Holiday Depression Comes Early

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Christmas and holiday advertising is starting earlier than ever and there is little doubt that many people are aggravated that the once sacrosanct tradition of not advertising before Thanksgiving is being broken.

What does this have to do with health you might ask? Actually it has everything to do with those who suffer from depression around the holiday season. Think about it. If you feel alone or are battling depression, the sight of countless people who appear happy and content can be very disconcerting.

The bigger issue may be that advertising establishes an unrealistic world that may not exist even in the best conditions. As we get closer to the holiday the repetitive exposure to these images can worsen these feeling of depression.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor