Smiling people, travel, the consignment, burning fireplaces, magnificent festive tables, joys and revues! For many, the above New Year’s “frames” instead of to evoke anticipation and pleasure, it ignites the complete opposite the senses- anxiety and depression.

The term is quite old. One of his first appearances. Christmas blues (SS in Free Attribution: Christmas Blues) was in a 1985 New York Times article titled “How to Deal with Depression During the Christmas Vacation”.

“Obviously we don’t need does with an “official” psychological disorder, but according to recent research, the Christmas blues affects more and more people,” says family counselor “K”, Christiana Deutschwhich the notes that, according to a recent American Psychological Association (APA) survey, 38% of participants they reported that their stress Continues during the holiday season.

Such as continues explain: “Interestingly, according to research, women are much more vulnerable to the Christmas blues.

In addition, for people suffering from an anxiety disorder or depression, Christmas they can act as very negative catalysts.”

Quite obligatory and financially demanding

Beginning with describes corroding the psychology of many people, the way Christmas works, RS Germanou notes that it is during this period that everything around us focuses on how …: “wonderful, bright, brilliant, happy, etc. Christmas. Which now “crawl out” more and more early – We see that celebrations they have arrive from mid-November. In any case, it begins to seem that people are obliged to follow this example of “self-willed” joy.

RS German, speaking that one of the biggest sources of stress at Christmas is its financial aspect. The truth is that the holidays “require” more and more money, as a result of which people, already “stressed” financially in everyday life, these days “stress” even more.

As Ms Germanou explains: “Initially envisioned, the deeper essence of the holidays as a period of expression of love, peace and solidarity, dissolves gradually. The modern demands of Christmas “require” traveling, purchasing goods, buying good gifts for friends and loved ones. Despite the economic crisis of the previous decade, Christmas continues to reflect the financial surface in many people’s minds. Unfortunately, our society is still largely based in you can see it in the picture too. This year, especially when inflation is putting a lot of pressure on citizens, economical the tension of the holidays bulges out of things.”

However, the poor economic situation this year can and should ultimately play a positive role in terms of more and more people understand that all these “requirements” are already abnormal, they are uncontrollable, they are inhuman. “The fact that many do not recognize themselves and their needs in all this false atmosphere makes it easier to demystify and they come closer to yourself, ”says the family psychologist.

Holidays are hard for those who are bereaved.

Second, no less important factor which can bring on the Christmas blues is feeling of loneliness which they are coming dealing with people who are going through a breakup or the loss of a loved one. Or people who have lost a loved one due to an earlier holiday season.

“Therefore, this almost obligatory joy contrasts with the feelings of a person who is sad and wants to live his mourning,” explains RS. Deutsch.

Women’s workload and children’s need for a holiday

In any case, there is a group that likes -as well as So must –more than all of them holiday and what else takes on himself …lanza of them. Buying gifts, decorating the house, preparing festive tables, a program of children’s walks and activitiesetc., they all continue to pass through the hands of the mother/wife. As explained RS Deutsch: “This is about per manifestation of an average Greek family that continues to be strong.”

According to her,La above, have almost no application to children. Very reasonable, considering that children do not have nobody from the anxieties that adults have. As Ms Germanou explained: “In children enjoy as well as they enjoy Christmas with sincere joy, they feel free and let their imagination run wild in this festive atmosphere.”

This does not mean, of course, that RS Herman that one should not show children the negatives of the mass commercialization of holidays. “You owe them we explain what kind is possible and what not. Parents shouldn’t have the added stress of making Christmas perfect for their kids by fulfilling every possible and unbelievable wish. them”concludes the psychologist.

Ms Germanou also gives some tips on how to relieve stress and melancholy during your holidays.

Tips for dealing with the Christmas blues

one. Minimization of requirements and expectations. Receive more affordable gifts or even donate something we have done apart from financial and closer to the true “philosophy” of Christmas. Hard winter this year is an opportunity to become more flexible and adaptable in these matters, getting rid of the guilt of what we cannot track financially.

2. Maintaining the regime. Are we on vacation or not, yes hold me as many of our daily habits as possible helps us to “demystify” Christmas and not see it as a time when everything should be bright, festive and inside bliss. Routine acts as a stable starting point in the “madness” of the holidays.

3. Saying “no” to what we don’t liken but they “should” be done because “it happens on holidays”. One of it’s all, these are, for example, festive tables. According to Ms. Germanu, if we do not want to organize or attend, No we have to do it.

four. Let’s decide there is no perfect giftperfect New Year, perfect holidays.

5. Let’s choose what works us and which ones our partner or friends will deal with. Working together at Christmas strengthens the bond between people in addition to sharing responsibilities.

6. Let’s sleep as much as we canSleep provides rest. Mind you misterhey it bodyrecharges batteries, relieves stress.

7. Be kind to yourself as we sum up us for the last year. That it wasn’t a “perfect” year and a lot of what we wanted didn’t happen, Indeed the most realistic and human version of the everyday life of all of us.