More so during Christmas? It's a lot worse this year for some reason.. I have been broke like a joke, i have'nt even started my shopping yet. It was about a year ago this time my g/f dumped me for an abusive piece of work. I just don't wanna be around anyone or do anything. It sucks walking through the mall seeing all these people holding hands, having a wonderful time when you're all alone. I tried online dating for 5 months, no response. All my friends are married or engaged too be. I feel like the George Straight song..I hate everything. Sorry, rant over

 

Sounds like a normal year for me, except for the depressed part. Being depressed is a waste of time. Go for a drive. I do ALOT of driving.

 

Similar feeling, different reasons. I looked into suicide years ago, but there was no future in it.

Which leaves us to press on.

Nothing attracts the babes like a long face and hate everything.

Focus on something you like.

If you are broke, only the true (word deleted by me) will gripe about no gifts from you.

Figure out what's going right. (you have internet access, you aren't in a dumpster) Add to it.

Stuff like the old G/F--well, I wish I could tell you an easy way to forget. What you end up doing is crowding out that kind of stuff with good.

Tough time of year, you're not alone. But pick up on something and go with it. Go work at a Christmas tree lot or something. Think of the joy you will get scratching the poop out of the tops of Lexi and Infinti SUV's while the soccer moms smile and tip you for tying the tree up there for them, for example........

 

I'm no psychologist, but it's a hard time of year for someone who is alone. My advice is to do something that involves concentration *no video games* such as working out or getting another job.
Why do you think captains would have their men work 16 hours of the day? I'll tell ya why; because if they wern't working, they were thinking. Thinking is bad when your surrounded by water for hundreds of miles out and mutany is on your mind. The same goes for you, when you think about your life, it sucks and you feel depressed. The truth is, your life does suck right now, therefore don't think. Working out not only makes you feel better about yourself, but also plays a good part in attracting women. Can you say win win? Same goes for getting another job temporarily, let's face it, women cost a pretty penny too.

 

I know what you mean Winter Blahs!

Now I think of Depression as: A of State of Mind

When I feel down, I tell myself to think positive

To get to that "Feel Great Feelin" just remember *Life is all about timing*.

Your time hasn't happened yet, but when it does, make the most of it

 

Do you think people today are more depressed than those of the 1950s?

Because it seems the suicide rate among the young people have TRIPLED since the 1960s.

I wonder why.

 

There may be some truth to that.

Society's Children for years have been entertained.

Back in the 50's-60's I think children created their own entertainment which expands the mind.

Doing a workout (exercise) is a great anti-depression tool.

 

One big thing about depression this time of year is the lack of sunlight. S.A.D. Seasonal Affective Disorder. I suffer from that... Click here for more info. My solution was to buy a little 1200sqF house with 37 windows There are special lights that you can get and sit in front of that simulate sunlight that will also help. I just can't afford them now. (Just put 37 new windows in house. )

 

I was working out 4 times a week for about 8 months prior, just recently i started feeling really tired so i dropped off with it. I live in Florida so we probably get more sunlight than anyone else... Not looking for sympathy from anyone, i realize life is what you make of it, it just seems like right now when life is throwing me lemons, all i can do is choke on the seeds...

 

I know what you mean! It's that time of year. It is hard to buy gifts for everyone AND pay the bills. Plus, I don't feel like working because it is so blah (I work outside). I always say "I will buy my Christmas presents for next year this SUMMER". Do I ever? NO! My own fault!

-Matt

 

Uncle Jesse, I'm in Florida, Miami. Just got the boat going, and the motor on the Bronco done. You want a little getaway, comeon down, let's go fishing, and wheelin in the Evergaldes. Drop me an E-mail, anytime, however this offer expires 1 year from date above!! Good luck, and I mean it.
Al

 

I'm with ya uncle jesse. I'm in az where we have plenty of sunlight, I work out 4-5 days a week still get this blah feeling this time of year.. Make sure you stick with the workout routine or the depression will get worse. At least you'll feel somewhat refreshed afterwards and you'll sleep good. I'm broke as heck too, everything's on the credit card this year, good ol' holidays.

ugg..

