Depression and Christmas
Here are two variables: depression and Christmas. First, Christmas is one of the most important festivals and has become the most popular worldwide. Christmas brings us the opportunity to celebrate with our loved ones, the birth of Jesus. For most people, they expect that this is a time of surprises, joyful moments at parties, family and social gatherings. It is also an opportunity to reflect on our lives.
So in that sense if we dig a little, Christmas is not necessarily the cause of why people get depressed. People get depressed by the unique and individual context in which comes into their lives. And for this, it is important to know what it means to be depressed. Why do I get depressed, if Christmas represents happiness? Depression from the psychopathological perspective is characterized by prolonged states of mood characterized by sadness, melancholy, anxiety, slowness, apathy, loss of interest, negative thoughts, insomnia, guilt and others.
When you get depressed at Christmas it is because you have allowed inadequate feelings and thoughts in your mind that discourage you to enjoy your present. Some of the reasons that people become depressed at Christmas are: living on past experience, are lonely, have an unrealistic view of the meaning of Christmas, have emotional wounds associated with Christmas, empty existence and/or spiritual.
Some strategies for managing depression during this time that I also urge to put into practice throughout the year are:
1. Always concentrate in what you want to happen, not in what happened.
2. Know your inner world. What affects you, what aspects in you lead you to unpleasant sensations. Know the origin of your situation now and reflect on it.
3. What do you need to work on because still it is not solved? If the thought of someone, object or experience makes you feel an intense emotionally charged, you must work it with a professional.
4. Evaluate how you relate with yourself and the world. Begin to make decisions that move you to change your present experience.
5. Enjoy the good that comes into your life.
6. If it brings you sadness not to be with someone special, you can visualize being with the special someone and transmit all the love that you would like to give.
7. Experience positive emotions through laughter, pleasure or physical activities, music, going to your church, serving others.
8. Live in gratitude, forgiveness, compassion and love unconditionally.
If there is an issue that keeps you persistently experiencing this state of depression, it is important to seek professional help to work with you the causes. Otherwise, you will continue anchored in depression leading to suffering.
