Family Life News Special Feature: Dr. Mark Mayfield_Loneliness & Change at the Holidays

Loneliness & Change & Decisions to Make at the Holidays  A Special Feature from Family Life News Loneliness or family tensions are around the Christmas tree this month, for many people. If you are feeling a bit of a "Blue Christmas" this season, hear this advice from Christian counselor Mark Mayfield. Dr. Mayfield offers his insights on why the social expectations, personal changes and various setbacks make December so hard for so many people. He tells Family Life interviewer Greg Gillispie that many people seem to handle depression, disappointments and lonely feels pretty well most of the year, but that the intensity of year-end causes harder emotions to pop out. He offers explanations of why this happens, plus suggestions on how to handle challenged relationships. set boundaries, create a circle of supportive friends, and to choose to go ahead to take part in events like December worship, small group gatherings and other meaningful events -- even if circumstances have changes since your original memories are made. Dr. Mayfield also explains that Seasonal Affective Disorder, "SAD", is a real problem in the winter for about 1 in every 20 people. For that diminished daylight and cloudy seasons, he also has a recommendation on how our bodies can reduce SAD's effects. Dr. Mark Mayfield is the Director of Practice and Ministry Development for the American Association of Christian Counselors [website: AACC.net]. He also is editor of thier Marriage & Family: A Christian Journal and we wrote a book and curriculum for mental health practitioners and congregations on loneliness. He also teaches at Colorado Christian University.