For some, the holidays are a magical season filled with joy, togetherness, and festive cheer. But for this Redditor, it’s been the complete opposite—a time of trauma and dread that has haunted her for decades. For the past 30 years, she’s had just one wish for Christmas: to be left alone. And now, at long last, that wish is finally coming true.
For this woman, the holidays have always been filled with dread
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So when a nosy coworker kept pestering her about Christmas plans, she decided to tell the truth
Image credits: souvenirpixels / freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: stockking / freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: BestMistakesWithYou
Most adults feel stressed during the holiday season
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The “most wonderful” time of the year isn’t always as wonderful as it’s made out to be. In fact, according to research by the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly 9 in 10 adults (89%) report experiencing some form of stress during the holiday season. The source of these feelings often comes from not having enough money, missing loved ones, the pressure to make celebrations special, and the anticipation of family fights.
Still, that doesn’t stop most people (80%) from describing the holidays as fun, joyous, and exciting. “The holiday season can be both a happy and stressful time of year in part due to expectations to spend time with family and friends, navigate family conflicts and uphold important traditions,” explained Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, APA’s chief executive officer.
“At this hectic time of year, it is important that people take care of their mental health, especially in communities whose members feel disproportionately burdened or excluded from what is traditionally considered the holiday season,” he added.
88% of respondents say they have coping mechanisms that help them manage the stress of the holidays. These include talking to others, reminding themselves that the season will pass, or volunteering to help those in need. However, not everyone’s coping methods are healthy. Some people isolate themselves (21%), change their eating habits by overeating or restricting their diets (16%), or rely on alcohol or nicotine (13%) to get by.
In the context of this story, though, alone time isn’t a harmful escape—it’s a well-deserved break. It just means that the right way to handle negative experiences during the festivities depends on the person and what works best for them.
As Evans noted, “Though the holidays may increase stress levels, they can also be an opportunity. Psychological science tells us that setting aside time to strengthen our relationships and engage in traditions can benefit our physical, mental and emotional well-being, which can prepare us to better manage stress year-round.”
Readers were glad to see the woman was finally getting exactly what she wanted for Christmas
