holiday blahs

[BacardiGirl]

Does anyone start to get somewhat depressed when the holidays roll around? I am experiencing that at the monent...I have a busy week of family gatherings, parties and dinners, but I am just not feeling up to any of it anymore. I feel tired, stressed and just down in the dumps. Is this normal?

[itsnicole]

Originally Posted by BacardiGirl

Does anyone start to get somewhat depressed when the holidays roll around? I am experiencing that at the monent...I have a busy week of family gatherings, parties and dinners, but I am just not feeling up to any of it anymore. I feel tired, stressed and just down in the dumps. Is this normal?

I feel you. It's been a rough year for my family.... I lost both my grandparents who I was so close to, and who have lived with us since I was like 5 years old. The holidays just aren't going to be the same this year, and it's just kind of a depressing mood at home. I understand where you're coming from, and I am so not looking forward to the whole gatherings/dinner thing... but what can you do?

[dusty paws]

The holidays always seem to get me down, moreso than my birthday for some reason. I think the weather changing plays a part in it. December is always the worst month for me - was really bad when I was a teen. Holidays are even worse now that my grandparents don't spend it with us. I understand how you feel - maybe just take a day for yourself - go grab a cup of coffee or a good meal, get a pedicure or a haircut and just relax?

With all of the holiday season hype, I think we sometimes forget about ourselves. Hugs, hope you feel better

[Jahpson]

it is a pretty busy season. especially all the shopping for presents and stuff.

You should get a massage. you might feel a little better. and the days are shorter and nights are longer, that is the reason why sometimes i feel down

[arireyes]

This year for sure. I just lost my brother a few months ago, and I'm sure that is a big part of it. Usually I can't wait to get the house decorated, but I had to force myself to start getting stuff out. I'm hoping that will get me in the mood for the holidays. I think I'm gonna go tomarrow night for some me time. I've been stuck in the house for quite a while with a new baby, and before that an uncomfortable pregnancy. I just want to go get my hair cut and my nails done!!!

[Luv Classics]

The holidays always gets me down. I get into the spirit for my children's sake (my decorations/tree is up and half done with shopping and wrapping). However, I dread family gatherings and all that stuff. I feel that I have this void deep down inside, which I can't seem to fill...

[HubbaWubba]

I try not to get down around the holidays. I don't live near any of my family, so I spend the holidays with friends.

[elle]

Yes...I get extremely down during the holidays. But it has more to do with my birthday and getting old

[krisaya]

I also get depressed around the holidays because my birthday is sometimes on Thanksgiving so I kinda don't feel like it's "my" special day. And then there's Xmas and New Year. Im also sad because I just got out of a relationship, moved to a new city. and really miss celebrating with my friends. Blah!

[Babestaaa]

they do say weather may have alot to do with it, since there are less hours of sunlight but yeah i get like that too. i just get emotional because it can be a really shelfish holiday, all the presents, people needing needing and so many people out there with no gifts, no big thanksgiving dinner, idk but that's me =/ i wish life was better for the more unfortunate. also the troups at war, not being able to spend the holidays with their family this yr.

[Pursegrrl]

Yikes, I'm now living that sterotype HARD for the first time, or at least really acknowledging it.

My grandfather passed away on Christmas Eve 1989 after a long battle with parkinson's disease. I was 22 when he passed and remember him as an active healthy man so I'm thankful for that (compared to my younger cousins who only remember when he was ill), but Christmas has never been the same.

This year, it's weird. My parents have each battled (and survived) cancer this year, they've really downshifted in their lifestyle, I can't really host family events with my grandmother as I have stairs in my townhouse and that doesn't work for my grandmother who needs a walker, my Aunt and Mom have always traded off T-Giving and Christmas dinner hosting and this year we're just having thanksgiving at grandma's retirement home at noon rather than an evening meal...I guess there's so much wrapped up in all this I just wanna get a plane ticket and high tail it out of town. bleeech.

[ILuvMyHusband]

I am the complete opposite. I love this time of year. But I know it's very common for people to go through depression at this time. I remember hearing at one time that during the holidays is when the most people commit suicide. I know that's extreme and I'm not trying to be morbid but I think a lot of people get down around this time of year for various reasons.
But cheer up ladies!! Take a drive and look at Christmas lights... and eat lots of pumpkin pie on Thursday. Try not to think about anything bad/sad.

[Speedy]

Yup, and it's so common, it's got it's own name. Seasonal Affective Disorder. (SAD) Here's a link. http://www.lumie.com/help/quick-guides/sad

It's actually because of SAD we think we get derpressed during the holidays, but then think about it, the holidays ARE int the winter. You can install special lighting to help, or do what I do... devote your time to helping out a food bank or donate toys to your local Toys For Tots program, or any of the hundreds of places that do something to help the poor.

Our kids are grown and moved too far away for us to visit comfortably, so what we do (since we have everything we need) is adopt a family from Social Services lists... we get the names and ages of the children, the names and likes/needs of their caregivers, and we buy gifts and food for them. For our family we have dinner with, we give them cards that say "In your name, this year we gave <so many dollars> in toys to five children and <so many dollars> in food for their family. Of course we give small gifts to the children of relatives too, but we make sure they know why their Mommy or Daddy didn't get a special gift. I like the fact that our nieces, who were babies when I came into the family and are now parents themselves, also do Christmas like this. If someone asks me what I'd like, I tell them a donation in my name to an animal shelter or homeless shelter.

That reallyyyyyy helps with SAD. Believe me!

[ColdSteel]

I do. I've been dealing with depression for most of my life (since I was very young) and I've only just realized this. What's helped me through it had to be therapy (I went through a lot of problems for a couple years) and finding something enjoyable to do. I recently started playing a game that I remember to have helped me feel better years ago (Earthbound for the SNES, for the curious). The designer/developer of the game is a positively amazing man who knows how to make you laugh and pull at your heartstrings at the same time. Just thinking about it makes me happy and calm.

[mellecyn]

The big family reunion depresses me. Bc I live in another country and that´s when I go back home in my little girl bedroom with difficult memories, and that´s when we stir up the sh!t with my parents, when my grand parents (who are so old) break my heart by telling me how much they´d like me to move back there...and everytime I wonder if it´s the last Christmas together...There is the money thing, finding the right present, being embarrassed/ guilt feeling when receiving expensive gifts from family who struggle much more than myself (even though I TRY to stop them !).....yes.