 

The BEAST Said : "It is hard to buy gifts for everyone AND pay the bills. I always say "I will buy my Christmas presents for next year this SUMMER". Do I ever? NO! My own fault!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spend more time around me & I'll teach you how to have the Christmas spirit everyday of the year & then you will have lost the compulsion TO BUY Things for people

Some of the best things in life are free & if the people in your life don't know that you love them,& No Material Possession, is going to alter that.

There isn't a gift more precious then Your Time & Your Compassion for Others.

Give from the heart everyday you can

I would suggest Help Out the Salvation Army this Christmas.
You are giving of yourself Yet, it doesn't cost you anything but your time , & that is More Valuable

 

I think part of it goes back to when we were kids. Christmas was a big long build-up to what we KNEW was coming. Santa Clause and other presents.
Now, as adults, we know that some dude in a red suit ain't going to sneak into the house and leave us a bunch of cool stuff.
I think, subconsciously, we get blah feeling because we want it to be like it was when we were kids, but it just ain't going to be that way.

It has taken me a long time to figure out why I get frustrated that Christmas just doesn't seem like Christmas any more. It's because I'm an adult and all the anticipation just isn't there.

For me anyways, I have two sides of Christmas to celebrate;

We celebrate Jesus's birthday
and
We still get together as family and have good food and exchange presents.

As Dennis said, it really IS a state of mind! I honestly believe, that to a large extent, we get to "decide" (if that's the right word) how we feel. I believe, absent a chemical imbalance, or clinical depression, we can "choose" to be happy.

I know one thing that always makes me enjoy Christmas time more, and makes me appreciate the season,
I watch
Merry Christmas Charlie Brown
The Grinch (the original version, not the new one)
Muppett Christmas Carol (it is a GREAT movie)

These always bring back a hint of the fun and excitement of a kid.

Also, I am forced to mention one of the most profound sayings I have ever read:
"The tendency to think seldom of what we have, but often of what we lack, is the greatest tragedy on earth."

Example; I work in the medical/hospital environment. Just today, I was working on some equipment while it was in use. I was present for the discovery that a young girl (17 years old or so) has cancer. I didn't know her from Adam's house cat. But, I knew she had cancer before she did.

Nope, I haven't got any reason to do anything except be happy and thankful this Christmas.

Jesse,
Do something. Find some way to do something for someone(s) less fortunate than you. Find a local church ministry or battered women's or abused children's home and do something for some folks there.
Some of the most special gifts I have ever given were to 3 girls in an outreach type home. Never knew them, never even saw them. But, it sure did make me feel good.

Try it.

Merry Christmas.

 

I was going to mention the sunlight thing too but what wasn't mentioned is that our skin produces vitamin D when it is exposed to sunlight; a lack of vitamin D is a cause of depression. The reduced angle of the sun right now may be causing a reduction in the amount of D your body is producing. Milk, here in Canada anyway, has vitamin D supplement in it.

Also, Diet is quite important in being AND feeling healthy. Not to mention if you're working out you especially need to eat adequately to replace nutrients that you normally lose but to repair and build tissue from working out. I know I don't always eat right so I do take supplements... Multivitamin, 1000mg Vit C, Cod liver oil, and a CAlcium & Magnesium x2 every day.

One year I went camping with my brother and sister in the mountains and snapped some really cool photos, For my brother and sisters christmas gifts that year I bought a kids large fingerpainting booklet for a couple bucks and printed out two sets of 12 photos and made them calendars by folding the fingerpaint paper in half and sewing it together at the spine with a needle and thread then gluing the photos and months on the paper. I put the picture I thought they'd like the most on their birth month. I don't think my brother realized at first that I made them until he got to March and saw the pic of his beat up truck, then he almost started crying and had to leave the room for a tissue. Moral, the best gifts don't cost much at all. YOu could probably find some neat, inexpensive stuff at craft shops to make gifts for people.

This year I made donations to a charity and gave everyone tax receipts. No shopping for me.

Oh yeah, I've been single forever. Don't remember having a girlfriend at christmas time. Oh wait, I think in the late 90's I did one year, and I broke up with my last girlfriend a few weeks before christmas in 02. Maybe I don't know what I'm missing.