“Have a holly, jolly Christmas,” sings Burl Ives. Happy carolers belt out, “Joy to the World’ at the top of their lungs. “Ho, ho, ho,” greets a department store Santa. Everyone loves this time of year. Right? Nothing could be further from the truth, especially when you are suffering from depression or another mood disorder. When you are depressed, you’re existing but not really living. You’re often stoic, but seldom truly happy or joyful. The holiday season can be especially difficult because the media conditions us to think that everyone should be joyful this time of year. When you have suffered from depression, you get pretty good at “faking it”. But no one should have to hide their feelings. Marina London LCSW, who edited and contributed clinical advice to my book, Climbing out of Darkness: A Personal Journey into Mental Wellness offered the following suggestions.