Holiday Celebrating Gone Wild

Tis the season, as they say. The season for what? Well, shopping, parties at work and home, more shopping, stress, anxiety, relieving stress and anxiety, etc. You know what this time of year brings - headaches and a desire for it to be at an end. How sad we all are. This is the time of year that was meant for celebration and revelry and we listened to the merchants, advertisers, and greeting card companies. They've shaken the foundations of the various end of year holiday's (the Jewish year ended already) and turned them into a maddening display of buying too much and regretting what was bought as being overdone. This is also a depressing time of year for those who have nothing to celebrate. In fact the false cheeriness can actually make these poor souls feel worse about their particular situation and actually undo the benefits of alcohol rehab and drug rehab by putting the monkey right back on their shoulders. Most people are oblivious to the torment this time of year can bring to some. It can be like rubbing salt into a wound or putting a finger in someones face. Winter, hands down, is the leading season for depression in the world. Maybe it's the shorter days, less sunlight, the cold days and colder nights. "Tis the season to be jolly" is a bunch of rubbish. What we need is more good will towards (wo)men! I know this is the time of year that makes or breaks retail sales for the year but come on, do we really need to see decorated trees in the stores for Halloween? No we don't. Do we need the continuous blaring of sickening Christmas carols everywhere? No we don't, and I realize that this must cause offense to non-Christian people and that is unfortunate. I'd gladly sacrifice my share of the carols if that would help, please! The best thing you can do is watch out for friends and loved ones who begin to act 'different' from what you're used to seeing and do a little homework on the Internet to see the warning signs of substance abuse and depression. You could end up saving a life by keeping your eyes and ears open this holiday season. One last parting thought, don't forget the designated driver this year as it could be your life that gets saved, or lost!