Why You May Feel Sort of Let Down at the Holidays and Feeling Blah
Linus, I just don't understand Christmas. Instead of feeling happy, I feel sort of let down.
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" is one of my all time favorite Christmas programs. Five years ago as I watched the Charlie Brown Christmas special for the umpteenth time, I found myself suspecting that Charlie Brown's "Browniest Christmas" was really a case of the "Holiday Blues."
This lens takes a look at several of the things that might be wrong with Charlie Brown, includes some helpful suggestions for coping with the holidays as well as links to memorabilia for "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
Image Source: Video Still from "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
What's Wrong with Charlie Brown?
Holiday Blues * Stress * SAD * Grief * Depression
- Holiday Blues
- Stress
- SAD - Seasonal Affect Disorder
- Grief
- Depression
Linus, I just don't understand Christmas. Instead of feeling happy, I feel sort of let down...
Holiday Blues
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
The Holidays can be an extremely stressful time mentally, physically and even financially, particularly for those out of work.
SAD - Seasonal Affect Disorder
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
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 ranges from normal feelings of the blues through dysthymia (a less severe, yet more chronic form of depression) to major depression.
Basics for Coping with the Holidays
- Take it one hour at a time, one day at a time.
- Maintain a normal routine. Keep doing your normal daily activities.
- Get enough sleep or at least enough rest.
- Regular exercise, even walking, helps relieve stress, tension and improve moods.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Limit high calorie foods and junk food.
- Avoid using alcohol, medications or other drugs to mask the pain.
- Do those activities, or be with the people that comfort, sustain, nourish and recharge you.
- Remember coping strategies used to survive past challenges. Draw on your strengths again.
More Suggestions for Coping with the Holidays
- Determine your priorities and establish realistic goals for the holidays.
- Delegate some responsibilities to others.
- Take time for yourself.
- Minimize financial stressors by setting a budget and sticking to it.
- Enjoy free holiday activities.
- Think about giving a free gift from your heart. Your time or your presence.
- Be around supportive people.
- Volunteer and help someone else.
- Create a New Holiday Tradition.
- Find a new place or a new way to celebrate.
When to Be Concerned about the Holiday Blah's
- Constantly sad, anxious, or in an empty mood
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Having insomnia middle-of-the night or early morning waking
- Experiencing a change in appetite either reduced or increased.
- Having a loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex
- More irritable or restless
- Experiencing difficulty thinking, concentrating, remembering or making decisions
- More fatigued or having a loss of energy
- Feeling inappropriate guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness
- Experiencing 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.**
A Squidoo Lens on the Holiday Blues
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Good Grief! I'm Having a Charlie Brown Xmas
How to 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.
Charlie Brown Video and Music on Amazon
Charlie Brown Christmas Books on Amazon
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Peanuts)
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 11/12/2009) 
A Charlie Brown Christmas Kit: Book and Tree Kit (Peanuts (Running Press))
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 11/12/2009)
A Charlie Brown Christmas(TM)
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 11/12/2009)
A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition
Amazon Price: $11.66 (as of 11/12/2009)
A Charlie Brown Christmas (Running Press Miniatures)
Amazon Price: $4.95 (as of 11/12/2009)
A Charlie Brown Christmas from Wikipedia
A Charlie Brown Christmas is the first of many prime-time animated TV specials based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was produced and directed by former Warner Bros. and UPA animator Bill Meléndez, who also supplied the voice for the character of Snoopy. Initially sponsored by Coca-Cola, the special aired on CBS from its debut in 1965 through 2000, and has aired on ABC since 2001. For many years it aired only annually, but is now telecast at least twice during the Christmas season. The special has been honored with both an Emmy and Peabody award.
A Charlie Brown Christmas is also one of CBS's most successful specials, airing annually more times on that network than even MGM's classic motion picture The Wizard of Oz. Oz was shown thirty-one times on CBS, but not consecutively; between 1968 and 1976, NBC aired the 1939 film.
