could not bring myself to watch Charlie Brown's Christmas show

[waterflow]

Saw in the paper today that was on tonight. I wanted soooooooo much to watch it but I knew if I did I would end up crying through the whole show and be very depressed and sad afterwards. That was my favorite show when I was kid and Christmas was my favorite holiday. Always wished I had been born on Christmas day but missed it by a few months. Never knew how anyone could be so depressed on Christmas either when I was a kid. Sure did learn why as I grew older. I miss watching all the christmas specials. The only happy part this year to Christmas is the little monsters with 4 paws that run around here. Buying presents for them and wrapping them too. Wonder if they will know how to tear the paper off? Why do holidays get to be so depressing anyway? Even 4th of July is depressing.

[Billsbaby]

oh mary i am there right with you.we moved to another state 8 months ago so i will not be with my big extended family for the first time.i layed down last night with my little 3 year old and watched it with him,and you know what,i ended up crying!!!! i think watching those shows makes you want to be a kid again,i loved watching it when i was a little girl,and when i was watching it last night,i could remember what it was like as a little girl getting excited to stay up and watch it with my parents.i was saying the same thing to my husbabnd the other day,i actually am getting depressed during christmas,which like you i never understood how that could happen.maybe if you just take a trip to the mall with all the christmas decorations or something,or maybe trying to help out at some charity for little kids who don't have anything? that will definately make you feel the christmas spirit if you can help some little ones out on christmas day.i'm sorry i don't have any really good suggestions mary,i really do understand how your feeling.jamie

[yvette]

Mary: Do you see a couselor to help with the depression? If not, maybe you could try and find one you like (that's important too).

A lot of people are having a hard time coping with their illness and the holidays can just compound those sad feelings. Counseling can also help by prescribing meds (if that's the route you need to go) to help get over that *hump*....years ago I did this route....evrything was hopeless and hard and desperate. IC had just ruined everything in my life: my career, my relationships with my boyfriend, friends and family. Even a simple trip to the shopping center to get milk was just too insane to deal with.

I saw a counselor and every so often I had to go see a nurse who can prescribe and got on some anti-depressants...a lot of trial and error to see what worked and what didn't. I didn't stay on them for a long time...but it did help so I didn't bottom out completely....and little by little, your frame of mind changes...things aren't so out of control and beyond your reach...

Anyways I think it might be worth looking into....we definitely can support you here, but I think professional help might be worth looking into as well.


Good Luck Mary
(((((((hugs)))))))))) :angel:

[ICNDonna]

Yvette is right. Please talk with a professional to help you through this.

In the meantime, do you have a nursing home near you? If so, you might give them a call and ask about visiting some of the residents there. There are some old folks who don't have any company at all and cheering up someone else often helps us too.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[leelee88]

Thats a great idea Donna!!
I used to work in a nursing home and it was so sad around the holidays because some of residents would get so upset because no one would come see them during the holidays. I thought that was the cruelest thing to be left there and have no family come and visit, so I would sit with some of them on my days off and play cards with them or just talk with them. It was heart warming to me and I know it meant alot to them.

Mary I think that would be a great idea to go and visit a nursing home and brighten someone elses day that is also feeling lonely..:angel:

[Claredale]

Ronda, that's a great idea. I was a candy striper for 3 years when I was a teenager, mainly during the summer, but after a few times of going up to the local nursing homes to sing with our church choir, my friend and I started going a few afternoons after school to visit. That was always such a fun thing to do. I am such a history buff, that I would love to just hear their stories of growing up and about their families.

The company that I work for is also really big into working with Toys for Tots, so I have already signed up to volunteer to help hand out presents and take food to needy families. Since my kids are grown, one married and one in college, I am especially missing the days of watching my kids excited with the activities of Christmas, so I have signed up to work with our youth to help with "kids night out" a couple Friday nights during the month of December. Our church does that to help the youth earn money for mission trips and to give the parents time to attend Christmas parties or whatever they need to do.

Tracey

[dancemomof2]

I agree, volunteering is a great way to make yourself feel great. I also agree with Yvette that a counselor would be a great benefit to you right now to get you over this bump in th road. :angel: