How do you deal with depression during the Holiday season?

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Did you know more people kill themselves during the holidays than any other time of the year? It's not a big surprise. Christmas and Thanksgiving are supposed to be about visiting family, sharing stories, and basically having a good time. Unfortunately, depression does not take a hiatus during the holiday season. It's difficult for people to understand and even harder for us to deal with.

First of all, please do not end your life. I know it can be unbearable. I know it can be painful. I know it can feel like there is no way out and it will never, ever get better no matter how hard you try. Trust me, I'm there right now. But of all the pain your illness has but you through, are you really going to let it end your life too? Hasn't depression put us through enough already? Don't let it have the final say, don't let it win. Tell your depression you are here to stay whether it likes it or not. The day you realize you are battling darkness within yourself is the day you are able to start fighting to get your life back. It seems impossible, it seems unrealistic. That is exactly what depression does: it cuts you down until you have nothing left. But don't let it kill you, you are a human being a stronger than the darkness within yourself. If you feel that you may commit suicide, please call a suicide hotline or dial 911. Every person I know who has attempted suicide realized after the attempt that their life was still worth living. Luckily, they survived. Not everyone is lucky, but I guarantee they realized the same thing, only too late.

Please consider talking to your doctor about depression or making an appointment with a mental health professional. If money happens to be an issue, many clinics have sliding scale (based on your income or lack thereof) rates. Your mental health should come before all things. Your life should come before all things. Reaching out for help is scary and we like to tell ourselves we don't need it. We also know that's bull. Find the help you need now and avoid further years of suffering.

The holidays are a crappy time of year for those who suffer from mental illness, including myself. I hate the happy music, the happy commercials, etc. All there seems to be on TV is happy holiday commercials and anti-depressant commercials; it's quite pathetic! So here is my suggestion. Buying gifts? Avoid it. Holiday shopping? Avoid it. Baking? Avoid it. Inviting family over, or going to see family? Avoid it. Sending out Christmas cards? Avoid it. Hanging up Christmas decorations? Avoid. NO CHRISTMAS. It sounds kind of sad, I know. But for me, it's TOO MUCH pressure. I cannot handle people wanting me to be happy. I bet you feel the same way to a point. So who says you have to celebrate Christmas? Who says you have to do anything special for New Years? Do you know what I did on Thanksgiving? I studied, ate a regular dinner, and watched television. Same thing I do every other day. Avoid the typical traditions and you can avoid further suffering. If you want to join my anti-holiday campaign or just need someone to talk to, feel free to e-mail me at furrypawedgirl@yahoo.com. Lets not become another statistic this year. Lets watch 2010 come and go and be proud that we are still here. There is hope even for the hopeless....Show more

dont judge a book by its cover right.. how do you know everyones happy but you??? they look like a buncha puppets at christmas for money.. depends on what you view christmas as ..play house?? alldecorationsare stupid it doesnt make the world any better its puny look up not down.. depression over not getting more stupid clutter.. a fate worse than death ... money talks. missing your childhood christmass those were good cause you didnt have to play house your parents did.. depression cause you might have to go to the cemetary during christmas to place a wreath on graves.. define your holiday depression first .. then see it as not a big deal at all and everyone suffers out there so dont be so quick to assume anything about everyone .. the word happy is old.. if you have some but not all thats where happiness starts if you want all you will be very depressed and very unhappy and very confused.. you only get part of life not all of it.. thats a silly reason to end your life well maybe thats a good reason.. if we get tired of life we wanna end our life.. but i wouldnt end it cause someone else seems happy.. get a date. find someone to take care of .. adopt one of those starving children and write to them or get a pet or find a cause .. go to church.. but trust me i doubt everyone is happy all the time that would make us all be lunatics.. the sun rises and sets everyday including JESUS HAS A BIRTHDAY EVERY DARNED YEAR.. FOR MONEY.....Show more

What is happiness? It seems like you only realize you are happy afterwards. Day to day, we get caught up in our worries and problems. We need to look back and be thankful once in a while. This time of year is hard because we are looking at a long winter coming up and it feels like it will never be nice out again. Remember, man is an associative animal - make contacts. Keep in touch, get in touch, listen to music and read a good book.
And do see a doctor....Show more

The holiday season is one of the lonliest times of year
and people with depression find it hardest to cope with
think of things that make you happy , try doing activities to take your mind off it
after all Xmas is only one day , then it's another 365 days away

You can be happy , You deserve to be happy...Show more

See a doctor, they will give you some kind of medicine to get rid of depression. I know exactly what you mean though, I just got out of a 2 year depression.
Just count your blessings and be thankful for what you have and what's going right....Show more