How to Deal With Christmas Depression - 5 Tips For Coping With Christmas Depression

Are you looking forward to Christmas Day and the holiday festivities this year? A time to celebrate the birth of the son of God. That special time of year when it feels like everyone is more tolerant and Christmas carols playing on the radio bring a tear to your eye as you anticipate the taste of turkey and warm fireplaces coupled with happy family memories that last a lifetime?

Or when you think of Christmas, do you say to yourself, "It's that time of the year again when old fatso flies around in a sleigh with his eight reindeer and his sack full of crap?"

I've felt the experience of both of those scenarios in my lifetime and really prefer the first scene of children all snug in their beds, with a light Christmas eve snow falling around the house and a manger with baby Jesus in the window. A typical image right out of a Norman Rockwell painting is the one I like best.

Traditionally, Christmas is a family holiday filled with images of couples and happy families. Not all families are happy ones. We all know that, but did you know that if your family stops talking when you walk into the room then it's You who is the black sheep, not your brother or sister, like you believed it was.

Depression can be contagious. Here are a couple of tips to help keep your spirit light if you are feeling depressed and sad this year.

1 - Get out of the house and spend some time volunteering. For absolutely anything - even if it is only to grab a sack of groceries for your neighbor who is house bound. Do you know your neighbor? Why not? Grab a couple of pieces of pie and go knock on their door to introduce yourself. Go Now.

2 - Go shopping for the worst Christmas present gifts you can find - for everyone on your list. Are you kidding me - Don't buy a single thing! Need some ideas - Here you go:

Contributing authors to this list include - Jeni Phelps, Nick Watkins, Nate Watkins, Kaya Singer, Johnny Kowal and Connie Early. Thank you for your suggestions!

• Plastic jar lid opener
• Bingo dabber
• Back scratcher
• Coat hangars
• Tape dispenser
• Toothpick holder
• Toilet brush (get 2 - One for your boss)
• Chia Pet
• Gift certificate to a fast food restaurant
• Fuzzy steering wheel cover
• Framed photo of you
• Bobble head for a car dashboard
• Singing underwear
• Fuzzy die
• Thigh master
• Beaver 'Bowl' shirts

Go ahead, fill your cart to over flowing and shop until you finish your entire list, then park that cart full of hideous gifts and go get a cheeseburger with fries and a milkshake - Supersize it! (Honestly, I'd rather see you walk around the building with a protein bar, but that's just me).

3 - Sing. Out loud. Just sing.

4 - Is your phone ringing? Smile as broad as you can BEFORE you answer it. Not only will your mood brighten, but it will make the person on the other end of the phone wonder what you are 'up to.' The change in your tone of voice with a smile when you answer the phone is recognized by the person calling you. Even though you are invisible to them, it shows. You only feel like an idiot at first, but with practice that feeling goes away and eventually smiling before you answer your phone becomes habit.

5 - Is there nobody special in your life to buy you a present this year? - Buy one for yourself and wrap it in the most beautiful wrap you can find. Put it under the tree. Don't open it until Christmas Day. Write on the gift tag, "To Me, From someone VERY SPECIAL"

These are meant to be light hearted tips, but I understand that the holiday season is hard on people and that they may feel lonely, depressed and isolated.

If you find yourself with those feelings this year, please pick up the phone and call someone who you haven't talked to in awhile.

Mend a broken fence if you can.

And if you are still feeling lonely and depressed then surround yourself with people who are having fun - Go to a church function (whether you are a member or not), or join a group you meant to join during the year. You can't help but get a lift for your spirits just by being around happy people.

Do not sit at home if you can help it at all, because sorrow and self pity can be dangerous to your sense of well being and self worth.

If you are looking forward to Christmas with more dread than anticipation and stressed over a lack of money then ask yourself this, "What one gift have I received that meant the most to me that I can give to others? What one thing do I talk about over and over from that person who was especially thoughtful?

The gift of time, no matter what, will be told for generations to come. It is non-refundable and the most humble and sincere expression of love from the heart. Give those gifts out this year.

Put on your happiest face and celebrate YOU. Now applaud your effort and have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holiday, or whatever it is that you find to be thankful for, even if it's the fat guy with his 8 tiny reindeer and his sleigh 'full of crap!'