Depression and birthdays

[BabyAngel_LG]

Hello everyone! I'd like to bring up the topic of the time leading up to a birthday. I'm really curious if there's anyone here who completely loses their mood a week or two before their birthday? I've been feeling down and lacking energy for over a week now because my birthday is on February 3rd. This happens every single year. But on my actual birthday, my mood comes back.

If there's anyone here in the same situation, maybe you have advice on how to deal with this? Because I need the energy to clean my home, but I just can't find it.😞

Socializing gives me a bit of a mood boost, so I'm always happy to meet new people. Usually, when I'm talking with others, I feel needed, and that makes me feel better.🥺👉🏻👈🏻

[redruffle41]

Heyo!  So, happy birthday 😊 even though you're a bit down right now. It sounds like there's some pressure around your birthday that's making it hard to act natural.  I think low mood before birthday is really common. At the same time, the experience can vary among individuals.  The way I deal with low mood surrounding holidays or celebrating is to let myself be down. I don't try to push or alter my mood or emotions..... If I have tasks that need to get done I use a reward system for myself. (ie, clean the kitchen then I get to play Nintendo or cell phone or rest til I have to go to work etc). I also use imagery to imagine the event going really well. It sounds like you could use some positive socializing and whatever else is going to get you through...... I also think its worth taking the time to use this as a way to get to know what coping mechanisms work for you and why. It could be that some rest or a bit of laziness is an ok thing, or not. It just depends on what works for you and only you have that information 😊 

[NickyMoon]

On 1/28/2026 at 9:40 AM, BabyAngel_LG said:

Hello everyone! I'd like to bring up the topic of the time leading up to a birthday. I'm really curious if there's anyone here who completely loses their mood a week or two before their birthday? I've been feeling down and lacking energy for over a week now because my birthday is on February 3rd. This happens every single year. But on my actual birthday, my mood comes back.

If there's anyone here in the same situation, maybe you have advice on how to deal with this? Because I need the energy to clean my home, but I just can't find it.😞

Socializing gives me a bit of a mood boost, so I'm always happy to meet new people. Usually, when I'm talking with others, I feel needed, and that makes me feel better.🥺👉🏻👈🏻

Yes! I thought I was the only one! For me, I have found the only way to break that funk is to make sure that I am distracted. The past couple of years I have saved up through the year so that I can travel on my birthday. Being a tourist really makes it easier to not focus on the birthday blues for me. 
And as for the energy to clean, the only advice I have there is kind of the same. I put on my headphones and the most upbeat music I can find and then I'm not focused on the task but it just happens to be what my hands are doing while I dance and sing to the music. I hope this helps and Happy Early Birthday 💜