Blue Christmas: Battling Holiday Depression
Graphic By:

As the holiday season approaches, many people are starting to revel in the joy of the season. But for the millions of people with depression, this is the most dangerous time of year. Starting with the December holiday season and ending with Valentine's Day, the three holidays with the highest suicide rates of any other time of the year are in full swing. For the 19 million Americans diagnosed with depression each year, the holidays can be quite bleak.

Signs of depression are:

  • Persistent sad, anxious or empty mood
  • Sleeping too much or too little, middle of the night, or early morning waking
  • Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
  • Loss of pleasure and interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex
  • Restlessness, irritability
  • Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment (such as chronic pain or digestive disorders)
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
  • Fatigue or loss of energy
  • Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
  • Thoughts of suicide or death (NMHA http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/21.cfm)

Please, if you are depressed or know someone who is, get help. It is treatable. No one should have to suffer. If you have a friend who is depressed, getting help for them is the best way to help. Depression is a serious condition and if you look out there today, there is no stigma. It can happen to anyone. Get help. Here is a list of sites to visit, including a self- diagnostic test.


National Mental Health Association
http://www.nmha.org/

Carilion Health Guide: Depression
http://www.carilion.com/healthguide/index.html

Carilion Health Guide: Seasonal Affective Disorder
http://www.carilion.com/healthguide/index.html

Online Depression Screening Test
"http://www.depression-screening.org/

Holiday Depression
http://www.focusondepression.com/Script/Main/art.asp?li=MNI&ArticleKey=11005

SAD
http://www.focusondepression.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11009&rd=1

Here's hoping that you can find a way to have a happy holiday season.


What do you think?
Leave your comments below.
Name:     E-Mail:

 Year:      Major:

Comments:

By clicking on "Submit," you assert that you are who you represent to be and your comments abide by section 20 of Radford's Student Handbook (for RU students), and by the Virginia State and Federal laws including but not limited to libel, copyright law, and invasion of privacy. The comments posted on this site are not necessarily representative of the views of Radford University, its administration, faculty, staff or all of its students. For more information, read our policy on feedback fora.

Comments:
I wouldn't rely on the Onion for hard facts. Or at least I would hope you don't.

Comments:
so i'll bet you're on the phone with the suicide hotline right now, huh?

Comments:
according to the Onion, depression only affects losers...

Comments:
Heard that....New Years is bad too....

Name: Wintermute
Comments:
Valentines Day is the worst for me. If the fact that I don't have a GF isn't bad enough, the fact that corporate America likes to ram it down my throat that I must have someone. Ughh...