Increase in Depression During the holidays

@Bree96. Yes, I feel depression is worse around the holidays, nothing really works for me to help,I just eventually get through it ,as I get older it seems to be worse too.

I read a lot of books as reading distracts me

My depression has been really bad at the holidays for probably the past 15 yrs. I'm trying to change things up this year, though. Positive thoughts and no expectations. Not sure what else to change yet. Gonna give it a shot, tho...

Yes, I have severe seasonal depression during the winter, and an increase in depression during holidays, many attribute this to most people spending time with family during holidays, and if you have lost a family member or are lonely it can be harder.

For me, it generally gets worse once fall starts, but the holidays are definitely stressful. Especially since school is out and I miss my friends.

For me my anxiety and fear of not being good enough increases during the holidays and then I feel more depressed as I go on.

This year I've had the support of my s/o so it hasn't been too bad. But after my parents moved west the only family I have left in the state, my dads 3 sisters, "forget" to invite me to dinner while they keep posting what's pretty much a live-feed of Thankgiving/Christmas/New Years pictures on Facebook. I miss my parents, finances allow for only one Holiday visit if any, so I'm waiting to surprise them for Christmas. Even when you're 22 (or any age really) there's no better feeling than going to your parent's and pretending you're 12 again while you stuff your face with cookies.

Yes I get very depressed during the holidays. From November up to February. People have called me scrooge because I get so depressed that I'm irritable and mean to people, even through I don't mean to be. I try to keep to myself during these times because I don't want to burden others with my attitude.

It depends on how things are going. I have subconcious high expectations from my childhood, when nothing ever seemed to go wrong. I think I was crying on Christmas Eve last year because nothing seemed to go right. Christmas itself was good, however. I hope this year is better.

@Bree96 The older I get the less I have been enjoying the holidays.

This year I can already feel that it is going to be BRUTAL. I'm dreading Thanksgiving....pretending to be happy when you're either feeling numb or falling apart inside will be rough. I don't know whether I should tell my family I'm sick and just spend the day by myself.

My brother-in-law has a successful photography business, my cousin & his wife just made a successful small film that is picked up by netflix. I'm unemployed and miserable. It's very very hard to feel happy for other people or put up a happy front for hours.