Are You Having a Charlie Brown Christmas?
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Why You May Be Feeling the Holiday Blues
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is one of my all time favorite Christmas programs, but several years ago, I began wondering about Charlie Brown's Christmas state of mind.
As I watched the Charlie Brown Christmas special for the umpteenth time, I found myself suspecting that Charlie Brown was experiencing a case of the Holiday Blahs and even the Holiday Blues.
It isn't too far into the program when Charlie Brown confides, Linus, I just don't understand Christmas. Instead of feeling happy, I feel sort of let down.
Charlie Brown is not the only one feeling a bit let down and blah at the holidays. Many people have different reasons for feeling blue and blah during the holidays.
Let's look at several of the reasons that might be causing Charlie Brown to feel blue along with some helpful suggestions for coping with the holidays. There are also some links to memorabilia from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to pick up your spirits.
Image Video Still from "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
As I watched the Charlie Brown Christmas special for the umpteenth time, I found myself suspecting that Charlie Brown was experiencing a case of the Holiday Blahs and even the Holiday Blues.
It isn't too far into the program when Charlie Brown confides, Linus, I just don't understand Christmas. Instead of feeling happy, I feel sort of let down.
Charlie Brown is not the only one feeling a bit let down and blah at the holidays. Many people have different reasons for feeling blue and blah during the holidays.
Let's look at several of the reasons that might be causing Charlie Brown to feel blue along with some helpful suggestions for coping with the holidays. There are also some links to memorabilia from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to pick up your spirits.
Image Video Still from "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
Vote on What's Ailing Charlie Brown
There are several things that could be ailing Charlie Brown.
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Linus, I just don't understand Christmas. Instead of feeling happy,
I feel sort of let down...
Charlie Brown Blues could be Experiencing....
Charlie Brown may be experiencing a number of conditions including:
- 1Holiday Blues
- 2Stress
- 3SAD - Seasonal Affect Disorder
- 4Grief
- 5Depression
Charlie Brown and Linus
Holiday Blues
People experiencing the blues often feel sad, lonely, depressed and even anxious around the holiday season.
Fortunately, the Holiday Blues tend to be short-term lasting only a few days to weeks around the holidays, subsiding once normal routines are resumed.
Fortunately, the Holiday Blues tend to be short-term lasting only a few days to weeks around the holidays, subsiding once normal routines are resumed.
Stress
Stress is the sum of the biological reactions to any adverse stimulus, be it physical, mental or emotional, internal or external that tends to disturb a person's normal state of well being.
The Holidays can be an extremely stressful time mentally, physically and even financially, particularly for those out of work.
The Holidays can be an extremely stressful time mentally, physically and even financially, particularly for those out of work.
SAD - Seasonal Affect Disorder
SAD is a mood disorder characterized by mental depression, related to a certain season of the year, often winter.
The "winter blues" or feeling sad or depressed during the fall and winter due to decreasing amounts of daylight. SAD can occur alone, or can make symptoms of depression worse.
Mild symptoms respond to spending time outdoors during the day or arranging homes and workplaces to receive more sunlight
The "winter blues" or feeling sad or depressed during the fall and winter due to decreasing amounts of daylight. SAD can occur alone, or can make symptoms of depression worse.
Mild symptoms respond to spending time outdoors during the day or arranging homes and workplaces to receive more sunlight
Grief
Grief is the normal response to loss. The holiday season can be especially difficult for those who have lost a loved one and are facing the first or the umpteenth season without them.
Memories of holiday's past will likely surface, or thoughts of a season that will never be which can be very difficult for a grieving person.
Those separated from loved ones by other circumstances and distance including death can find this season to be a painful time, one that further reminds them of how much they are alone.
Memories of holiday's past will likely surface, or thoughts of a season that will never be which can be very difficult for a grieving person.
Those separated from loved ones by other circumstances and distance including death can find this season to be a painful time, one that further reminds them of how much they are alone.
Depression
Depression is a mental state of depressed mood characterized by feelings of sadness, despair, helplessness and discouragement. It tends to occur over a longer period of time--weeks to months.
Depression ranges from normal feelings of the blues through dysthymia (a less severe, yet more chronic form of depression) to major depression.
Depression ranges from normal feelings of the blues through dysthymia (a less severe, yet more chronic form of depression) to major depression.
Good Grief! I'm Having a Charlie Brown Xmas
The first published versions of the article that I wrote about Charlie Brown and his experiences with the holiday blues along with tops to help deal with the Holiday blues.
- Are you having a Charlie Brown Christmas?
- Tips for coping with the holidays as a working medical professional, on-call and away from family.
- Good Grief! I'm Having a Charlie Brown Xmas
- An earlier version of this article with tips for dealing with the Holiday Blues from the Journey of Hearts site.
