Anyone else have the blues? (1 Viewer)

[bonnjer]

I know this time of year can normally bring about a case of the blues for some people due to the cold, dreary weather or exhaustion after all of the constant holiday exposure on tv, in stores, etc. It usually doesn't have much impact on me, but this year, I'm noticing it quite a bit more.

For me, it's just a combination of various things. I don't like the cold weather (at all), the kids are getting older (this was the first year we didn't do the elf or set out the cookies for Santa), I'm constantly worrying about everyone's health, and of course, it seems like there's not a day that goes by lately where I don't have a new ache or pain. For the second time this year, I was in a tornado warning area with the line of storms that came through Wednesday night. No tornado this time, but the stress of it was enough.

This year has just taken it out of me. I think it helps a little to put this out there. I don't intend it to come across as whining about, so please don't take this as such. I know other people have it far worse than I do. I just needed to get this out.

 

[Charlie Brizzown]

It happens to the best of us. Maybe try watching some Saints game highlights from yesterday for some temporary relief.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Glad you felt comfortable sharing- just reading what you wrote might help others

have you ever tried light therapy? Like an alarm clock connected to a sun lamp that allows you to wake up in a non dreary room - my wife likes the conditions cave like so I’ve never used them but they sounded intriguing
Yoga? Biking? Tai chi? Mindfulness?

I just rememberlized that I’ll be mid 60s when the youngest is at wing stretching age
I shudder to think what that will be like for me

 

[gpupil]

Yeah I'm with you. Ever since getting divorced this has been a tough time of the year. Just to whole having to bring the kids to different houses is kind of sad. But on top of that, Tuesday I tested positive for Covid and I wasn't able to spend Christmas with my family. So yeah an even more sucky year this year.

 

[bonnjer]

Glad you felt comfortable sharing- just reading what you wrote might help others

have you ever tried light therapy? Like an alarm clock connected to a sun lamp that allows you to wake up in a non dreary room - my wife likes the conditions cave like so I’ve never used them but they sounded intriguing
Yoga? Biking? Tai chi? Mindfulness?

I just rememberlized that I’ll be mid 60s when the youngest is at wing stretching age
I shudder to think what that will be like for me

I walk every other day and it's sunny today, so I'll be doing that later this afternoon. Never tried light therapy, though. Sounds interesting, so I'll read up on it.

 

[Grumpy Old Manatee]

Been a tough year for many. Holidays have always been a conundrum for me because, other than funerals, they are one of the few times where I get to reconnect with family members and friends. The temporal and financial stresses we often place on ourselves during the Holiday season can certainly slurp the spirit and energies right out of us.

Take a breath, focus on the positives as best you can and if you feel overwhelmed; talk to somebody (besides all of us knuckleheads on this forum).

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Yeah I'm with you. Ever since getting divorced this has been a tough time of the year. Just to whole having to bring the kids to different houses is kind of sad. But on top of that, Tuesday I tested positive for Covid and I wasn't able to spend Christmas with my family. So yeah an even more sucky year this year.

Don’t really have anything to add, but I did want to acknowledge this
Does not sound fun at all
Wish you peace and health

 

[gpupil]

Don’t really have anything to add, but I did want to acknowledge this
Does not sound fun at all
Wish you peace and health

Thank you, I appreciate it! I actually had several friends come by yesterday and bring me food from their Christmas celebrations. Of course they rang the bell and left it on the porch to be safe. But it still made me feel very cared for and much less alone. One of them even left a message that said "You deserve a good Christmas dinner!"

 

[CapitalCitySaint]

It has been a tough year on most people for a myriad of reasons. Adding in holiday stress, cold; gloomy weather and other things just magnifies things.

I think what you’re feeling is normal and you’re not alone. As Guido was discussing - just finding the small things to get you feeling a little better is helpful but also recognize that it’s okay and normal to feel the lows too.

 

[DCSaints_Fan]

Going on seven months unemployed now ... ive had interviews but the process is extrenely brutal .. i almost feel like i dont belong in the industry anymore (Software engineer)

 

[Sun Wukong]

Not so much the blues as crippling existential depression. This has been the most trying, brutal, horrible year of my life from the pandemic to the hurricanes to professional and personal issues related to both myself and loved ones that I'm not going to really get into but are very, very serious and seem to be getting worse.

I really don't see a light at the end of the tunnel right now. I'm in a bad, bad forking place. A true "If this is what life is, what's the point?" kind of place.

 

[Madmarsha]

I think my favorite girl about town Holly Golightly said it best: "No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of."

I mos def have the mean reds.

 

[gummbo70114]

Not so much the blues as crippling existential depression. This has been the most trying, brutal, horrible year of my life from the pandemic to the hurricanes to professional and personal issues related to both myself and loved ones that I'm not going to really get into but are very, very serious and seem to be getting worse.

I really don't see a light at the end of the tunnel right now. I'm in a bad, bad forking place. A true "If this is what life is, what's the point?" kind of place.

On a certain personal level I too am in the same boat that you are in but I find it letting my expressive self come out in small projects around the house helps me cope, fortunately two of my daughters grandson and husband were able to show up for Christmas and that helped a lot but in the back of our minds hoping that my third daughter recovers from the Covid which is also affected two of my other grandchildren,The good news is that they are recovering and will be well soon. Keep fighting the good fight because every tunnel has an exit otherwise it would be called the Cave.

 

[zeetes]

very sympathetic to those in this thread. i spend more time asleep than i do awake.

also not having seen my therapist, as regularly as i should, has been tough too. visits through phone calls, therapist and psychiatrist, has been a tough transition this year.