Holiday Depression: Is it real?

[binnie]

The cure for depression (I speak from experience and I mean clinical depression, not feeling a little low) is taking stock and evaluating what's important, and what you can actually do about it.

It's a lifestyle change.

As for Holiday blues or whatever, I recommned a healty dose of Jack Daniels, CVH and Bill Hicks in equal portions.

And fucking someones brains helps too!

[binnie]

Originally posted by binnie


And fucking someones brains helps too!

Get her to sing "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas"....

[bueno bob]

Originally posted by binnie
The cure for depression (I speak from experience and I mean clinical depression, not feeling a little low) is taking stock and evaluating what's important, and what you can actually do about it.

It's a lifestyle change.

As for Holiday blues or whatever, I recommned a healty dose of Jack Daniels, CVH and Bill Hicks in equal portions.

And fucking someones brains helps too!

Drugs help, too. HEAVY, HEAVY drugs.

[binnie]

Originally posted by bueno bob
Drugs help, too. HEAVY, HEAVY drugs.

You mean the sort where you get to see unicorns building the pyramids?

Or spending 10 hours lying on your back loving everything?

Yep, they always help!

[DrMaddVibe]

Munkafust has an awesome Christmas song..."My birthday's near Christmas and it sucks".

Sizes the entire season up for me.

Once I had kids of my own though, I have to admit that it was funner to make their Christmas'.

I try not to let the family get caught up in the entire commercialism that is now the "holiday season".

[Anonymous]

A few years ago, I "enjoyed" X-mas alone, watching The Doors movie and drinking beer.

Funny - sad - thing is, I didn't felt like doing anything else. Does this qualifies as "depression"?

I'm just glad I didn't have a razor anywhere near me.

Fuck Christmas... I got the blues.

Cheers! :bottle:

[Last_Child]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
You still have a week or so.

*sends snow vibes to Norway*

Let's hope it works..

It's said that only the northern parts of Norway are getting snow...
I'm not up there

[Ellyllions]

So far, I haven't suffered depression during the holidays but I know for a fact that it's real.

For some, the holidays brings on real stress. Money, loss of family members, and even being alone while everyone else seems to have tos of folks around them.

When I worked E-911 we had more heart attacks, breathing problems, and falls occur in nursing homes. On the police side, we had more suicides, threats of suicide, and domestic violence calls. All of these end up being more than any other time of the year. Even more than on full and new moon nights.

It really seemed that if a person was ill (mentally or physically) they got worse between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And it all equates to stress or depression around the holiday.

[blonddgirl777]

Originally posted by Ellyllions
So far, I haven't suffered depression during the holidays but I know for a fact that it's real.

For some, the holidays brings on real stress. Money, loss of family members, and even being alone while everyone else seems to have tos of folks around them.

When I worked E-911 we had more heart attacks, breathing problems, and falls occur in nursing homes. On the police side, we had more suicides, threats of suicide, and domestic violence calls. All of these end up being more than any other time of the year. Even more than on full and new moon nights.

It really seemed that if a person was ill (mentally or physically) they got worse between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And it all equates to stress or depression around the holiday.

And the song keeps on saying...
"It's the most, wonderful time, of the year"!!!

[BITEYOASS]

Had a shitty day at work. Been getting as many packages in the trucks as possible making sure the loading cages are empty, expected the last cage to be called out at 8:30 as always. Then they called the last cage I was swamped in packages at the last minute! Kept getting shit from my bosses, but instead of getting angry I just didn't listen and let their BS just float past me as if I realized that this was not reality. Guess that dormant THC from my parents weed smoke must have kicked in.

[blonddgirl777]

Originally posted by BITEYOASS
... Guess that dormant THC from my parents weed smoke must have kicked in.

Cool parents! :p

The THC makes me oblevious to all sorts of B.S. too...
Sometimes, it's just not worth it getting all worked up and pot can certainly help!

