Break Out of the Depression Caused by the Holidays

If there is ever a time when one can easily slip into a black hole of depression, it is during the holidays. Though gloom has no favorite month, the hubbub in December seems particularly geared toward family, parties, gift-giving and celebrations. If you are alone during the holidays, if your family is gone, estranged, far away, or if you have lost someone recently, all of the holiday cheer can make one feel very lonely. Many people discover it is quite possible to feel all alone in a crowd of people and it is a terrible loneliness.

If it seems I am speaking to you, know that though you feel you're alone, you are not. There are so many others who either feel the way you do or have been there at one time or another. There are ways to combat that desolate isolation but it takes doing something that is very hard to do when you're feeling so down-it takes getting up and going out.

Here are some things that have helped me battle my own demons of gloom in the past.

1. Grab a notepad and pen and hit the nearest restaurant. This restaurant needs to be almost a dive. No fancy menus, no tablecloths, just booths, coffee and open 24 hours. Grab a booth, a cup of coffee and write. It doesn't matter that you are alone in the booth. You need to hear people and be with humanity. It also doesn't matter if you write well. Just write a story about each person you see in the restaurant, including the staff. Be inventive. What is their story and why are they there? Get into the swing of this. If you doodle, add those to your stories. There's nothing wrong with a little illustration.

2. Find your local food bank or homeless shelter and ask if you can help. Not only will they welcome you with open arms but you can make someone else's holiday a little better. Believe me; making someone else happy can remove any thought of gloom from your body. It doesn't matter if they thank you or even acknowledge your help. You will know you've helped, you've made someone happy and that is what does the trick.

3. Check out local movie theatres and see what's playing. Look for comedies, particularly silly kid's movies like Shrek or Madagascar. You want to watch something that will allow you to laugh out loud with a complete belly laugh.

4. If the weather cooperates, find some sunshine. Preferably in the morning. Sunshine raises Vitamin D levels and your serotonin levels, which help elevate mood. This is one reason many suffer from depression during the winter--not enough sunlight. So, turn your face to the sun and soak it in just like a flower.

The first three things do one thing well. They take us out of ourselves. This is what lifts us from the gloom and gives us a reason to look forward to the next day. The last is simply a feel good thing to do. Just enjoy it.

There is nothing easy about feeling alone, particularly during the holidays. But we don't need to wallow in our gloom. If we are willing to make a small effort, we can step outside that pit and actually enjoy the day.