Symptoms Of Holiday Depression
Q: Despite the happy atmosphere that's part of the winter holidays, many
people feel quite sad before, during, or after them.
Feeling blue? You're not alone. Despite the happy atmosphere that's
part of the winter holidays, many people feel quite sad before,
during, or after them. In fact, some individuals become noticeably
depressed.
A:Those who've had a recent loss are particularly vulnerable to
depression around the holidays. If you're newly divorced or separated,
or have recently lost a loved one, been fired from your job, or
suffered a major health problem, you're usually more affected. You may
have started feeling low before or during the holiday season, and are
only starting to feel a little happier now. Often, this depression is
due to a sense of loss - realization that your situation is not the
fantasy of what the holidays "should" be like.
Maybe you're not close to your parents; perhaps your spouse doesn't
talk about emotions; maybe alcoholism or sexism or abuse has split up
your family. The holidays may have been a painful reminder of things
you wish you had or wish you didn't have to deal with. This can cause
you to feel an underlying sense of sadness, until your life and your
schedule become more routine again.
Those who suffer from post-holiday depression are also feeling a sense
of loss. You may have filled your holidays with parties and activities
that temporarily distracted you. Now that it is all over, you may feel
alone or empty. The same problems that caused other people to be down
during the holidays are catching up with you now.
The symptoms of post-holiday depression can include lack of
enthusiasm, even for favorite activities; fatigue; feelings of
discouragement; sleeping too much or too little; a tendency toward
negative thinking. If you "just don't feel like yourself," it may be
that your feelings are exactly what's overwhelming you.
Uncertain economic times also may be causing you to feel blue this
year. Perhaps you eliminated Christmas travel