Published on Dec 22, 2025 | 2:35 PM
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Every commercial, song, and Instagram post screams it: “The most wonderful time of the year!”
But for many people, the holidays bring stress, loneliness, or emotional whiplash—especially when reality doesn’t match the picture-perfect scenes we’re told to expect.
Let’s talk honestly about holiday expectations, why they matter, and how to protect your mental health when joy feels forced.
We associate holidays with connection, tradition, and family—but that comes with an unspoken checklist:
Perfect meals
Happy family photos
Endless cheer
💬 When life doesn’t look like a Hallmark movie, it’s easy to feel like you’re “doing it wrong.”
The truth? No one’s life fits that script. Most people are juggling complicated emotions behind the scenes.
Expectation: Everyone’s getting along, gifts are perfect, and memories are flawless.
Reality: Plans change, people disagree, and someone always burns the rolls.
The gap between those two worlds is where frustration grows.
When you compare your real life to a highlight reel, happiness turns into pressure.
Try trading perfection for presence.
Set realistic plans. Choose one or two meaningful traditions instead of cramming in ten.
Protect your energy. It’s okay to skip events that drain you.
Let small things slide. The point isn’t perfect—it’s connection.
Stay grounded. A few minutes of quiet, journaling, or deep breathing helps regulate stress.
💬 Sometimes peace comes from lowering the bar, not raising it.
You’re not broken for feeling that way.
Grief, finances, relationships, and even social anxiety can amplify this season’s pressure.
If “holiday blues” last longer than a few days—or spill into January—it may be time to talk to someone.
Holidays don’t have to be the happiest time—they just need to be authentic.
Joy doesn’t mean perfection, and calm counts as happiness too.
If the holidays feel heavier than they should, reach out to CallOnDoc for fast, private mental-health support from home. You don’t have to fake festive.
Shelly House, FNP, is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Call-On-Doc’s trusted medical education voice. With extensive experience in telehealth and patient-centered care, Ms. House is dedicated to making complex health topics simple and accessible. Through evidence-based content, provider collaboration, and a passion for empowering patients, her mission is to break down barriers to healthcare by delivering clear, compassionate, and practical medical guidance.
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Over 43 million Americans live with a mental health condition, and every day more people are speaking up and seeking support. While awareness has grown, finding a qualified, experienced psychiatrist can still be difficult—especially when long wait times, cost, or location become barriers.
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