Depression Can Hit Hard At Holidays

This is a hard time of year for many people who just can't get into the holiday spirit because they are suffering from holiday depression

. It may or may not be serious, but it affects millions of people who may not share the same happiness as so many people who enjoy the season. Going to the mall to buy presents for people you really do not care about while listening to some of the most annoying music ever created, while knowing that the holidays mean spending too much time alone, can really put a downer on the holidays.

Some call it the holiday blues but the real name for it is mood affective disorder and it causes individuals to feel blue during this time of year.

Just because someone is struggling with mood affective disorder does not mean that they are candidates for suicide, although that is something to take careful notice of. Other people think that it is just an excuse to complain about loneliness or the lack of enough money to take care of all of your holiday needs. It is a combination of many things.

It may seem like a person is simply sad or down but it really is more serious than that and if you notice someone you know and love becoming more depressed during the winter months you may need to help them.

First, try to observe them for a short period of time and see if they are experiencing some of the signs of depression such as sleepiness, listlessness, and general lack of enthusiasm. For the most part these symptoms will usually be accompanied by withdrawal from friends and families and several no shows or declines for social invitations. Those who have been fine up until the winter sets in are likely not just depressed but seasonally depressed.

Of course, since this depression is seasonal in nature it will usually resolve as the spring sets in but it is important to make sure that you do not count on this. Many times during the winter months an individuals depression can become more than they can manage and as a result they may wind up hurting themselves or becoming so ill that they fail to eat or take care of themselves.

If you think your friend needs help, be sure to encourage them to seek it. There are plenty of people who can help and it should be covered by health insurance. Do not ignore the problem because there is a chance that it will not simply go away after the holidays, so if you care about someone you think might be suffering, make sure that person knows that there is someone who cares.

by: Ethan Kalvin

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