[Jérôme Frenchise]

People who dare to feel depressed during their holidays need some good ASSKICKINGTHERAPY.

[Susie Q]

Holiday depression? Sure, it's real. There are a lot of variables as to why people who have a tendency to be depressed get even more so at this time. It's supposed to be a time of happiness, togetherness, etc. When someone already feels alone and lonely, you add on the what to be expected or wished for don't happen...and wahlah! Instant hyper depression sets in.

There are people who just can't get out of the funk they are in and this makes it worse. Those are the people if you have them around you, you need to embrace even more so. Make them feel like they are important, welcomed and loved.

Then they go back to their clinical depression state PRIOR to the holidays and life is 'back to tolerable.'

[blonddgirl777]

Originally posted by Jérôme Frenchise
People who dare to feel depressed during their holidays need some good ASSKICKINGTHERAPY.

Well... excuse me, teacher but NOT everybody gets a 2 weeks vacations around X-Mas time (on top of the 1 week/spring break and 2 months/summer ones)!

[blonddgirl777]

Originally posted by Susie Q
...wahlah!...

Now THAT word will make me laugh... n'est-ce pas Jérôme? :p

[Ally_Kat]

Originally posted by blonddgirl777
Well... excuse me, teacher but NOT everybody gets a 2 weeks vacations around X-Mas time (on top of the 1 week/spring break and 2 months/summer ones)!

But it's so awesome! See, Jérôme and I know what were doing. I'll always have off for my birthday. I love it so.

[Ally_Kat]

Originally posted by Coyote
Sure. I'll just whip out my copy of "The Necronomicon"...

Got any extra chickens?

No, but I have an aunt or two and some cousins you can sacrafice.

[Susie Q]

All I know is it better snow here for Christmas or I am going to kick the puppy.:eek:

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by blonddgirl777
Well... excuse me, teacher but NOT everybody gets a 2 weeks vacations around X-Mas time (on top of the 1 week/spring break and 2 months/summer ones)!

He he he... It's even worse here...

Add 10 days around Toussaint, 2 weeks in February, 2 (not just 1) in spring... Er...

:p

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
But it's so awesome! See, Jérôme and I know what were doing. I'll always have off for my birthday. I love it so.

Well, I know what you're doing, and I think you'd need those holidays more than I do (I gave English lessons to schoolteachers last year and the year before, and well, I realised what primary teaching means as far as preparing and implication...).
BTW, how much holiday time do they grant you in the USA? Maybe it depends on the state where your work, BTW?

Oh, I see why you'll always be on holiday on your birthdays...
I've always been on holiday on mine too, but it's always meant the end of it more or less. When I was a kid, we had 2 and a half months (from June 30th to September 15th), now it's "only" July 5/6th-September 1st, due to the growing influence of French assholes who consider teachers as lazy asses. :eek:

Well...

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by blonddgirl777
Now THAT word will make me laugh... n'est-ce pas Jérôme? :p

Yes, it's a word that pupils from Algeria or Morocco will say every now and then - when they're upset or pleased.
It's funny that Suzie and you know that word.

[blonddgirl777]

Originally posted by Jérôme Frenchise
He he he... It's even worse here...

Add 10 days around Toussaint, 2 weeks in February, 2 (not just 1) in spring... Er...

:p

I know it is common for most Europeans to get at least 5 weeks off per year (regardless of their type of work)...

Last time I was there, I was talking about that to a French couple...
I told them that here, employers have to give at least 1 paid week/year and sometimes they offer 2... but since the law doesn't force them to give more... they don't.
They both went; :eek: :eek:

After years of service, we get to work our way up to more but it takes time... except for teachers that get about 10 weeks off to start with...

See... we live to work as opposed to you guys who work to live...
We are insane (and stupid for not changing those "heart attack laws")...

