It is known that mood disorders always increase during end of the year celebrations. It is said that it is becasue we have to perform in front of the relatives and neighbours, because anotehr year is gone, because a new year is coming.

I thinks there is another important cause. Xmas is the most magic moment for children. The bets moment in our life is likely to have occurred on some Xmas when we were kids. We were able to dream, to expect a vivid future, to spend days with light heart.

Now we compare that memory to what we have become: dreaming includes only nightmares, the future is bleak, and our hearts are always burdened by anguish, fear and sadness. Most of all we feel hopeless and desperate. Even in the worst situations, a child is rarely desperate. Sad of course, but not desperate.

I think the clashing contrast is particularly shocking. For me this is the big issue about Xmas and the end of the year.

This day is holyday in Italy (Mary's Immacolata Concezione). I stay home and let the time pass. The demons of depression are NOT going away, regardless the peak of desperation last wednesday, which normally preludes the end of the crisis. This episode is atypical, I'm worried annad scared.

Thank you alla for the kind words