– It is not that Christmas is sad, but that people with certain depressive or anxious symptoms are more vulnerable to suffer emotional stress during these dates – During these dates and in the following months, there is an increase in consultations of people who, as a desire for change for the new year, acquire greater courage to ask for help – Dr. Farrera explains the keys and tips so that those affected and their families can spend better holidays
Barcelona, December 15, 2015.- 44% of the general population suffers from subclinical symptoms of anxiety, depression and sadness at Christmas. What happens during these dates that there are people who do not enjoy them? Dr. Sandra Farrera, Medical Director of Psychology at Top Doctors® (TibHealth.com), clarifies: “Christmas is not to be blamed”. Contrary to what may be massively thought, Christmas does not imply sadness. “It is not that these dates are sad, but that there are people with certain depressive or anxious conditions, who are more vulnerable to suffer emotional stress during these dates and their symptomatology is aggravated,” he explains.
These are, for example, people who have lost a loved one and are going through a bereavement, people who are facing separation processes, who have economic problems… “More and more people have family members outside, and there are also many who are alone,” continues the doctor. “The situations of negative stress worsen the symptoms of all of them at this time of year, why? It is very easy. If you have been sad for a while and you are forced, under social pressure, to participate in parties, to transmit happiness, to put on a good face, to go out… there are people who suffer a lot”.
Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Eve, Epiphany… “There are many moments. They are days of shopping, eating, drinking, and a lot of extra expenses. And because they are holidays aimed at children, we usually feel more obliged to do so”. Likewise, family members who have not suffered from depression or anxiety find it difficult to understand this behavior. These are happy days for them and they do not understand or are unaware that these Christmas holidays aggravate the symptoms of people with mood disorders.
How can these people have a better Christmas?
– By remembering that it is normal to be sadder at Christmas if they suffer from anxiety or depression and that after spending these days of “family and/or social obligations”, where they are expected to be cheerful, they will feel better. – Looking for personal leisure activities such as going for a walk, doing physical exercise, going to the cinema, theater or activities where there are no groups. – Asking for help. If they think they need help, don’t wait until after the holidays and ask for it right away. The longer the patient waits to seek clinical help, the more it costs to treat them.
How can family members help these people have a better Christmas?
- Do not force them or demand that they be cheerful.
- Thank them for their efforts beforehand and express with empathy that you know they are not well and that just being there or making the effort to participate is a lot for them.
- Avoid making them the center of attention in meetings. Do not ask about their state of mind or the drugs they take.
- Do not give explicit encouragement. There are counterproductive expressions such as “cheer up”, “you’ll get over it” or “calm down”, words that affect people with depression or anxiety. It is better to talk about generic things.
- Avoid controversial topics that confront the group, such as politics, etc.
- Laugh as a group. Laughter is contagious and increases everyone’s mood and sense of well-being.
Feelings of sadness are intensified, especially in people with symptoms of stress and depression who do not follow medical treatment. People who go for consultation have learned to manage emotions and know better how to cope with the feelings that surface at Christmas. “During these dates and in the following months, clinical consultations in the psychic field increase. There are many people who, during these dates and in view of their resolutions to change for the new year, acquire greater courage and demand psychological and medical help,” adds Dr. Sandra Farrera.