New Year depression

[Whywonttheyhelpme]

Every year I wake up on the first of January feeling miserable.

I know I should be grateful- I have a nice life as a stay at home mum, happy & healthy children, we are not loaded but financially ok- a great life to those looking in. However, every day I open my eyes feeling fat, miserable, unattractive and just not enough. Am I the only one? Am I just ungrateful?

I know exactly what you mean. January is pretty hard. The numver people chucking themselves off buildings and down balconies in London normally ramps up this time of year.

This is just my personal observation after years of living here btw.

I hear you. For me the days between Christmas and New Year are the worst. I'm feeling a bit down today, but give it a couple of weeks and I'll be feeling better. I actually can't wait to get back to work on Tuesday as I need to get back into a routine.

I don't think it's about being ungrateful, it's just a difficult time of year.

Thing is, it's easy to lose sight of yourself when you are at home with kids. What do you like doing? Or what did you enjoy pre kids? Could you maybe write a few goals down of things that you would like to achieve or try? Whether that's getting fit (Joe wickes is good) or taking up sailing/art/rock climbing?
If that doesn't work then maybe you have a low level of depression? In which case anti depressants and talking therapies can eork winders.

January is always a ish month I hate it

Work wonders*

Totally with you. I find the pressure to have an amazing Xmas, the boredom of Boxing Day, and then the bleakness of ny really hard to deal with. Hunter gatherer sounds like they are good tips. Need to remind ourselves a sahms that we can make time for ourselves otherwise I drift like the tail of a comet in the wake of Dh and teens. Not healthy!

1st Jan is my least favourite day of the year. 31st Dec maybe a close second. You are not alone.

You're not alone OP. I've felt like shit all day.

I've just had DS15 (almost 16) who NEVER cries bawling his eyes out saying he doesn't know why but he feels sad.

I think it's partly new year blues and partly that not a single friend has sought him out to speak to online/phone over Xmas break. It's heartbreaking to witness.

Must admit I feel a bit low today. Nothing to look forward to until Eurovision!!!

January is definitely shit.

January is the worst

The prospect of another year that's similar to the last two is fkn horrendous.

@HunterGatherer thanks for the tips.

You are right that I have spent years looking after everyone else but each time I get in the swing of doing something for me there is something else that gets in the way. I definitely need to be more proactive about setting that time aside.

Thanks to everyone for not calling me a whingeing cry baby.

I could have written this post myself, OP. I have no advice, but solidarity. I despise this time of year. It's a massive come down from the magic we work so hard to build up for Christmas.
My birthday is on the 10th too, and as I get older, I dread that even more.
The January blues are hard.

I like the buildup to Christmas but after Boxing Day I’m ready to get back into the routine. I find 27/12 - 2/1 a depressing, limbo period. I have a couple of friends who’ve taken the coming week off work as annual leave and I couldn’t think of anything worse (unless you’re doing something specific like a holiday or a house move obv - but my friends are just chilling).

@GreenClock, same here. I am force ten when it comes to decorating for and celebrating Christmas, and by the 27th I’m totally done. Hate NYE—always have done.

Also feeling inexplicably and almost frighteningly low here.

The run up to Christmas was shit, I was ill. Then I got covid over Christmas, and then my family were crap over New Year. I’ve run out of resilience and am wondering what the point is… trying to motivate myself to start exercising again after illness cos i know that will help but it’s the last thing i feel like doing right now.

I agree OP, NYD is rubbish. Why celebrate that another year is over? I find it all a bit fake. I find Christmas very stressful, there’s so much to do in the build up them it’s over so quickly. Bring on my birthday in March!

I hate the whole of January and February, if I could I would hibernate and wake up on the 1st March they are both rubbish months, cold dark depressing nothing happening. Everyone is miserable, poor and on diets.

Today I cleaned the house as at least I feel productive. I don’t go back to work until the 10th then I’ll be asking when the Easter holidays are?!

I'm feeling it too OP. I've felt really down all day and have no idea why really. Like a PP, my birthday is in a few days and I hate it. I'd cheerfully just ignore it but my kids would be upset if I did. I just feel like there's nothing at all to look forward to this year.

I found my worst New Years was after I separated from my husband (not a big shock). A big part of feeling low was social media and everyone sharing a round up of their year. I felt like everyone had an amazing life and mine was a car wreck.
Anyway the last few years I've deleted SM apps off my phone about midway in December and don't put them on again till well after new year and it's amazing how much it helps! I do obvs still go on mumsnet