Does Anyone Else Get Depressed Around The Holiday Season?

I only get depressed when someone close to me is on a far away place, it only makes me feel missing them and being lonesome. Money is what makes me feel worried most of the times, since holiday season is also the time to share and give gifts. I always want to make most of them happy, that sometimes I feel like I have to work more to fulfill something that is really worth and right for the season.

I do lock myself away, my parents are gone now and I am basically on my own, friends always invite me into their families but it is not the same, I tried two years ago going to a friends place who said it was not going to be a big deal but when I got there is was a full family affair, I ended up in tears, I put it down to be like a hungry person looking through the window of a cake shop, lesson learnt, I prefer to just stay home so I will probably spend my Christmas here in Mylot, maybe Mr Mylot might wear a sant suit...LOL....

I am one of those people. But without a TV

Yes I personally think this is a difficult time of the year for lots of people. Those who are limited in funds as Christmas has gone totally out of hand in a lot of cases. For others that are separated from their families and also for people like me. I don't get around well as it is and in the winter I feel really caged in as the winters are very cold where I am. (Saskatchewan Canada) For some Christmas is a very happy time of the year and I wish it could be that way for everyone but unfortunately we will probably never see those days. Lets just make the best of it my friend. I hope all works out well for you.

I get depressed in these months because I have S.A.D (seasonal affective disorder). The good thing about being hear in California, the weather is not always as gloomy as it could be, thank God.

Christmas with you was terrific! I normally hate holiday seasons (read that Christmas). It doesn't hold bad memories for me, but I despise crowds, malls (my daughters all think I'm a freak), and all of the false hoopla. You and I had a very quiet one, even though your gift arrive late. I know that as soon as I get up there with the software, you'll be able to begin posting more videos and stills with your new camera. The monsoon is about to start for today, so I'll submit this in case the Internet craps out again.

This time of year seems to give a lot of stress to people. I am so happy that I am not one of them. Already when I was a kid, I knew that Christmas actually was not a Christian festival at all. Most people may know that Jesus and his followers never celebrated birthdays and that Jesus was born about beginning of October, while is was still warm enough for the shepherds in Betlehem to be outdoors at night. When I was about 16, I decided to not celebrate Christmas any more. Now that I am 62 I am really grateful for the knowledge I got that time. I have had 47 stress free years - at least free from all those "must do" things that many worry about weeks in advance. I give presents when I can afford it and the presents - I believe - give more happiness when they are not expected. The truth will set you free...

ever since i was a child giftmass has made me feel depressed. I lost my father when i was 21 in Late november and the whole season just seems an excuse for shop owners to exploit the simple minded blessed be

Christmastime has always been difficult. My parents divorced when I was already married, but our family gatherings were always at their house. Things never were the same after that. And you always rush around trying to fix a nice meal and there is more stress and noise and it tended to get to me. Add to that, that my husband tends to compensate by being a bah humbug, and no tree and sometimes it just doesn't seem like Christmas. And my son and family live in another state and I don't always get to see them. When I was involved in church and choir, I would sing on Christmas eve and go to Midnight mass. Now that I am partly disabled, I haven't been able to go to midnight mass in several years and that has made it more difficult to "get in the spirit". A few years ago I started my own "tradition" and try to re-read a short book called "The Birth" by Gene Edwards. It is a telling of the birth of Christ from the perspective of heaven and the angelic host and it is awesome. That helps me to get in the spirit a lot.

I have spent a Christmas eve with my family once in the past 24 years. I know how you feel. But that is life and a part of growing up. I enjoy the holidays and the festivities, people are usually nicer and friendlier then the rest of the time. Just look for the good times, think of the new friends youhave made and enjoy them. Also, you may have Season Affective Disorder and being in Arizona may help you.

Yes, I am. And I don't care what anyone else thinks. Growing up in my house, christmas was all about material things and presents. There was no love, there was no closeness of family. it's getting better now that I am grown and married. My husband and I don't put pressure on gift giving. I use the time to cook sweets for our family, and spend time with his grandfather (who is 104). We set our own rules for Christmas. We spend it with family, we eat together, and we snuggle with our dogs and just be happy with what we have. And I do everything in my power to avoid shopping malls for the entire months of november and december!