[blonddgirl777]

Originally posted by Jérôme Frenchise
Yes, it's a word that pupils from Algeria or Morocco will say every now and then - when they're upset or pleased.
It's funny that Suzie and you know that word.

No but... the English speaking ones say that, meaning: "Voilà" !!!
L.O.L.
I've heard it many times before in that context...

[blonddgirl777]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
But it's so awesome! See, Jérôme and I know what were doing. I'll always have off for my birthday. I love it so.

But I know very well that teachers totally diserve all that time off as you guys work your ass off (overtime and all)...

As I said before, My Mom. was a teacher and when came June, trust me, it was;"Bye, Bye" for the summer... "see you in September"!

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by blonddgirl777
I know it is common for most Europeans to get at least 5 weeks off per year (regardless of their type of work)...

Last time I was there, I was talking about that to a French couple...
I told them that here, employers have to give at least 1 paid week/year and sometimes they offer 2... but since the law doesn't force them to give more... they don't.
They both went; :eek: :eek:

After years of service, we get to work our way up to more but it takes time... except for teachers that get about 10 weeks off to start with...

See... we live to work as opposed to you guys who work to live...
We are insane (and stupid for not changing those "heart attack laws")...

Well, we're no smarter here in Frogland than anywhere else as far as handling working time...
All that spare time (35 hours a week has been the norm for a few years now) has a cost, and the country's been having trouble affording that kind of "luxury".
That said, I think the idea of reducing the duration of work is a good move in itself, that goes the way of improvement, but the problem here is how you finance it. And the way they deal with it here is catastrophic, if you consider wages have been "frozen" for years, while the cost of living and taxes keep rising - that is, to sum it up, you've got more and more free time, but you can't afford using it.

[Ally_Kat]

Originally posted by Jérôme Frenchise
Well, I know what you're doing, and I think you'd need those holidays more than I do (I gave English lessons to schoolteachers last year and the year before, and well, I realised what primary teaching means as far as preparing and implication...).
BTW, how much holiday time do they grant you in the USA? Maybe it depends on the state where your work, BTW?

Oh, I see why you'll always be on holiday on your birthdays...
I've always been on holiday on mine too, but it's always meant the end of it more or less. When I was a kid, we had 2 and a half months (from June 30th to September 15th), now it's "only" July 5/6th-September 1st, due to the growing influence of French assholes who consider teachers as lazy asses. :eek:

Well...

We get a bit. Here in NY, the schoolyear starts the first of second week of September. Teachers coming about a week before that to set up their classrooms. We get off for various Jewish holdays and Columbus Day in October, Election Day. Thanksgiving Thursday, and the friday afterwards in November, two weeks for Christmas, a week in February for winter recess, two weeks for Easter/Passover, and Brooklyn-Queens day which I can't remember if it's in May or June. Schoolyear is 180 days long and normally ends the second to last week of June.

And yeah, when I was a youngin', my classmates would gloat that they get to celebrate their birthdays in class with cupcakes and I couldn't. See, I always thought it was cooler to be in my situation. I could do and go anywhere I wanted on my birthday, and no homework to boot!

[Jérôme Frenchise]

As far as "holiday depression", I must confess that when the end of August approaches, I start getting a little down, first because I'll soon get one year older, and because I'll soon wind up at work with my new classes. Then I think to myself that it's not that bad, that I've started feeling a bit bored after that 2-month holiday, then I spend the first week's work without much time to think, and I finally have a look at the calendar for the dates of the next holiday.
My friends will tell me "So, soon on holiday again?" when there are still 4 or 5 weeks to go (which actually means "soon" for them)...

Anyway, holiday time is always a time when you can step back and think over your life, your work in particular. Great ideas will always come out of my holidays, but then reason will take over as the day I'm back to school approaches.
If I ever get depressed, it's because I've fallen in love with my summer lay and it's a headache to make it carry on any further.

[Ally_Kat]

Originally posted by blonddgirl777
But I know very well that teachers totally diserve all that time off as you guys work your ass off (overtime and all)...

