Holiday depression

I can "feel" the holiday season approaching. As nearly everyone around me seems to be getting excited, I'm starting to feel depressed. And apparently I'm not alone. Feeling depressed at what most people consider to be the happiest time of the year is not something that most people who experience it feel comfortable talking about. It just isn't PC and most people who haven't felt it just don't get it.

I found this wonderfully straightforward explanation for holiday depression written by Dr. Richard Boyum at SelfCounseling.com (emphasis added):

We generally think of the holidays as a joyous, happy period. The period of time between Thanksgiving and New Year's is a time in American culture for much celebration. People come together to eat, sing, share gifts and the camaraderie of each others' presence. But there is an increasing body of knowledge that says that the holidays are a period of time that is, for many, stressful at the least and for others, downright depressing. Consider for a moment the following information:

1. The Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday season occurs during the time of year when there are the fewest number of hours of daylight. Research has shown that ten percent of our population is significantly affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Regardless of other factors related to the holidays, sufferers of true Seasonal Affective Disorder may experience chronic fatigue, difficulty in sleeping, irritability, and feelings of sadness.

2. For most individuals, all of the activities of the holidays must be piled on top of all of their other responsibilities that, for most people, include both work and family. The 168 hours that there are in every week cannot be expanded. Consequently, many individuals feel a significant time crunch.

3. Only about 25% of all individuals are living within what would be considered a traditional family at the present time. Death, separation, divorce, remarriage, and job-related separations cause many individuals to feel a dissonance with the traditional holiday-related values.

4. The majority of Americans spend somewhere between 95% and 100% of each paycheck. Again, the period of time between Thanksgiving and New Year's brings about special costs that often increase debt. The research in couples counseling indicates that financial stresses and pressures create significant and long-lasting effects on marriages.

But wait! Before you get even more depressed, know that help is available, and I don't mean the added time and expense of trips to a therapist or increases in your medication. Believe it or not, there are things that we can do now to prepare ourselves for a healthier, and maybe even happier holiday season. Here are just a few:

• Manage your time effectively. Write out your gift and grocery shopping lists before you leave home. Try not to wait until the last minute when crowds and traffic make an already daunting task even more so.


• Prioritize and then set reasonable goals. You can't do everything, no matter how much you want to or feel you need to. Decide what's truly important to you, and focus on those things. It's OK to say "No".


• Consider alternatives. If "traditional" holiday celebrations get you down, consider creating new ones. Try something different this year.