Christmas blues?
By mlumptx
@mlumptx (13)
United States
December 8, 2006 11:29am CST
Do the holiday blues effect you? I know in the past I have had some crappy holidays with my disfunctional family. But, this year is looking pretty good. My gf and I are travelling home to be with my family for Christmas. But, in the meantime one of my roommates is being a real scrooge. She just got out of a relationship and she just takes everything to be a reminder of her ex. She didn't even want to help put up the Christmas tree last night. I don't know what to do to make her, not necessarily more cheerful, but at least a little less scrooge like. I know the holidays can bring about a good bit of stress and some people do get really depressed this time of year. I think I do a pretty good job of keeping her spirit, but I am having a difficult time when it comes to Christmas. What can I do to take the scrooginess away?
1 person likes this
29 responses
@beautyoperater (1890)
• United States
8 Dec 06
She will get over it someday. That's what they tell me. I have been somber ever since we buried my grandfather 2 years ago christmas eve. It has effect the whole family.
It's like we all go through the motions but nobody is really there. We are getting a little better.
Starting to liven up some. My aunt says that grandpa would be very upset with us if we keep it up. Its a happy time. Your roommate just needs someone new in her life and it will get better
2 people like this
@angelface23 (2494)
• United States
8 Dec 06
sorry to hear about your grandfather. I just lost mine in September. I never really saw him alot anyways cause he lives down south and I live in PA but around the holidays I start to miss him.
1 person likes this
@martinallison21 (45)
• Canada
8 Dec 06
i know the christmas blues always hit me every year. My father left us around christmas so it's hard. But honestly a good thing to cheer up someone is to do things together. Start making good and happy memories around christmas. I.e ice skating tradition, or going christmas shopping together or even seeing a good play or broadway show. I know that once i was taken tobogganing and it was awsome. It's childish but it brings back christmas cheer and fun! Hope i can help.
@lcsamano (200)
• United States
8 Dec 06
Maybe see if she wants to bake cookies or make christmas candy together. I like the skating idea if there is a rink near by. As well maybe go together and buy a small gift for someone who is needy or take it to the shelter. If you do things together maybe she will see it isn't that bad after all.
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@mlumptx (13)
• United States
8 Dec 06
That was the point of last night- we invited some friends over to have a little celebration with decorating, but she didn't want to be involved. She mostly stayed in her room. She came out a few times and helped us with the fire and complimented the tree, but she didn't want anything to do with the putting up of the tree. I know she has had a pretty rough week. Maybe we can find something to do together this weekend.
@angelface23 (2494)
• United States
8 Dec 06
This year is my first Christmas with my new family- my baby and my fiance all together as a family. We are putting our tree up tonight. We have been having some financial problems but somehow I just know that everything will be okay and I am not going to let these problems get in the way of me enjoying the holidays. It's our baby's first Christmas so that is our main focus, to make things nice for her. Most of the little money we have is going towards her presents. Maybe try getting her to volunteer somewhere helping out kids or the elderly. It might make her feel better if she is making a difference for someone else!
@cdonlevy (50)
•
9 Dec 06
reflect on good times is sometimes good
you could maybe ask if they want to go to a event set up at christmas time by your council
set up a good night out(:
blow away the cobwebs
Christmas is an amazing time of closeness
everyone should be at one totally harmony
1 person likes this
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
9 Dec 06
great comments: the best thing is to try and enjoy what you can from the holidays and life itself, too. There are enough bad things that you can't stop that will come along.
1 person likes this
@cindyngeorge (333)
• United States
9 Dec 06
I get sad because I never have a lot of money during the christmas season and I always want to get people a great gift!! Like this year I am missing my sons godmothers gifts because lack of money! But I am going to try and figure something out!
1 person likes this
@dharmendra_pawar23 (907)
• India
13 Dec 06
What about a Blue Candle... I think the Yankee Candle Company has a few Blue items:
http://www.yankeecandle.com
Get some Jelly Belly candies that are all blue ( Berry Blue Jelly Belly or Blueberry Jelly Belly)... or you can buy M&Ms in bags by color at most Hallmark stores. Most candy stores will have this too.
1 person likes this
@annettenasser (2992)
• Kuwait
9 Dec 06
you can think of something different gimik which will make her get away from the memories and pain,you withyour gf should do it together. let her feel that its not her lost but for her ex. and she is lucky to found out about his ex.
@steffylikewoah (1762)
• United States
9 Dec 06
This year I'm really feelin the blues. We cant get many people presents due to money issues. Hopefully they understand. I really feel bad. I just want Christmas over with so that I don't have to stress anymore. On the other hand.. it's my daughters first Christmas.. so I don't want it to go away. Ugh.
1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
9 Dec 06
Maybe you can do something with your roommmate which isn't too obviously Christmas-y. Ice Skating, or going out for coffee, or having a few friends over for board games can be fun anytime of the winter, and it'll keep her spirits up.
Break-ups are hard. It's good that you're keeping your spirits up, and you have a nice trip to look forward to.
1 person likes this
@jricbt (1454)
• Brazil
9 Dec 06
Yes it does, thanks to my (also) disfunctional family past holidays. I do not have a religion, but it still makes me feel blue. Fights, discussions, I remember it all, all that used to happen when I was with my family on the holidays.
@cdushyanth (24)
• India
9 Dec 06
no i enjoys a lot during holidays....
i meet all my friends during these holidays!!!!
1 person likes this
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
9 Dec 06
You can't really make your roommate have fun, but you also shouldn't let her spoil your fun. If you mope around, too, it will only ruin the spirit of the season for everyone. Hopefully, if you keep up the fun, she will give in and let herself have some fun, too. She deserves it, but it sounds like she is punishing herself.
@KyleCamelot (49)
• United States
9 Dec 06
I've hadd some pretty bad holidays as well, disfunctional family, so I feel you. Sometimes the holidays just make the things seem harder than they are, make people seem more alone then they are. However, the best thing to do is just be with her, try to make her realize she's not alone. If that fails, just get her a nice gift, and by February she'll be fine. Sometimes it's just tough to keep positive when you feel there's less to be positive about.
1 person likes this
@annieroos (1845)
• United States
9 Dec 06
well i get a little emotional during christmas and New years.. i don't know why.. I want to cry.. and lately my bday to.. Maybe just an age thing..
Plus i guess during christmas and new years i miss my grandmother alot.. we were very close like a mother to me..
I guess i am just an emotional person..
@mermaidgirl06 (153)
• Philippines
9 Dec 06
well for me going out will always do... and eat.. thats all...
1 person likes this
@RealityChecker (290)
• United States
9 Dec 06
I think you are off to the right start by posting here. There are many people who will look to help you with advice.
As long as you assure her of your feelings you will be on the right track.
Be honest with yourself and the rest will follow
1 person likes this
@jmcooke (23)
• Canada
8 Dec 06
I havent had the christmas blues in a while prolly 4 years but the year after i had em real bad i saw this tv news special about it. Supposedly it is extremely common and gets worse the longer it goes on because your brain associates xmas with the stress of shopping traveling family arguements and no time alone. Thats my two cents lol o and it also said to get over do your shopping early and do the xmas thing on your own for a year !!! cheers and merry xmas
@zarden (107)
• Philippines
9 Dec 06
yes it is really hard to spend xmas time away from your families and love ones. especially when you are working abroad alone and you have no choice because it is the only way to support your family. either way, xmas is always at heart and we should remember that it is the day when our lord jesus christ was born and keep on mind that he is always here with us. merry xmas to all...
