Depression in the Christmas Season

@blossombreathe It really does seem like a chore anymore. I was asked to help make a dinner again and I just wanted something simple. It's a little difficult cooking with my family b/c they make such a big deal out of the smallest things like closing the oven door too hard (???). They make me feel like a little kid who can't do anything right. I am capable of cooking just for the record. It's just not fun at all. That is just a little taste of what I deal with and it gives me anxiety. But I will help cook the dinner. Since I survived Thanksgiving, I can do this too. 😒 Wish me luck.

@blossombreathe, that's a really great topic for the thread for our community and I'm so glad that you've created! Wonderful way to start a discussion - well done ❤︎

Christmas were always tricky for me. On one hand it is an opportunity to spend quality time with your family, watch movies, give touching gifts and eat good food. But on the other it is always the most stressful time of the year, when everyone is exhausted from working and preparing for it, and deeply worrying about finances, so we argue out of frustration. Frequently and painfully. There wasn't a single Christmas yet when I didn't cried out of the hopelessness and sometimes it wasn't even connected to my wretched depressive disorder at all.

Still I somehow could always feel a bit of wonder during this time. I'm not a big fan of this season (for me New Year's Eve is a real fresh hell), but I could always appreciated (or only noticed during major breakdowns) the city lights glowing in the dark or the smell of cinnamon or thinking of the gifts for my loved ones. But this year I don't feel a thing. And I don't mean in like in a sense of emotional numbness - fortunately I'm not depressed right now or experiencing any episodes. It's like I've lost any opinion on this holiday whatsoever ^^;

I don't look forward to it. It's just another yearly ritual I have to perform along with others, and I'm not saying it with cynicism or anything, honestly ^^; It's not a good time or a bad time. Christmas just happens. That's it.

It's quite a new state for me - not being miserable or joyful, just indifferent. Maybe it is connected with growing older, I don't know. What I do know, the season will pass eventually. All of the craziness, like stress and fake happiness and loud music, will be gone in a matter of weeks. We can survived it, lovelies. Trust me - or trust your past, because you've survived all of the Christmas so far.

What do you think? What could we do to make this time less stressful for ourselves? Maybe we can list top 5 annoying and 5 favourite things related to this holidays? Or make a survival countdown until the Christmas day? ^^;

The holidays are always stressful for me. Generally because it means spending more time with my family. I don't like my parents, so Christmas break brings a lot of anxiety.

I don't like social situations or family events because I always feel like I'm separated from everybody else by a glass and I can see them all moving and living but I'm alone and depressed. These events are more common during the holidays and it's always hard for me. I'm working on it though, maybe it'll be better this year.

For some reason I'm getting more and more depressed these days, as holidays coming I'm excited but depression won't leave, so won't my sickness.

I talked to a friend who said she would've slapped herself if she was on my place and I should get angry at myself when depressing thoughts show up, I wonder of it will work.

@blossombreathe. Yea I get what you mean, I have lost a few close people, by death and Christmas is hard ,I miss them alot but I try to keep in my mind that I still need to make holidays special for the present, but it remains difficult, but I am striving to make memories for the now moment.

@blossombreathe What an insightful post. I think yes, depression is definitely prevalent during Christmastime. I think it has a lot to do with the expectation to be happy or giving, when for some, they are simply too lethargic or in a dark place. The picture of 'perfect' social situations or in reverse, having to spend time with people that are family but you think you have to or being lonely because you may not have the relationship you crave. Plus the excessive commercialization, worrying about money, etc. It's a common thing and I hope that things ease up a little better for you, know you're not alone in feeling this way, make the season yours whether that means slowing down or being choosy with the people you spend time with and will be sending lots of love your way!

I can definitely say my depression has gotten worse, which was frustrating as I was starting to recover. Luckily, my support system is good. No one expects a gift from me or expects anything really. I can't afford much anyways. I'm going to be doing small things for the important people but knowing I have the understanding if I don't is reassuring. Still, I've been struggling a lot. I'm going to talk further about that elsewhere on the site. I came on to do that and saw I was tagged in this so, here I am.

i can definitely relate to this. my mental health always gets a lot worse around this time of the year. it's mainly because i don't have much family and the family i do see i don't have a good relationship with. most of my friends are busy with family plans or travel back home for the holiday season so i don't see people as much and i start to feel really isolated.

i try to connect with the joy of the holiday, enjoying the food and decorations, but it's really hard. especially when there's so much pressure to enjoy yourself and be happy

Hi @blossombreathe Christmastime can be a sad season for many. It is a time people can reflect on how the year went and how it will go for the new year and this can be very overwhellming and emmotional time. It can can be hard but take everyday one step at a time. No pressure. Goodluck with the season ahead.