Is it normal to be down and blue at Christmas?

Answer 1

Yes, a lot of people get depressed this time of year. Here are a couple sites that have information about "holiday blues" and some do's and don'ts to help those who have the blues get through them.

http://www.umm.edu/mentalhealth/holiday.htm

http://www.safeusa.org/blues.htm

http://depression.about.com/od/holidayblues/Holiday_Blues.htm

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Probably people will answer 'no' but that's not necessarily true for you in particular or anyone else for that matter.

If you have unpleasant memories associated with the holidays - such as the death of a loved one, the timing of your parent's divorce, your dog running away, etc - then your 'personal' normal feelings during the holidays may very well be DOWN and BLUE due to these associated feelings. The question to the nay sayers would then be "wouldn't it be ABnormal not to feel blue under those circumstances?"

I personally don't believe normal exists and think it is an overused word for want of a better way to guage how the majority of a subset of people feel about an issue. Only you know what is normal for you.

Answer 3

Yes it's normal. Why shouldn't it be stressful? Who has the money to buy everyone a present? And then how do we know if they will like what we pick out? Besides who has the time to find the perfect present? Retail jobs are busier with more work. School is busy with finals. Kids are worry about whether or not they've been good. Families who are hosting holiday parties are scrambling to figure out what to do. Women and men are worried about that little extra weight they put on from Thanksgiving. It's stressful for everyone.
And not to mention we all miss the sunshine and warm weather.
But the good news is that you can be the blues by remembering that it's about loving and not about the presents. It's about family time and not trying to have the best presents. Try listening to great positive music. Watch funny movies like "A Christmas Story." Help someone out with a random act of kindness. It will surely put a smile only only on someone else's face but your as well.

Answer 4

Absolutely! If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, the days become shorter and you have less daylight at Christmas time. That is often cited as the reason there are mid-winter festivals in northern countries. Everyone tends to feel a little blue and needs some cheer in mid-winter. Also, the holidays often cause us to think of those who are no longer with us. Missing a grandparent or some other member of the family can make the holiday season a little sad. The best way to cope is to get into the Christmas spirit and do your best to bring joy to others. It will reflect on you and make you happier.

Answer 5

Your not saying why you are down and blue. If it is because you live by yourself, I can see a problem. I have felt that way many times when I lived by myself. My friends were with their family, and none of them even invited me to a christmas party, just because they said it was just for family. You are the one that has to make things happen. There are lots of places to go and be with people. It is sad that people feel this way on christmas. Find a church to go to and make new friends. Get active in something. Help others like you in the church. Sometimes not having enough money can make you feel blue, just do the best you can and get through it. Christmas is not all presents. I made presents this year, so that is what everyone is getting. It was cheaper for me to do. So, to answer your question....YES...IT IS NORMAL SOMETIMES. Try to CHEER UP and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS! OH....AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO COME.

Answer 6

Its very normal. Aside from the issues of memories and stuff that someone else brought up earlier, the holiday culture that is everywhere (TV, advertisments, stores) force the idea that Christmases should be the greatest, happiest times of our lives. If you go into a store and they're playing "It's the most wonderful time of the year" and you feel nothing, that feeling, which at any other time you'd ignore turns into guilt and makes you question your normalacy and sanity.

Believe me, not everyone has a great Christmas. If you have nowhere to go for the holidays or are feeling alone I'd suggest volunteering at a homeless shelter. You'll see that not everyone's Christmas is picture-perfect and you'll make yourself feel better by helping those around you.

Answer 7

Some people can be down and blue at Christmas. Try to think of happy things--not problems or upcoming issues that you will have to deal with during or after the holidays.

Answer 8

Yes, it shows you are intelligent enough to realize that Christmas is a big bogus commercial scheme. My advice? Skip all that pagan-disguised-as-Christendom crap and do something you really enjoy!
Of course, you might just have the winter blues, in which case some full-spectrum lighting should help brighten your mood. If the sun isn't shining where you are this time of year, buy some grow lights and use them in the lamps you have on the most often. Oh, and of course, drink more water. Water works miracles!

Answer 9

Yes. A lot of people get depressed during the winter...it's not just Christmas. During the Spring and Summer it is light earlier and stays light later, but during the Fall and Winter when it gets dark early it affects mood. Also if you have lost a loved one. or are having financial problems it can really make you depressed. I lost a baby girl in Aug when I was 21 weeks along, and my due date would have been Dec 17th. With the due date and Cristmas coming up it has had an affect on my mood.

Answer 10

Sometimes. Maybe theres a memory that used to happen during christmas, or a loved one tht passed away. Sometimes i get like that because christmas isnt anything like it used to be. No it just seems like a chore buying gifts for everyone, spending al the money. Instead of celebrating jesus's birthday. Or i get like that when im in the desert 7000 miles away from my family.