We use to stress over the holidays due to family, making everyone happy, and the whole money thing . . . . But last year we all sat down and discussed a plan, and gift limit. We will be spending Thanksgiving with my mom. Christmas eve with my dad and Christmas day with his parents. Everybody knows the plan and so there won't be any hard feeling when we don't show up to there place on Christmas or what ever. And we've set a two gift maximum limit on gifts. This could work for you as well, before you leave for a mini vacation to the states, Have a dinner party at your place invite the whole family. Do a "white elephant" gift exchange --guys bring a guy gift, girls bring a girl gift, and everyone draws a number to see who gets to pick a gift from the pile-- This way everyone gets something and no one had to stress about who wanted what, and the fun part is with a "white elephant" gift exchange is that if your number comes up and you like something that someone else has gotten, you can steal their gift and then they have to pick from the pile again. I wish you a merry christmas, where ever/ or when ever you celebrate it.

Hello my fellow Dane. I believe Christmas time is a depressing time for most people around the world, for various reasons. At least it is the most stressing time of year. For some it will be the first time they will spend Christmas without a particular loved one. For others like you, it is not possible to be with the ones you love. Others like myself, is on a low income and cannot afford the demands from the surroundings and family and for others again it's the stress that take over. Most of today's old traditions started out as a great idea as they were most about families spending time together. Now it's gone all commercial and is changing focus from what it was initially all about i.e. Christmas was initially to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, now it's all about Rudolf & Santa, Cristmas dinners and pressure to spend all the money that you do not have. I personally think it's a great shame and we lost something very valueable for family and social life and we will never get it back. Hope you will have the Christmas your heart desire :)

well christmas for me has always been the happiest occassion. it's the only time my whole clan gets together in a festive mood. singing karaoke, getting drunk, playing parlour game and stuff. but this last christmas has been really very sad. coz it's the first time i had to celebrate christmas with my wife.

The older I get the more depressed I am at holiday times, especially Christmas. I have provided separate Christmases for both my own and my husband's families for 30 years now. For my husband's side, I cook and bake and clean. I make several kinds of homemade candies. I buy presents and spend hundreds of dollars doing so because there are so many of them now. For the actual get-together, people show up who we never see any other time during the year even though they don't live that far away. Since I'm a stepmother, I get pretty much ignored while I toil away. If I'm lucky I might get a small gift from one of my stepdaughters. My husband doesn't get anything from anyone, either. Then everyone goes home and we don't see them again until the next Christmas. I'm putting my foot down this year. My husband has been giving me a guilt trip every year that I say I don't want to provide Christmas for everyone any more, but this year I'm determined. My oldest stepdaughter is only 10 years younger than I am. Let her provide Christmas for once! Do you think I'm being a Scrooge?

Without going into details, I tend to be the "odd one out," in any of the holidays. The only family I really have is on the other side of the country. So, when holidays roll around, most of my friends go off with 'family-only' events. Most places to hang around are closed, or have hours that just don't really work. Because of this, I tend not to like *any* holiday.

Oh yes! I'm just glad when it's all over for another year. It's the rampant commercialism that I really hate.

I get very depressed around the holidays but the only way I think I survive is to keep reminding myself why I celebrate the holiday, Christmas that is. It's sad that part of my depression comes from not having the money to buy family what I would like - that's not the idea and I'm resorting this year to small simple handmade gifts. Grandkids may get from the dollar store - only the adults will know how little I spend and if it bothers them then that's their problem - the kids are young enough that they may just enjoy a couple dollor items more than the expensive stuff that will just be broken in a week (or day).

I get a little down about all the pressure of having a "perfect" Christmas.

Ja, me too. All my life it felt like I could never do anything right in that time of year. Family always arguing about something. I am happy for the people that experience the Holidays as a happy time. It is suppose to be a happy time. Maybe some day I will see that too.I hope so. Hopefully you will too. Take care, have a nice day.