Anxiety and frustration are usually very recurring feelings on these dates for Celeste Valverde. “It gives me anxiety from the pressure of meetings and social interaction. Expenses and not knowing how to please others with a suitable gift”, confesses the 33-year-old woman, who finds in the Christmas decoration an escape from all the chaos that December causes her. Meanwhile, her frustration relates to all those earrings that she was not able to settle before the end of the year.
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On the street, taxi drivers also feel ‘Christmas stress’; the heavy traffic congestion and the desperate sound of car horns are proof of that. And not to mention the long lines in the commercial premises, where the showcases already made their best offer since October.
“December is no longer a date of peace, but of stress and expenses… everyone is running, and some of us are caught without money”expressed in a distressing way a woman in her 50s who was lining up at a pharmacy.
Despite the fact that these festivities were born to transmit a message of union and family rejoicing, for some this time is more attached to melancholy, pain, vulnerability and stress. According to him Dr. Gregory Celis, medical director of Laboratorios Bagó, this disease is known as christmas depression and according to World Health Organization (WHO)6% of the population is prone to suffering from it this season.
“There are people who are more vulnerable to having depressive events at certain times of the year, especially when there is a festive event like Christmas and the New Year, but it also happens a lot on birthdays or on dates when we celebrate something familiar. These people who are prone to depression, in these times, increase this depression and can even commit suicide”, Celis describes in an interview with this newspaper.
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Nostalgia on this date can also be triggered by the death of a loved one, Celis mentions. “The holidays have the particularity of making the absence of loved ones more evident, so the emotional emptiness intensifies,” He says.
Among the reasons, the economic situation also stands out, which is capable of generating concern and even despair. “At Christmas, which is a holiday characterized by the massive purchase of gifts, having to opt for austerity can cause anxiety in the person, even more so when they are unable to do so.”
To this, the psychologist madeli santos added to the pressure and frustration of having to accomplish so many things before the end of the year. “They feel pressured, they have ideals in their minds of what they want to achieve, of what they want to generate, and that is already increasing states of depression or anxiety that were loaded from before,” aim.
Santos says that the messages issued by social networks about whether the goals proposed for the year were achieved fuel this discomfort. “That self-judgment of I didn’t achieve it begins, how bad I am, I’m not productive, I never achieve it, I always propose something and then I throw it out… This self-criticism increases the levels of frustration and discomfort in us” .
Deep sadness, social isolation, negativity towards life, listlessness, hopelessness, increase or total loss of appetite, excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs, much or little sleep, constant crying are usually signs that warn of a possible Christmas blues, experts say.
Next, we list some guides, given by specialists, to face this emotional crisis.
be aware
Experts say that the first step is to be aware of what is happening inside each one. “To manage something I have to understand it, I have to know where it comes from… Sometimes it is only necessary to learn to feel”mentions the psychologist Santos.
Don’t run away from emotions
Sometimes you fight against all odds to get rid of an emotion or feeling, since we have repeatedly been told that in bad times you have to put on the best smile, but this should not always be the case, say the professionals. “Something I tell my patients is to talk with their emotion, get to know their emotion. When we really learn to look pain, sadness, depression in the face, we begin to understand why it is present.says psychologist Santos.
let go of idealism
One of the recommendations of the experts is to let go of the idealisms that have been built in the mind and, where appropriate, focus on what can be done. Christmas shopping is not everything, there are also experiences that will create memories in each person. “When I focus on what I can do, what I can give, I can have a good time. Our children, our families, our friends, what they want most is to feel meaningful things.” Santos recommends.
“See that the mere fact of being healthy is already a gift of life. First health and then anything else”adds Celis.
Learn to set limits
If you don’t like something or it bothers you, set limits, learn to say no. “Sometimes the issue of pressure is generated because people want to do some things that are asked of them and they are not willing, and forcing them leads to a low state of mind,” holds Santos.
Patience and a schedule
It is traditional that in this month Christmas gatherings emerge as a commitment that for some may seem like a sentence. Dr. Celis recommends organizing with patience and prioritizing what is really important, because it is not about complying with everyone, but rather complying with what you can, in the time that you can, and above all, fulfilling yourself.
“If you are an extremely busy and socially busy person, you should make a calendar and realize that your family needs you too. And another important thing, that you need yourself… What do I gain by going from party to party if I don’t do a stop and look at myself in the mirror and recognize that I also need a moment of peace and quiet?.
Find a support system
It is a form of self-care to have friends, a close family, because this will help you feel closer to other people.
Seek professional help
Dr. Santos points out that mental health care centers have more patients on these dates, precisely because this type of discomfort manifests itself more strongly at this time. “It is not bad to ask for help… it would be good to review later and receive a slightly longer process to understand where it comes from and thus not fall into this symptom every Christmas”, Santos points out.
“When a person recognizes that they are sick, they have won more than 80% of the battle”, Celis points out.
Don’t focus on negative things
Try to relate to people who have a positive information content, it is preferable not to feed those emotions with an environment that is constantly issuing negative messages. (YO)
Consulted specialists:
- Psychologist Madeli Santos (@madeli.santos), director of the Mindpath Light program. Contact: 0988858813.
- Dr. Gregory Celis, Director Bagó Laboratories doctor. Contact: www.bago.com.ec
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
