Holiday Depression

[Jazzy]

While the holiday season brings sentiments of joy and celebration for some, for others it is a time of isolation and an increase in feelings of depression and negative thoughts. In fact, numerous studies as well as anecdotal evidence from distress centers and crisis workers confirm that there is an increase in both the numbers and severity of calls by depressed individuals during the holiday season.



This is a period of frenetic activity, a time when people are trying to juggle work, an increase in social obligations, shopping, decorating, wrapping, entertaining and staying on budget. All this leads to a rise in both physical and emotional stress.



This is also a time of reflection, as the year nears its end. A time when others look back and see the losses they incurred ? Loss of a loved one through death, divorce or separation, loss of a job, or even loss of familiar social environment (as in having moved away from home).



The holidays also bring about unrealistic conceptualizations of the ideal family, evoking feelings that may heighten the tension or conflicts between family members explains MUHC psychologist, Dr. Michael Spevack. Over eating and over drinking combined with a decreased amount of sleep is also a formula for extreme emotional swings - feelings of elation followed twelve hours later by a transient drop in mood, explains Spevack.



Link: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/35124.php



My questions: Do any of you suffer from Holiday Depression? If yes then can you tell us why?

 

[beowulf]

personally, for a lot of reasons i dont want to share, i will be glad when its all over and get back to normality

 

[beowulf]

the whole thing is geared up to how much money can be exhorted out of you

 

[Durandal]

I haven't really felt this horrible in a few years at least - it's been the last few months snowballing to the end, I s'pose...if I don't log in for a very long period of time; I guess that will show it got the best of me, so to speak...

 

[Evil Eye]

I don't do depressions. They're a waste of time.

 

[The Dragon Master]

I don't do depressions. They're a waste of time.

Same

 

[Cranos]

I don't particularly like christmas because of my family but that's it. This year it's also the start of my break from class to study for the exams so I have to study all day long instead of going to boring parties.



I love new year's eve though, because it's going wild with friends.

 

[beowulf]

I don't do depressions. They're a waste of time.

Same

are you both trying to say that depression is a 'made up' illness and those that suffer from it are just fake and pretending?

 

[DrLeftover]

It's not only the holidays that lead to depression.



Unreasonable expectations and predicted perfection of things like Prom, Sporting Events, Dates, and even online games, can trigger deep emotional lows.



This is especially evident in young women who expect a perfect wedding, and even worse in her mother.



Remember, Perfection is the enemy of the Good Enough.

 

[The Dragon Master]

are you both trying to say that depression is a 'made up' illness and those that suffer from it are just fake and pretending?

No I'm not saying that, but I've had plenty of bad experience's with 'depressed' people. They were only depressed as they wanted attention [shrugs].



I've done psychology so I know the main theories of depression, I'm just saying that I don't have time for depression, especially during the holidays. But if I had a friend who was depressed, then I'd do everything I could to help.

 

[Durandal]

It's not only the holidays that lead to depression.



Unreasonable expectations and predicted perfection of things like Prom, Sporting Events, Dates, and even online games, can trigger deep emotional lows.



This is especially evident in young women who expect a perfect wedding, and even worse in her mother.



Remember, Perfection is the enemy of the Good Enough.

Perhaps the miscalculated use of 'depression' as in narcissistic disappointment, but not Depression, an actual disease.

No I'm not saying that, but I've had plenty of bad experience's with 'depressed' people. They were only depressed as they wanted attention [shrugs].



I've done psychology so I know the main theories of depression, I'm just saying that I don't have time for depression, especially during the holidays. But if I had a friend who was depressed, then I'd do everything I could to help.

Depression (the actual disease, not the misuse) doesn't have any regards for times, it strikes and controls until it is combated, as with any disease. Whether one has the time or not, it can get someone. However, I will agree in one regard that 'depression' (the lower case, overused casual adoption of a clinical term) is often 'invented' by people who aren't Depressed. In that case, yes, often it is more a case of narcissism and not much more.

 

[Evil Eye]

are you both trying to say that depression is a 'made up' illness and those that suffer from it are just fake and pretending?

No, but that doesn't mean I have it. Nor will I do that narcissistic disappointment as Durandal called it, so I'm not depressed.

 

[Rapunzel]

are you both trying to say that depression is a 'made up' illness and those that suffer from it are just fake and pretending?

No, they're saying that they are both too young to have experienced depression and so can have no real understanding of it.



No offense to either of them. You have to experience it to understand how it can suck you down.

 

[Evil Eye]

No offense to either of them. You have to experience it to understand how it can suck you down.

None taken. I'd rather stay this way.

 

[Rapunzel]

None taken. I'd rather stay this way.

So you should. It is good to be young and healthy and heart-whole and optimistic about life.



Enjoy it and make the most of it while you can. Life does have a way of dragging you down, sad to say.

 

[Evil Eye]

Who said I was optimistic about life?

As long as I can do stuff I like on a somewhat regular basis I won't let life drag me down from being.

 

[Durandal]

So you should. It is good to be young and healthy and heart-whole and optimistic about life.



Enjoy it and make the most of it while you can. Life does have a way of dragging you down, sad to say.

Sometimes it even gets a head start on some people...

Who said I was optimistic about life?

As long as I can do stuff I like on a somewhat regular basis I won't let life drag me down from being.

I think like any other disease, some people have greater markers for being prone to it than others. Some folks, perhaps you are one of them, EE, might have a greater resistance to something like that, and thus it would take a lot to make you susceptible, which is a good thing. Some people get the short end of the stick on some things, while others get it on other things...thus your outlook (not a criticism, a general observation, makes sense...).

 

[Corleone]

Never been depressed around the holidays. I actually feel my best at Christmas & New Years. I love Christmas and I love seeing my distant family on New Years. Two great events to look forward to, back to back. However, I am a bit sad Christmas is over in a flash, but there will always be next year.

 

[Evil Eye]

I think like any other disease, some people have greater markers for being prone to it than others. Some folks, perhaps you are one of them, EE, might have a greater resistance to something like that, and thus it would take a lot to make you susceptible, which is a good thing. Some people get the short end of the stick on some things, while others get it on other things...thus your outlook (not a criticism, a general observation, makes sense...).

Of course. I already knew I was lucky. (not in the gambling way though)