Grinch halting Christmas may be depression

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Being irritable, grumpy and seeking social isolation are hallmarks of depression and may explain why the Grinch hated Christmas, a U.S. psychologist suggests.

Cynthia Bulik of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says the fictional children's book character is likely depressed -- explaining his disdain for the Who, his mistreatment of his dog Max and why he tried to stop Christmas from coming.

"Everybody's always so down on the Grinch," Bulik says in a statement.

"Especially around the holidays you look around and everyone seems to be feeling the joy, but inside you're just feeling dark and miserable -- it's that contrast between how you're feeling inside and how all those happy people are feeling out there that can really be torture for someone who has depression."

Depression interferes with daily life and normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her, the National Institute of Mental Health says.

"If there's someone in your life who is just really irritable and miserable, and just not getting any joy out of life, you have to wonder whether they might be being challenged by depression," Bulik suggests. "Reach out and see if some of your friends who are not doing well could use some help."