While the holidays are supposed to be all about good cheer and family festivities, it is also a prime time for expectations falling way short of reality.  Many people get the holiday blues, but sometimes it may be something more serious.  One of the most vulnerable groups: Working moms.

There is an epidemic of depression among American working moms, according to a survey from Working Mother magazine.  They surveyed more than 500 working mothers, in mid-November on workingmother.com,  and found that:

91.4 percent reported that they been depressed, and of that, less than a quarter felt depressed during the traditional post-partum period (1-3 months after giving birth);
More than half were depressed after the traditional post-partum period, many over a decade later;
While more than half claimed depression impacted their work, just 7 percent told their boss, with “embarrassment” cited as the primary reason for their secrecy;
38.3 percent said their depression impacted their children;
The majority - 52 percent - did not seek help, mainly because they thought they could handle it themselves.
As successful working moms, 60.7 percent said depression felt like a “personal failure.”

 Among the article’s  findings:

· Nationally, 1 in 5 working women is depressed;

· Experts are hearing from more women with kids 4 and older who say they’re depressed;

· A key trigger is the gap between how a working mom feels she should be behaving and performing and how she believes she actually is. Other triggers include lack of support from a spouse.

· Despite the stigma, famous working moms who have come out about their struggles include Sheryl Crow, Courtney Cox Arquette, Lorraine Bracco, Uma Thurman and Brooke Shields.

To see a checklist of depression symptoms and find out about resources, check out this link at Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri.