It happens to alot of people, have you evver suffereed with the holiday blues? what seemed to get you over that hump?

I was reading this thought it might be helpful

http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds ...

very good post dear. it happens all to often   and noone is immune.  I think  its good to address it head on.

I did this year. On the begining of the year I started to feel alittle sad and I did not know why. Well after the incident with my dad's wife and my mom and I that is when it all went down the drain. I started too feel even more sad. I was depressed for a month. I snaped out of it because my kids needed me. My mom gets depressed every year. She says she does not like it when it rains or when its foggy. Now more than ever she feels it because her hb left her. I also think because her b-day in on the 12 and maybe that is onother reason.

I don't know if I get depressed, so much as a little frustrated at what the holidays have become.  I wish it was still about family, spending time together, & relaxing.

Christmas time seems so very commercialized.  All about buying presents.  I often feel that we don't appreciate what we have and are looking towards what we want....not need, but want.  Hopefully this season will be a little different.  I am sticking to the plan of only giving gifts to the children.  I will not be guilted into purchasing for all of the adults like we have been every year.  It just isn't neccesary.

What I am looking forward to?  Being with my family, having a great meal, playing some games together and just relaxing...maybe even in my pj's.  I absolutely love that my children will be home for a couple of weeks.  No homework, no strict schedules, no packing lunches and no car pool.  Heaven!   Oh, don't get me wrong....there will be arguing, whining, and complaining, but it will be a nice change.

My best thoughts are simple   When you are remembering missing people you loved, or sad times , go ahead and cry, allow small time to think, remember, and grieve.... then  get out the happy pics, the  happy memories and  ,if you can write a card expressing gratitude for the memories, and also  say a prayer of Thanksgiving for all the wonderful times  ,make a special pic ornament of deceased  or something and decide to just do something sweet for your own   and choose to get happy.

Great article-  Holidays are in hard in Nursing Homes alot of families don't or can't come to see their family-  And don't forget the Men and Women overseas.  For me it's after Christmas when I feel the most down.  It is hard waiting for the Spring in these cold winter States.

i love winter all the snow and the pretty weather and its not exhaustingly hot and you get to wear sweaters and i love the rain i absolutely love it when it rains or its foggy. i know i'm a wierdo though...

I think this is really common. Very few people get to experience the perfect holiday of their dreams. Many elderly people are alone, kids can't get home, etc. Add to that the financial strain and pressure to buy the perfect gifts, cook the perfect meal, be perfectly cheerful at all times. It's all too much for most people. I am somewhat of a perfectionist Super Mom type, so i used to start everything really early. In the last couple of years I have relaxed more. I shop in the last couple of weeks before Christmas. I send Christmas cards around Dec. 15 or 20, I bake when I feel like it. It all still gets done, and it  still gets done well, but i just don't stress about it much anymore. I try to focus on spending time with people i care about during the holidays...family and friends. The rest can wait.

I absolutely love the holidays. I love the hussle and bussle of shopping. I love baking and decorating. I like being with the people I love. Luckily, I have not had a close family member pass away since 2001, so I do not feel that loss.  Most of all, I love sharing with my children the true meaning of Christmas and all that entails.  I feel bad for those that do not get to be with their loved ones for the Holidays.  They are in my thoughts and prayers.

The holidays are officially over, but I've just spoken to a few friends today who are still depressed. They cite cold, gloomy weather,  the financial debris of Christmas past, and the letdown of Christmas and New Year's Eve expectations as causes.  I think if we would all concentrate on spending quality  time with family and friends during the bleak winter months rather than buying gifts and going to big parties full of strangers, everyone would be a whole lot happier. In this largely impersonal society we live in, most people are yearning to connect on a deeper level than our busy lives affords. Add to this the fact that most of us are not lucky enough to have our families live nearby, and you can see why people are depressed. My antidote to depression is lots of brisk walking uphill. Then the downhill will feel like a treat.