy, or can make others happy, by buying material possessions. It is good to give, but comes the holidays, evereyone is caught up in artificial sweetness of a very lame holiday which no one really knows the meaning of or its beginnings or reasons why we celebrate Christmas. hum-bug! (not really!)

Answer 8

Family.

Answer 9

Materialism

Answer 10

They want to have a holiday like the ones they see on television. Watching commercials and holiday specials can make you feel that your holiday is inadequate if it isn't like the ones they portray on T.V.