As I said before, My Mom. was a teacher and when came June, trust me, it was;"Bye, Bye" for the summer... "see you in September"!

At the school where I work, there are 3 main types of teachers:
Teachers who stay after dismissal til about 5 to finish all their work and plan
Teachers who stay after dismissal to do afterschoo clubs
Teachers who have all their work finished at dismissal and go home

I'm the 3rd one. We're suppose to have at least 2 prep periods (time without the kids in the classroom) each day. With them and lunch, I grade all my papers and homework. It's good in some ways because I don't overload myself with work at home, but it also has some of the other teachers talking about how I don't carry my weight. But I'm the bulletin board queen, so that shuts them up for a week or two. And I'm not talking just papers stapled up. They're like my mini-projects. I can only finish them during the days I have a prep followed by lunch (or lunch followed by a prep).

Contract's up in October, so I'm curious what other goodies they're going to give us. I secretly hope pay raises.

[Coyote]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
No, but I have an aunt or two and some cousins you can sacrafice.

Sorry, my book's the fowl play version.

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
Here in NY, the schoolyear starts the first of second week of September. Teachers coming about a week before that to set up their classrooms.

How I long for that start-date... (Our schools start on the second week of fuckin' August, thanks to politicians who think the students are lazy... )

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
We get a bit. Here in NY, the schoolyear starts the first of second week of September. Teachers coming about a week before that to set up their classrooms. We get off for various Jewish holdays and Columbus Day in October, Election Day. Thanksgiving Thursday, and the friday afterwards in November, two weeks for Christmas, a week in February for winter recess, two weeks for Easter/Passover, and Brooklyn-Queens day which I can't remember if it's in May or June. Schoolyear is 180 days long and normally ends the second to last week of June.

Thanks a lot for information Ally.
Here teachers have 16 weeks, while the rest of the population have only 5.
When I hear other people moan about it, I like to say: "So then, why don't you do it? I mean, become a teacher..." He he.

[/B][/QUOTE]And yeah, when I was a youngin', my classmates would gloat that they get to celebrate their birthdays in class with cupcakes and I couldn't. See, I always thought it was cooler to be in my situation. I could do and go anywhere I wanted on my birthday, and no homework to boot!
[/B][/QUOTE]

Xmas twice in 3 days. Isn't that cool?

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
I secretly hope pay raises.

It's what I dream out loud every day in the teachers' room.

[Ally_Kat]

Originally posted by Coyote
Sorry, my book's the fowl play version.

Booo!

Originally posted by Coyote

How I long for that start-date... (Our schools start on the second week of fuckin' August, thanks to politicians who think the students are lazy... )

For primary/secondary, or college? Because state and city universities here start at the second or 3rd week of August. My undergrad university started in the middle of Sept and ended the first week of May. I loved it so.

[Ally_Kat]

Originally posted by Jérôme Frenchise
Thanks a lot for information Ally.
Here teachers have 16 weeks, while the rest of the population have only 5.
When I hear other people moan about it, I like to say: "So then, why don't you do it? I mean, become a teacher..." He he.

The problem here by me. that I was so shocked to witness, is that a lot of the teacher canidates in the university programs cannot pass the 3 state tests. I whizzed thru those things like nothing. All you need is a 220 out of 300. It's all multiple choice and a short essay. These chicks kept failing it. What was even more horrid to think of was the fact that these chicks where the ones already placed in classrooms!

Originally posted by Jérôme Frenchise
Xmas twice in 3 days. Isn't that cool?

No, is isn't cool. I get the Merry Christmas/Happy birthday gift or I don't get any gift (for either) at all, or peeps just forget. Mostly they just forget.

[Ally_Kat]

Originally posted by Jérôme Frenchise
It's what I dream out loud every day in the teachers' room.

I just keep reminding myself that I'm turning 23 and that at 43, under the current contract, I'll be making 6 figures and I'll able to retire (if i want).

