Is it normal to feel depressed around Christmas or the holidays?

I think it is. While you can love seeing all your relatives and friends, it becomes sobering to hear about the great things going on in their lives that might make yours seem less fulfilling. At least that’s how it is for me 🤷‍♀️

Yes, this is a very common feeling which is often described as 'the winter blues'. Despite it being enjoyable and festive because of Christmas, the days become a lot shorter as it starts getting darker earlier. There is actually a form of depression based on these feelings called Seasonal Affective Disorder. Because of the lack of sunlight, it impacts the brain and makes you feel depressed, unmotivated and/or irritated. It can be tough to deal with, and it is thought that at least 3% of the UK along suffers from seasonal affective disorder. If you are really struggling with these feelings, I recommend seeing your doctor as there are a range of options that can help you stop feeling this way.