Post Christmas Blues, January blah, winter doldrums.

Whatever you call it, it begins after the holiday season when the weather is cold and days are shorter, and it ends before Spring.

Post Christmas Blues (PCB  is an expectation condition, not to be confused with the neurological condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  It originates from one of several situations.

High Expectations for Christmas that don’t materialize.

Paula says, “Every year I look forward to our family’s getting together, telling myself Dad won’t get drunk this year and ruin everything.  I create this fantasy and then am crushed when it doesn’t come true.

No expectations for Christmas but still disappointed: 

Tom says,“I hate Christmas.  It’s my wife’s tradition to spend the day wither parents. Married 10 years, 10 Christmases, and I still feel left out.  Even though I start with absolutely no expectations to enjoy the day, I’m always surprised how disappointed I am afterward.”

John says, “I love getting together with my family. It’s like a warm and loving injection. Yet about a week or two afterward, I get depressed.  It’s taken me years to see the connection – letting go of that sense of belonging as I go back to my every-day life.

Letdown after the party is over:

Martha says, “I spend six weeks planning, shopping, baking, decorating.  Then everyone comes, has a great time, and goes home.  I wash the dishes, store the decorations and it’s all over.  Such a let down.”

Whether you enjoyed your Christmas or not, it’s over, and now there’s a lull.  You feel cranky, blah, depressed, or just plain moody.  PCB, especially if you don’t like winter, is a reaction to the lull. There are things you can do,though, to lessen the effects of PCB.  By knowing the blues (or blahs) are coming, you can take preventive steps.  Here are some suggestions that may spark some of your own.

1.  If you’ve had a wonderful Christmas, you can counter the let-down by finding ways to extend that feeling of belonging.  You might start a mid-year reunion with your family or arrange monthly get-togethers. Use technology and do joint Skype or teleconferences.  Or, capture the special or funny moments in a scrapbook. 

2.  If you’ve had a disappointing (or miserable)Christmas, you might

•       Get involved in something you’ve been putting off, like building shed or making new curtains

•       Start something new, like volunteering at the animal shelter or getting active in your neighborhood

•       Plan your next vacation now, when you need to be thinking about a pleasant future rather than brooding over an unpleasant past.

Sometimes,just understanding why you are blue is enough to help you move on.  But, if not, you at least now know you are suffering from PCB.