ajpresto

Holidays are stressful for a number of reasons. I'm sure that this is a very Google-able topic but I'll give you some thoughts before I provide links.

One reason that this is so stressful is that you are physically closer to people you typically don't hang around with (ie. parents, grandparents, extended family). As with all people, being in an enclosed environment for extended periods of time increases your likelihood of getting angry with the situation.

Another reason is that there is inherent stress in holidays. For Thanksgiving, the stress is on Mom (typically) to cook a perfect meal. Dad has to be sure to carve the turkey correctly. Grandma and Grandpa get stressed by having little kids around after their own little kids have grown. Other people have other stressors.

For Christmas and other gift giving holidays, there is stress in the idea that you *have* to buy something that somebody else will like. If you give them the wrong gift, then what? Are they mad at you? Are you mad at them? Why did you give them "the wrong gift?" Then there's the question of how do you respond to getting the wrong gift? Do you throw it away? Do you regift it? Ask for the receipt?

It's also colder outside, so it's not like you can go outside for extended periods of time to get some fresh air... Lots of issues revolve around the holdays.

Thanks for asking a good question. I once thought about putting up a blog to this effect but I know that I wouldn't have sufficient traffic. I'm glad I can do something worthwhile here.

FYI - here's a nice link to a mental health website's fact sheet on holiday stress: http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/103.cfm