Increase in Depression During the holidays

Usually no, but this year has been so hard and this is just adding to it but I can't show it because my kids are just old enough to understand Christmas and Santa for the first time. But I'm totally having a melt down inside and I'm on the verge of tears.

Sometimes it increases, sometimes it decreases. I remember the first year I was the only one celebrating both my birthday and Christmas (since they are only just over a week apart) since all my family was either overseas or out of town. I felt quite sad in the lead up to it, but when the time actually came I felt one of the greatest feelings or experience of love that I've ever had, although nothing happened. Last year was the opposite though, because horrible things happened (our house got broken into twice in four months and my laptop got stolen) in the lead up to Christmas, and I felt like it was just the salt on top of the wound in a year that was filled with unemployment, many rejection letters, many relationship rejections, and just hands down, difficulty. This year I get to spend the Christmas with snow hopefully, in lovely Munich, so I feel thatthe experience will be completely on the other side of the spectrum, even though I miss my family in Australia!!!!!

Yes sometimes it does. I think it the whole year...decisions, taking stock letting go and moving forward . I just want my tomorrow to be great . I realize though that I want more responsibility but also I want to learn on the job surrounded by positive team members.

Christmas only gets me down because it makes me feel bittersweet . it's not all bad.

Yup. Especially during Xmas and New Years.

I hate holidays because I lost my parents at a young age and although I have a husband and kids, I feel lonely every year

I mixed on holidays on one hand i have good memories up to age 15 of this period being one where mom was most stable.

then the memory of my suicide attempt at 15 haunts me as it was duing this time 16 yrs ago.

I miss my dad and sister and friends in virginia i dont see on the holidays.

You really got to take the holiday season one day at a time!

Yes, depression increases during the holidays because I feel like I must doing something to make my life better, and if I don't do it, it makes me feel worse

Mine does get worse because it means that I have to spend more time with my family and I have to work harder to conceal the truth from them till I am ready. My dad also, once, got angry at me and yelled at me, telling me that I ruined Christmas..... so whenever I think about Christmas I think about that one time and it ruins my day.

It bothers me seeing the advertisements of happy people or being out in public and seeing everybody enjoy the holidays with loved ones. I'm glad for them but I want to know what that feels like for myself. I'm working towards it every year, but I'm not there yet. Hopefully next year.

To think I have to be with family members that succeded in their lives, have kids, are married and have good houses and steady jobs... make me feel broken and inferior, damaged beyond repair. I cry every time I sit in my car after the gathering is done.