COLUMBUS, Ohio -- There's no question -- the holidays are a fun and exciting time, but while some see this time of year as time to spend with family and friends, others find themselves with a case of the holiday blues -- and the economic situation isn't making things any better.
Psychologists say the combination of the sluggish economy and national unemployment rate of 6.7 percent has more people suffering from the holiday blues.
"The holidays -- while they're made up to be an exciting and fruitful and wonderful and celebratory time, aren't that way for everybody because of the loss of a loved one or a family being no longer around," said David Lowenstein, Ph.D. of Lowenstein and Associates.
Lowenstein said the struggling economy and widespread job loss has also impacted his patients.
"While being excited about it, realizing their economic situation, they don't know if they're going to be in a job next week, next month or maybe sometime next year and are very frightened about it," he said.
Sammy Bryant has a job and said he's already spoken to his son about his Christmas gifts this year.
"Yeah, I let him know he might not get the Wii or the xBox … but he will get something for Christmas," Bryant said.
He said his family is being honest with one another and focusing on what is right, not wrong. That's exactly what Lowenstein said you should do.
"We're being grateful for what we have -- me and my wife -- we both have good jobs. We have a wonderful son. He might not get what he wants, but he will get something and I think we all will be happy after Christmas," Bryant said.
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