Discussion:Post Tax Season Depression
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MugsyMcGuire (talk|edits) said: | 15 April 2008 |
| I know this sounds crazy, but does anyone else seem to have a problem with depression after tax season? I feel it coming on already, and this is the 3rd year in a row it has happened.
I should be celebrating that the work is over, but instead I'm finding myself at a loss with what to do. I have a great marriage and two healthy kids that I adore...so there are no personal issues "at home" that I have to go back and face. I know it's nuts, but I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else struggle with the same thing. | |
Nancyshoemake (talk|edits) said: | 15 April 2008 |
| Could it also be that you are letting down after a big push. I find (after 22 years of this craziness) that if I let myself be somber for a period of time and give in to sleeping more and letting myself take some time off- I will get out of the low period easier. If I fight it I will be stuck in it longer.
I think this is so common when one has to be on a "high" for so long that this dynamic happens. My husband laughs at me when I see someone I know at the grocery store and I turn and go the other way. After being so "friendly" and "attentive" to so many people - I don't want to answer another tax question or see another familiar face! | |
ImBillingTime (talk|edits) said: | 15 April 2008 |
| Yep. I'm always moping around on the 16th. It's like I moved an entire mountain and I want a medal and a parade. Feel kind of empty.
Beaches and margueritas make that feeling go away. | |
| 15 April 2008 | |
| I don't have near the return volume that some of you do. However, tax season serves as an excuse NOT to have to do a lot of other stuff Perhaps there's something you have been putting off that you are dreading having to deal with now.
On the other hand, your body may just be depleted and a little worn out, so treat yourself to something. Like going out for a fabulous dinner or something. Or go fishing or something. You also might consider having a complete physical, just to make sure you are not pre-diabetic (doesn't that sound fun? But better safe than sorry). There is one thing that did get me down this tax season and that is the realization that tax work does not pay what it should; compared to the continuing education, experience and knowledge that many of you have (which mine does not compare to in this area). | |
| April 15, 2008 | |
| Actually, it doesn't sound crazy. As Nancy said, it's go, go, go for at least a couple of months. Your body probably needs a break. Perhaps you should just take a few days off and enjoy your kids. Do something special with your family.
And if you want a few laughs, take a look at the "Fred for President" and "The Fred and Tom Venture" threads. | |
| 15 April 2008 | |
| Fred's going into detox with all the Tequila he swizzled down! LOL. Just kidding. He probably doesn't even drink. | |
| April 15, 2008 | |
| You're probably right, Crow. I think Fred has already left the building, too. | |
| 15 April 2008 | |
| I get depressed just thinking about it. Has lasted 2-6 weeks in the past. This year I'm only allowing it to happen until Monday. :) | |
Nancyshoemake (talk|edits) said: | 16 April 2008 |
| It has already begun for me. Home in my fave chair with my 3 little yorkies hovering over me (Natalie these are my kids - the others are 22, 21 and 19). Already starting to feel the exhaustion seep out of my bones. For me this has been the toughest tax season yet. I use to have this wonderful 67 year old EA do all of my corporate returns. He informed me in December that he wasn't coming back....so I was left carrying the boat on over 150 S corps and llc (that I hate doing). It made me begin the busy season on January 2nd instead of a bit later in January. The good news is they are all done by about 5 of them. However, it did take a toll as they are 5 - 10 times the work of an individual return. | |
| April 16, 2008 | |
| Mugsy - it's mainly just physical. For me, it's been at least four weeks of an adreneline high to keep pushing/functioning at 100% capacity......the good old fight or flight response.
Now the fight is over/there's no need to flee anymore. The 'bad' part is now you have to make a decision on what to do today/tonight/tomorrow as you no longer HAVE to work on tax returns. And the brain isn't quite ready to deal with choices yet :-). It's normal, so ease up on yourself and take some time to recover. Work just a couple of hours a day; cook a nice meal; work in the garden; get a massage; go to a movie; spend time with your friends and family; etc. In other words, go back to being normal. It'll take time, but it does happen. And if it doesn't, consider Crow's suggestion of a check up to make sure there isn't something other than "post tax season blues" going on. Good luck & keep us all posted on the progress! | |
| 17 April 2008 | |
| I have a friend that is a Psychologist (or maybe a Psychiatrist - I can never remember the difference). Anyway she says it is a type of depression (I don't remeber the type she called it) brought on by the change in body chemistry (adrenaline and blood pressure change) due to stress of busy season. Mine usually doesn't hit until mid May (we usually stay extra busy for a few weeks after the 15th to catch up on all the other work we haven't done for the past 2 or 3 months).
Best fix for us is to take a small vacation as quickly as possible after busy seaason to get some rest and let our bodies decompress. | |
| May 16, 2008 | |
| Psychologist has a Ph.D., a psychiatrist has an M.D. or Psyc.D. | |
| 16 May 2008 | |
| Three months of sugar, caffeine & adrenaline...this is drug withdrawal time - literally. | |
| May 16, 2008 | |
| The best way to handle caffeine is to wean off gradually. Caffeine headaches can be really bad. | |
| 16 May 2008 | |
| Getting depressed is looking at your check book after work long, long hours after tax season and
realizing the payoff didn't show up | |
| 18 May 2008 | |
| You got that right Natalie, let me tell you my story.
I tried to get off caffine, but the headaches were too bad. So the doctor prescribed morphine, then I got hooked on the morphine. To steady my nerves on the morphine, I started drinking, then I got hooked on the Old Crow (80 proof). Finally, to sober up from the Old Crow, I started drinking coffee again. Let this be a lesson to everyone. Keep drinking coffee, or end up like me. | |
| 18 May 2008 | |
| Mugsy, I don't think you are nuts, I think your reaction is normal. I have had mild depreesion after tax season every year for decades. I don't know what it is exactly however this is how I would describe it. I get pumped doing the returns, collecting the good income for a few months, focus alot of time and energy on the tax process, and then boom, the demand for high activity vanishes. I start feeling the let down around April 1st. It is a similar feeling I get at dog trials, which I do alot of, on Sunday afternoon we start packing to leave for the trip home, I start missing the friends and competition, yet know the next trial is right around the corner.
I was going to start drinking again next tax season. However JDCrow is right, best to just stick with coffee. Lots of it. | |
| 18 May 2008 | |
| Seriously, now that I think about it, I may have to find a substitute for coffee.
I went to the store today to buy some, and it's getting to the point that it's liquid gold. | |
| 19 May 2008 | |
| Welcome to Retirement ... this is every Monday morning if not tax season or traveling ... lost feeling! We just returned from a trip to Scotland (spent my tax season income) ... now what for the next 6 months until Florida? My wife's knee replacement coming up and gas prices will probably keep us from roaming too much. Can always take the Grandkids on a bike ride or swimming... have a few more CPE hours ... could be a long summer. I am even tired of politics already.
Snowbird 07:13, 19 May 2008 (CDT) | |
