During December when many people are busy shopping, going to holiday events and cooking, I wonder how many realize how fortunate they are to have family and friends nearby or in close touch. I have two friends who are both only children. One is adopted and has no family and also lost her beloved husband several years ago. The other has children, but only one seems to keep in touch. Her husband died several years ago and her children put her in a retirement home which she greatly dislikes. They also took away her car, so she seldom gets out of her apartment and spends her days reading. How she has survived is beyond my understanding. I try to call frequently and hope that helps. I think we all need to be aware of people who are going through hard times and may be depressed. Even a telephone call now and then or a funny card can help. If someone has recently lost a child, a mate, or partner, the holidays are especially hard. When so many seem busy and happy, it must be hard not to be depressed. There is an increased number of suicides during the holidays and this is understandable. Some people are too proud to call a suicide hotline which could help. Just hearing a friendly voice can make a difference. There are medications that can help, but if someone is depressed, even making a phone call to a doctor or looking for a doctor in order to get a prescription can be too hard a task. Having a difficult time making decisions is often a symptom of depression.
The other problem for people who are lonely and depressed during the December holidays is that colds, flu, and pneumonia can be an added problem. Last year I pushed hard to get three older friends to see doctors because they all sounded as if they could have pneumonia. They all did and each paid a high price for not getting medical care right away. Pneumonia in the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions can be a real problem. Often individuals who are depressed don't get flu or pneumonia shots or seek adequate medical care. I find that the best thing to do if the holidays are hard to handle is to do something for someone else. Also getting out and being around people can be very helpful. Individuals who have deep faith seem to handle the bad times often better than those without any religious connections. So I think we all need to be aware of those around us who are having a hard time this month and help in any way we can.