Tips for Coping with Holiday Blues
Basics for Coping with the Holidays
For anyone feeling blue like Charlie Brown during the holidays, there are some very basic, common sense steps that can be taken to help.
- 1Take it one hour at a time, one day at a time.
- 2Maintain a normal routine. Keep doing your normal daily activities.
- 3Get enough sleep or at least enough rest.
- 4Regular exercise, even walking, helps relieve stress, tension and improve moods.
- 5Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Limit high calorie foods and junk food.
- 6Avoid using alcohol, medications or other drugs to mask the pain.
- 7Do those activities, or be with the people that comfort, sustain, nourish and recharge you.
- 8Remember coping strategies used to survive past challenges. Draw on your strengths again.
Suggestions to Cope with the Holidays
There are several strategies that can help in making it easier to manage the holiday blahs.
- 1Determine your priorities and establish realistic goals for the holidays.
- 2Delegate some responsibilities to others.
- 3Take time for yourself.
- 4Minimize financial stressors by setting a budget and sticking to it.
- 5Enjoy free holiday activities.
- 6Think about giving a free gift from your heart. Your time or your presence.
- 7Be around supportive people.
- 8Volunteer and help someone else.
- 9Create a New Holiday Tradition.
- 10Find a new place or a new way to celebrate.
More on Coping with the Holiday Blues
When to Be Concerned about the Holiday Blah's
You should be concerned if you or a love one is:
- 1Constantly sad, anxious, or in an empty mood
- 2Sleeping too much or too little
- 3Having insomnia middle-of-the night or early morning waking
- 4Experiencing a change in appetite either reduced or increased.
- 5Having a loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex
- 6More irritable or restless
- 7Experiencing difficulty thinking, concentrating, remembering or making decisions
- 8More fatigued or having a loss of energy
- 9Feeling inappropriate guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness
-
10Experiencing thoughts of death or suicide
** Anyone with suicidal thoughts or suicidal ideation needs to seek immediate care with their physician, crisis line or the nearest hospital emergency department.**
More on Coping with Grief and Loss
Cheer Up with a Charlie Brown Tree
Picking Out a Christmas Tree
A Tree Gives Meaning to Christmas
Several years ago I got the Charlie Brown Tree and Blanket for my daughters.I made sure they'd watched the Charlie Brown Christmas before they opened up the present. Both girls immediately took to the tree, wrapping it up in the Linus Blanket.
The Linus Blanket has gone on to become our main T.V. couch blanket, the one that everyone curls up under. It brings a lot of comfort.
A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree
Charlie Brown Christmas Tree (Musical)
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 02/17/2012)
Get your own Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.
Since it needs a little love, it may help to cheer you up.
It's not a bad little tree, really.
It just needs a little love.
Linus
Charlie Brown Tree Needs You
Charlie Brown's pathetic Christmas tree has become
a symbol of the true meaning of Chrismas.
Available on Amazon
Charlie Brown Christmas Tree on YouTube
Also includes Linus's Monologue about What Christmas is all about.
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More Charlie Brown Trees
Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Products
Charlie Brown Tree Available on eBay
More about the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree
Learn more about the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.
Let Charlie Brown Cheer You Up
Charlie Brown Video and Music on Amazon
Charlie Brown Christmas Books on Amazon
The book version of the Holiday Classic available on Amazon.
Charlie Brown Christmas Figures and Friends
Charlie Brown Christmas on Amazon
Charlie Brown Christmas on eBay
Other Squidoo Lenses on Charlie Brown and Christmas
The Latest News on a Charlie Brown Christmas
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Comment Are You having Charlie Brown Christmas?
Have you ever had a Charlie Brown Christmas?
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sockii
Nov 26, 2011 @ 7:33 am | delete
- Love how you combined Charlie Brown Christmas with an important mental health issue. Nice approach to a difficult subject!
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dannystaple
Dec 10, 2008 @ 10:40 am | delete
- Thank you for this. It is worth remembering that people need to be first during Christmas. It is too easy to get caught up in the rush and excitement and forget that it is a who not a what that really matters.
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rms
Dec 3, 2007 @ 6:52 am | delete
- Thank you for another wonderful contribution to the Best Christmas Ever group. Not everyone will be having their best Christmas ever.
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About the Author
by Comfortdoc
Comfortdoc
Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, an expert in life challenges, loss, grief and bereavement, professional health educator, professor,... more »
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A Charlie Brown Christmas on Blu-ray
![A Charlie Brown Christmas [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51bllI7Z-jL._SL160_.jpg)
A Charlie Brown Christmas [Blu-ray]
Amazon Price: $14.97 (as of 02/17/2012)
Get your own version of a Charlie Brown Christmas.
How to Cope with Others are Celebrating
A Decembered Grief: Living with Loss While Others are Celebrating
Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 02/17/2012)
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