Charlie Brown Christmas Figure and Friends on Amazon
![Linus Van Pelt Action Figure Charlie Brown Christmas from Peanuts [Toy]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/414850ZYDFL._SL75_.jpg)
Linus Van Pelt Action Figure Charlie Brown Christmas from Peanuts [Toy]
Amazon Price: $23.50 (as of 11/12/2009)
List Price:
Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Christmas Action Complete Collection (12) Figure Box...
Amazon Price: $249.99 (as of 11/12/2009)
List Price:
![Schroeder Action Figure Charlie Brown Christmas from Peanuts [Toy]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/419DFVJNJJL._SL75_.jpg)
Schroeder Action Figure Charlie Brown Christmas from Peanuts [Toy]
Amazon Price: $16.51 (as of 11/12/2009)
List Price:
Peanuts: A Charlie Brown Christmas Action Figure Box Set Assortment
Amazon Price: (as of 11/12/2009)
List Price:
It's not a bad little tree, really.
It just needs a little love.
Linus
Charlie Brown Christmas Tree on YouTube
This Tree Needs You
Charlie Brown's pathetic Christmas tree has become a symbol of the true meaning of Chrismas.
Charlie Brown Tree
The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and Linus Blanket from Urban Outfitters
I ordered one of these last year.
- This Tree Needs You
- Good Grief. Learn the true meaning of Christmas with Charlie Brown's classic pathetic Christmas tree. The tree is made of bendable wire branches and plastic needles with a criss-cross wooden base.
- Linus Blanket
- A cozy Linus blanket for you to love! Super-soft and trimmed in satin complete with a little Linus patch at one corner.
The Linus Blanket benefits Project Linus--an organization devoted to providing kids in need with some security when they need it most in the form of handmade blankets and afghans lovingly created by volunteers.
A Tree Giving Meaning to Christmas
Last year 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.
Charlie Brown Tree Available on eBay
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Charlie Brown Christmas Tree on Amazon
A Charlie Brown Christmas Kit: Book and Tree Kit (Peanuts (Running Press))
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 11/12/2009)
A Most Pathetic Tree Tie by Wild Ties - Red Silk
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 11/12/2009)
Peanuts Charlie Brown Christmas Charlie Brown Deluxe Action Figure with Pathetic Tree 2008
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 11/12/2009)
Charlie Brown Peanuts Pathetic Tree Lighted Yard Sign
Amazon Price: (as of 11/12/2009)
Charlie Brown Christmas on Amazon
Other Squidoo Lenses on Charlie Brown and Christmas
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A Charlie Brown Christmas
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That loveable "blockhead" Charlie Brown sees throught the commercialism of Christmas in this Charles Shulz classic.
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A Charlie Brown Christmas
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A Charlie Brown Christmas is a classic that tops my list of favorite Christmas cartoons. First of all, I love the Peanuts characters and comic strip that the beloved Charles Schulz created. They are so easy for both kids and adults to rel...
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Charlie Brown
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Charlie Brown is the main character in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz
The Latest News on a Charlie Brown Christmas
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Fetching RSS feed... please stand byDonate to the Children's Defense Fund
The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
More about the Children's Defense Fund
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Children's Defense Fund
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The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is a non-profit child advocacy organization that has worked relentlessly for 35 years to ensure a level playing field for all children. Their mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair St...
Part of the Spirit of the Season Challenge
This lens was updated for the Spirit of the Season Challenge.-
Spirit of the Season Challenge
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The Spirit of the Season Challenge is all about sharing that special holiday spirit that comes around once a year. This Holiday challenge gives lensmasters a chance to share what the holiday spirit means to them, share what they plan to do to spread...
Reader Feedback on the Are You having Charlie Brown Christmas Lens
Your place for comments, feedback, stories and suggestions
Have you ever had a Charlie Brown Christmas?
dannystaple wrote...
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.
Posted December 10, 2008
rms wrote...
Thank you for another wonderful contribution to the Best Christmas Ever group. Not everyone will be having their best Christmas ever.
Posted December 03, 2007
Benefits the Children's Defense Fund
This lens benefits the Children's Defense Fund, a non-profit child advocacy organization that has worked relentlessly for 35 years to ensure a level playing field for all children.They work to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life.
by Comfortdoc
Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, an expert in life challenges, loss, grief and bereavement, professional health educator, professor...
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