It's a nice thought on those long treks to Harlem.

[blonddgirl777]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
At the school where I work, there are 3 main types of teachers:
Teachers who stay after dismissal til about 5 to finish all their work and plan
Teachers who stay after dismissal to do afterschoo clubs
Teachers who have all their work finished at dismissal and go home

I'm the 3rd one. We're suppose to have at least 2 prep periods (time without the kids in the classroom) each day. With them and lunch, I grade all my papers and homework. It's good in some ways because I don't overload myself with work at home, but it also has some of the other teachers talking about how I don't carry my weight. But I'm the bulletin board queen, so that shuts them up for a week or two. And I'm not talking just papers stapled up. They're like my mini-projects. I can only finish them during the days I have a prep followed by lunch (or lunch followed by a prep).

Contract's up in October, so I'm curious what other goodies they're going to give us. I secretly hope pay raises.

That sounds a lot like how my Mom. used to be... she was the "type #3" as well...
Kids never had to stay in detention, after school... instead, they had extra homework to do AT HOME (with the parents).
But I think it takes practice to get to that...(?)

Also, everyone knew where we lived in the neighborhood and although our phone # was private, some parents still came to the house... to talk about their kid's issues... but fortunately, we went away quite often on week ends and every summers...

Sometimes, I see teachers at the "Dollar Store" shoping for nic nacs to give the kids at every Hollydays for games etc... I know they don't get paid to do that on a saturday and they don't have to do it either...

As for the pay, I don't know how it is in the U-S but here, they don't get nearly as much as they diserve for their responsabilities and considering that other professions that demand the same amount of studies get a lot more...

People complain about teachers all the time "they have it easy, always demand better salaries" etc...

I always say; If we don't stop "pissing them off" with those complains, law suits and all... there won't be anyone that will study that and becaume teachers anymore!

[blonddgirl777]

Originally posted by Jérôme Frenchise
... only 5...

And remember how you and I talked about the cost of living in France VS here?
Trust me, we would diserve that 5 weeks!

Although, you can have that here, after about 8-10 years working for the same employer...

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
The problem here by me. that I was so shocked to witness, is that a lot of the teacher canidates in the university programs cannot pass the 3 state tests. I whizzed thru those things like nothing. All you need is a 220 out of 300. It's all multiple choice and a short essay. These chicks kept failing it. What was even more horrid to think of was the fact that these chicks where the ones already placed in classrooms!

I remember you raising that problem. Yes, the problem is they will be given classrooms anyway. :eek:

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
No, is isn't cool. I get the Merry Christmas/Happy birthday gift or I don't get any gift (for either) at all, or peeps just forget. Mostly they just forget.

Too bad... Hey, a birthday is a birthday, no matter the day when it takes place!

[blonddgirl777]

Originally posted by Jérôme Frenchise
... Hey, a birthday is a birthday, no matter the day when it takes place!

My friend has the worst B-Day date... January 2nd...

Nobody feels like doing anything that day.
They've been partying the night before, they're hung over, depressed because of having to go back to work etc...
The last thing on their minds is to celebrate again... her B-Day!

It' sucks but she's gotten used to it...

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
I just keep reminding myself that I'm turning 23 and that at 43, under the current contract, I'll be making 6 figures and I'll able to retire (if i want).

6 figures!... This is awesome! :eek:
I'm 36, I've reached the 7th scale (out of 11 before the final "superclass"), I can't retire before the age of 63 ("Come on, you crackheads, who stole my walking stick!?"), and I earn 26,000 euros a year (about $28,000 I think), which really sounds ridiculous...

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
It's a nice thought on those long treks to Harlem.

Sure.

How is Harlem today? It's still such a myth as seen from here you know.

[Coyote]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
Booo!

Ahh... My audience.

For primary/secondary, or college?

All. Might be some exceptions, of which I know not.