I think we need a thread for all of us who have a hard time during the holidays to talk about it with others. I think talking about your pain releases it and you are not carrying it around all by yourself anymore.

I suffer from clinical depression and have probably my whole life (I have great genes fat ones and depressed ones). I take meds that help but they are not my cure. I am a Christian and feel like such a disapointment to my Heavenly Father, Christian are suppose to be full of joy and our light should be shinning for all to see. Mine is kinda dimmed right now. I have prayed and begrf God to heal me of this, it is something no one should have to go through. The thing is it is so crazy is that I have a wonderful marriage of 30 years a great son (29) whom I talk to or see everyday a great daughter-in-law that I love and the most beautiful 2 grandbabie girls whom I also see almost everyday they are 18 months and 4 years old and everyone is healthy.They are a p ece of Heaven on earth Last December my only rother Britton died from an overdose of prescription drugs. He also suffered from depression as I do. He died on December 29 after one night in the emergency room and one day in the hospital where he was bleeding from all of his organs and slipped into a coma and soon was brain dead. He wanted to donate but the only things that they could take was his tissue. Britton was the unhappiest man I ever knew. But if for the grace of God that could have been me. I also lost my Daddy at the age of 10 and never got over that I am a 50 year old women still griefing my father for forty years and the love I need from him. Those are hard things for me deal with I feel like a have a daily walk with God but I need a daddy and my son needs a Grandfather. Inside lf me is this little 10 year girl with only a dream of what it could have be

Please share reaseif the holidays are sad you we will notugjr yuo.

I read your posts about the holidays and depression and it really sounds like you are in great pain. I am a therapist and I work with women in prison, many of whom suffer from clinical depression as well. The biggest help for my clients has been following their faith and staying strong in their spirituality, in addition to therapy and sometimes anti-depressants. Also, involvement in something that brings great returns, like helping others in some way (perhaps volunteering) . Well, I hope that you get through the holidays and I hope that you find the peace and joy in your life that you are seeking.

I have come to hate the holidays. I get anxiety around large groups of people. This doesnt bode so well with large family gatherings. I also hate the fact that I have never been able to give the way I would like. This year especially, I am still not sure how I am going to do Christmas for my daughter let alone the rest of my family. I havent worked in months. The only reason I am not homeless right now is by the grace of God and the help of my grandparents. I am blessed to have a great family. I too suffer from depression. This bout has absolutely been the worst, and while I would never hurt myself I often wonder would it matter if I wasnt here. thats how low I have gotten recently. I am struggleing with the loss of my job, the loss of my grandmother, and the surgery and not losing weight after working so hard to get the surgery. There is always so much emphasis on being cheery and holiday fun blah blah blah I hate it. It is so stressful for me. Every Christmas i am sick/ill. It sdoesnt matter what I do I am always miserable. i feel so guilty for not enjoying the reason for the season and feel like God is not happy with me for that. I feel guilty that I am not giving my daughter a good Christmas. Thats my fault. She will probably hate the holidays too from her mothers bad example.

I am a grinch. I pray to the Lord that he will help me with the and help me to be strong and make it through this. I have no one else to talk to about my feelings except God. No one else would understand and they would only judge me.

I pray that you al will find some type of peace during this holiday season. God Bless