I Think I've Got the Christmas Blues

I remember my first Christmas blues. It was the year that Mom took me aside and read me a story book about Saint Nicolas, who gave presents to needy people in his neighborhood. The book went on to explain that while Santa Claus is a way of remembering the spirit of St. Nick, he wasn't a real man in a hefty red suit.

Oh.

This explained, of course, why the "pictures" Santa Claus left for me were always blurry Polaroids that looked suspiciously like my cheap Santa hat on top of a tiny fake tree. It explained why Santa at the mall never seemed to understand what I was talking about when I showed him my scrawled-out Christmas list. It explained so many things, and in a way, I was ready to hear it. That didn't make it hurt any less.

After that, Christmas was never quite the same. Of course, I was growing up, too. The frantic excitement on Christmas Eve was soon gone, and while I appreciated my new-found ability to sleep through the night, I missed the magic and joy. Going back through my sixth-grade diaries, I find that I still sought that Christmas spirit I missed, and that Mom got mad at me when I told her it "didn't feel like Christmas." I guess she thought that spending enough money and going through all the traditions would make it the same as it was, but it wasn't.

The Christmas blues come in many shapes and forms. Maybe you're lonely, or you miss a loved one who has passed. Maybe someone close to you has the blues, and it's rubbing off. Christmas is a season that tends to amplify these emotions almost to the breaking point. Don't let yourself drown in depression during this happy time; here are ways to make sure you don't.

Take a break.
This might sound difficult, but it's really not. If all the Christmas cheer is giving you heartache, spend some time alone with a good non-seasonal movie. Don't go out and look at lights, and don't watch the commercials and marathons on T.V. If there's a particular person who's getting you down, spend some time away from him or her - but don't make it sound like a punishment. Christmas is supposed to be fun, but there's no law that says how you're supposed to have that fun. Enjoy yourself in your own way until you're ready to participate in the flurry.

Let it out.
Talk to someone. Find an understanding friend you can vent your feelings to, and if you don't have one of those, find a professional. We all need to clear our heads sometimes, and that's what counselors are for. You can often find free counseling at local universities or clinics; research what's available in your area. If you absolutely can't do anything else, journal. Keep a record of your thoughts. If you can, read over the painful ones again until they're a little less painful. It's a proven form of self-therapy, and it certainly couldn't hurt.

Seek comfort.
Sometimes, when you're done talking, you just want some peace and quiet. Make yourself a cup of cocoa and curl in bed with a good book. Spend some quiet time with a friend or loved one. If you're of that persuasion, go to a church service. Sometimes being surrounded by love and joy is all you need to feel a little better.

Don't give in to the Christmas blues. It might be a holiday for little kids, but there's something in it for everyone if they look hard enough.