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Surviving the festive season

Ever noticed how your adult siblings and your parents suddenly revert to patterns of yesteryear once they are all gathered in the one room for an extended period of time? Or perhaps it’s you who regresses to that little child of years ago. Christmas time is a time famous for family squabbles, depression, domestic violence, and even suicide. So what’s going on and how can we survive and even enjoy the festive season? It can be a challenge to maintain your sense of adulthood when you are suddenly thrown into the deep end with your family of origin over the … Continue reading →

Holiday Fun with the Family

After surviving yet another snow day with a house full of kids (most not mine), I definitely see why some parents take advantage of all the outdoor holiday-related activities offered this time of year. Whether it’s a horse-drawn carriage ride down Main Street or a walking tour of Christmas lights at the zoo, tis the season to let your kids burn off steam while enjoying festive events. Here’s a look at some kid-friendly holiday activities going on around the country right now: MAINE In Portland, Maine, families can tour the inside and outside of the legendary Victoria Mansion, which has … Continue reading →

Christmas Parties and Marriage

It’s that time of year. Christmas parties are in full swing. We’ve been to two in the last two nights. Other people I know are faced with the dilemma of two parties on the same night and having to make a choice. Now I love to have a good time, whether it’s at a party or anywhere else, but in the festive season we need to be a little more careful – careful when it comes to our marriages. Some people come over all kissy kissy at Christmas parties, especially when they have a little bit of alcohol on board. … Continue reading →

Christmas Cheerio

Well, it’s one year since I began blogging on Mental Health here at Families. Where has the year gone? 2006 has certainly been a speedy, fast-paced year with its share of happiness and heartache alike. I have certainly enjoyed my stint here writing on what is one of my passions in life: mental health. We’ve covered many areas in the blog to date: depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and the raft of anxiety disorders, including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Phobia to name a few. We’ve also looked at developmental disorders such as Autism and Asperger’s Disorder. But … Continue reading →

Christmas Quotes to cheer you

Struggling to get into the true Christmas spirit because you’re so caught up in gift-buying, food organizing, and pouring oil on troubled family water? Take a moment to read through some of the heart-warming quotes and witty below and rekindle the true meaning of Christmas. It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. W.T.Ellis Christmas begins about the first of December with an office party and ends when you finally realize what you spent, around April fifteenth of the next year. P.J. O’Rourke I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all … Continue reading →

Taking the stress out of Christmas gift-giving

Underlying all the worry about what to give to who for Christmas, how much to spend, and the significance of the gifts you receive from others, is love. At Christmas, most people just want to be acknowledged and recognized, and to know they are loved by their family and friends. Don’t have much money? Don’t let a lack of cash stress you out. The best gifts are the ones that show that the giver is really aware of the needs in another person’s life. If you want to give the best Christmas present, then take time out during the year … Continue reading →

Christmas and other traumas

Over the last couple of weeks, I have heard an increasing number of people, mainly women, expressing grief and sadness about the approaching festive season. And only some of them are my clients! The majority by far are just ordinary people: neighbors, friends, acquaintances, shopkeepers. They comment that they are dreading the “Silly Season.” Yet it’s not just because of the shopping madness and parking mayhem and the financial burden of buying the right gift. It’s a deep-seated sadness about family. Granted some of these people have lost loved ones during the year, and for them, this Christmas will be … Continue reading →