What's bothering Holden?

Holden’s madman days around Christmas

The reason I think Holden was really weird around Christmas days is because of depression, Dysthymia because he has always been depressed although he doesn´t know it.

Depression is a common and debilitating mood disorder that is affecting more and more people around the world. An estimated 350 million people of all ages experience symptoms of depression and about 13 percent of Americans take antidepressants.

When you’re trapped in depression, it feels like nothing will ever change. But it’s important to remember that feelings of helplessness and hopelessness are symptoms of depression—not the reality of your situation.

There are four types of depression:

1.  Major depression: typically lasts for about six months, but major depression can be a recurring disorder.
2.  Atypical depression: Include weight gain, increased appetite, sleeping excessively, a heavy feeling in the arms and legs, and sensitivity to rejection.
3. Dysthymia: It lasts a long time (at least two years). Some people also experience major depressive episodes on top of dysthymia, a condition known as “double depression.” You may feel like you’ve always been depressed.
4.   Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): It can make you feel like a completely different person to who you are in the summer: hopeless, sad, tense, or stressed, with no interest in friends or activities you normally love. SAD usually begins in fall or winter when the days become shorter and remains until the brighter days of spring.

Risk factors that make you more vulnerable to depression include:

1.       Loneliness and isolation.

2.       Lack of social support.

3.       Recent stressful life experiences.

4.       Family history of depression.

5.       Marital or relationship problems.

6.       Financial strain.

7.       Early childhood trauma or abuse.

8.       Alcohol or drug abuse.

9.       Unemployment or underemployment.

10.   Health problems or chronic pain.

Symptoms of depression:

• Fatigue and decreased energy
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
• Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
• Irritability, restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
• Overeating or appetite loss
• Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
• Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

Treatment:

·         Learn as much as you can about your depression.

·         It takes time to find the right treatment.

·         Don’t rely on medications alone.

·         Get social support.

What Holden  has is depression. Depression over the loss of his brother, which is a perfectly natural and understandable thing. I just think he isn't quite sure how to deal with his depression. He brings up Allie many times during the book.

I think that Holden should not be on medications because there is a better idea like Jane Gallagher, he likes her a lot so I think that she could help him move on and get a bit distracted.