Christmas Depression – How To Survive The Season

Dear Candice,

I have a friend who always falls in depression every year, around Christmas, for personal reasons. I really want to know how to help her deal with it. How can I help my friend, who is in Christmas depression? – Farah

Dear Farah,

I also have a friend who falls in Christmas depression. During holiday season, when most us are out celebrating with friends and families, she would rather spend her time alone and not accept calls. I and the rest of our friends were at a loss as to how to console her. You see, the stresses associated with Christmas can bring about depressive illness. For those affected by depression, Christmas can be the very worst time of the year.

There’s a lot of contributing factors of Christmas depression. Christmas can be a sad and gloomy time for those who live alone, they feel more isolated when faced with greater socializing going on around them. Holiday season, can be a worrying season as well, particularly for those on low incomes and benefits. Even those who work during the holidays, but are also expected to engage in the usual round of parties and drinks evenings, depression is more likely to come to them.

Many who do not wish to be reminded of their hardships at this time of year are still very much in need of a friend. The usual round of parties and drunken revels do not help much, or do not help at all. It is quite likely that we will have a drink at some time during the festive season. However, while one or two drinks once in a while may help people relax and cheer them up, remember that alcohol is a depressant and can exacerbate the symptoms of depression. Spending some quality time with your friend over a meal or an evening of movies and popcorn might be more helpful. Try something different but above all be sensitive to your friend’s needs.

Encourage your friend to talk it out. Your friend may be feeling sad and tired, but probably still look the same to you. Unless your friend tells you how she feels, you won’t understand what is wrong. And when she begin to share her emotions, be a listening ear for her. It’s an important treatment for depression.

Help your friend to plan activities ahead. If she’s worried about being alone, help her find out what is going on in your area. Check local newspapers or the Internet to find out what community events are going on. Volunteering at a local food bank, hospital, or church choir are some of the activities you may look into joining. Try to find out about this as early as possible. Also, see whether there is a good day or time for her to visit friends or relatives.

Lastly, make her remember that the Christmas holidays are only for two weeks. After that, things get back to normal. Reassure to her that while depression will last a little longer, it too will pass. It doesn’t last forever! Depression affects one in five of us at some point. It can be especially difficult to cope with Christmas depression, it will really be helpful to make her feel that she is not alone.