The Christmas Blues

[Blackthorn]

I think that feeling lonely is part of what happens when people get depressed during the holidays. This is truely a time to fill your days with family and friends. If you don't have much family around any more then try to spend more face to face time with friends. If the music gets to you ( I hate Christmass music just because it blows) then use your cd collection more. I know I used to have a problem with this time of year to but now that I have a daughter it's pretty fun just to take her to look at the lights. So maybe grab a kid you love like a friends or some relatives and take them just to see the wounder in thier eyes. Life really is how you work through the issuses in a lot of cases.

[Kell]

I don't really drink.

Maybe you should. Sometimes it's good to become half drunk, noisy and obnoxious to get things out of your system.

Don't do it as a habit tho.

Happy b'day =)

Not everyone that gets drunk is noisy and obnoxious. I get a little quieter (as if I ever though that possible) but am quicker to be blunt when someone does or says something stupid.

Well no, but I don't consider what you're saying a bad thing either. Provided you're in the company who can take that, heh. Otherwise it just blows, yes. =/

Life really is how you work through the issuses in a lot of cases.

[kikkelipoika]

Depression is an important part of life, and it comes and goes. Don't feel too bad about being a bit depressed every now and then.

I don't really drink.

As has been said already, maybe you should. It's a great excuse to gather a group of friends and have fun. Nothing beats depression out of you like a good drinking night with good friends.

[Randomyze]

I know exactly how you feel in this regard and reading over these responses has actually given me a few ideas to do aswell.

I suffer from seasonal depresion as well (For about 5 months out of the year)
Only recently diagnosed Im trying to get through things. Im on a second medication now (first didnt help) and it seems to be helping.
I dont know if you live in the states or not where this may not be an option for you but this medication does help. It might be worth looking into one. (Dont stop if the first one doesnt work though, there are alot out there)

And I agree that being with friends and people who make you laugh and have a good time can make a world of difference.

But to me, Christmas is one of the few times I feel at my best. Mostly because of the warm feelings I get when going to my parents place and remembering all the good childhood memories.

If you can try and see if you can remember a particular christmas that made you happy more then the others and try to recreate it with sights sounds and most important, Smells. Human scent is the most likely sense to invoke memories.

Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!

[ErictheRed]

Well, I'm sorry to hear that you get depressed around the holidays. I've dealt with various levels of depression at different times in my life, but I don't know if I can offer any decent advice.

Just out of curiosity--and you don't need to tell us if you don't want to--do you have any religious connections with the holidays? I personally was a fairly active, practicing Catholic and then Eastern Orthodox Christian; now I've just admitted to myself that I don't believe and am essentially an atheist/agnostic. I've actually found that my religion (or lack thereof) doesn't affect how I feel at all, though it can make for some uncomfortable family situations, I guess. Are you angry at Christians for being so sentimental and annoying, and shoving their religion in your face? Are you angry because people have distorted the true meaning of a religious holiday that bears significance to you? Those might be questions worth thinking about.

I've basically become much happier in my life by just accepting things as they come. I'm 29 now, married, and have an Engineering/Physics background and job. I'm also considering pursuing a PhD. Anyway, in the course of my science education, as well as personal philosophical musings and a host of other things that I can only characterize as LIFE happening, I've learned to just accept the world for what it is. I don't always like it, but I don't demand any more meaning out of it than it has. For instance, I have dear family members that say things like: "If God doesn't exist, then life isn't worth living and I'd rather just kill myself." Alternatively, many "scientists" (usually amateurs and authors trying to make money) try to find overarching, spiritual truths by inferring WAY too much from scientific theories and models than you reasonably can. I've found, personally, that I am much happier, kind, loving, etc. now that I just accept life and the world the way it is. I don't demand the existence of a God, and I don't demand any sort of special comfort or pseufo-spirituality from the interconnectedness of life as shown through modern ideas of evolution, for instance. I just started to be honest with myself about what I thought of the world, religion, etc., and found that I'm much happier. Things were hard with family for a while, and especially in my marriage, but my wife and I are still together and doing better than ever before, now that we're both completely honest with eachother about our fears, hopes, beliefs, etc.

I guess the bottom line that I'm trying to get to is: do you have any religious reasons for your feelings? And are you being completely honest with yourself and your family?

Also, I don't use drugs, and I rarely ever drink to excess. But I have a fondness for port wine, and some other drinks as well, and I do think that having a glass of wine at night can do wonders to calm your nerves, etc. I don't know if you have religious or health reasons that keep you from drinking, and I wouldn't recommend drinking to excess, but perhaps a glass of wine here and there in the evening would be nice.

P.s. I'm just a guy with my own thoughts and ideas about things. If you find you really have a difficult time with depression, maybe you should seek professional help or counseling. I think it's helped many people. My wife has been to a therapist for some of her personal difficulties, for instance, and I think it's helped her a bit. Good luck!

[Alalium]

Well, I agree with some others....find out what it is that bothers you and makes you angry at the whole situation...then you can actually face it and decide what to do from there. It used to anger me becuase, I had a large family gathering during the holiday's and then, divorce, death and growing up....took it's toll on me all at once. (almost 30 now) I took a step back, looked at the situation and what it was that I was sooo angry about and what I could do about that. I found that, it was the actual part of growing up. Life does change and there are a lot of changes we go through in life. I found, for me, that it was this huge thing that angered me. Why did change have to come? How could I adapt to this? I found what works for me....it is just that, perhaps, you need to find what works for you after you look?

~ Just my opinion on it though, hope this helps or at least gives an idea ~

[The Explorer]

I don't really drink.

Maybe you should. Sometimes it's good to become half drunk, noisy and obnoxious to get things out of your system.

Don't do it as a habit tho.

Happy b'day =)

I totally, absolutely and coherently Agree with Kell on this one, you should find away to loose control abit more frequently, but I wouldn't recommend half as much or often as I do it. Make sure you really like the taste of the drink you are going to use to get you there though and eat beforehand, some of Kells Brownies might help.

[Kell]

I don't really drink.

Maybe you should. Sometimes it's good to become half drunk, noisy and obnoxious to get things out of your system.

Don't do it as a habit tho.

Happy b'day =)

I totally, absolutely and coherently Agree with Kell on this one, you should find away to loose control abit more frequently, but I wouldn't recommend half as much or often as I do it. Make sure you really like the taste of the drink you are going to use to get you there though and eat beforehand, some of Kells Brownies might help.

You think that getting drunk, per default, is a good idea so your opinion doesn't count

[The Explorer]

*Thinks for a sec then smiles as he opens a bottle of wine*

Got me there hun, very true but I still think Vahene should give it a whirl.