Few people in their lives at least once did not face pre-New Year depression. This unpleasant state is especially acutely felt against the background of the universal celebration of life, bright shop windows, sparkling Christmas trees and sparkling with strained merry advertisements. Sufferers reproach themselves and circumstances for a failed life, and MedAboutMe understands what actually causes a holiday spleen and how can you cope with it?
Where does the New Year’s depression come from?
Before the New Year, a part of the population with burning eyes is packing presents and anticipating a hectic vacation on vacation, and some – with anguish gazing at the winter turning black outside the window and sorting through the failures of the outgoing year. The plans of the past New Year, so bright and colorful, by the end of the 365th day turned into a battered serpentine and a handful of tinsel on the dusty floor. The feeling of failure and failure, the senselessness of the upcoming holiday and the construction of new plans, sadness, longing and sadness are all signs of New Year’s Eve depression, which in one way or another suffers a huge number of people.
But where does this depressive state come from, covering the whole huge country? Here it should be understood that the real events of the outgoing year are only a small part of the factors contributing to the formation of the pre-New Year depression.
It is said that the whole world is celebrating Christmas enthusiastically, but only in our country and in the countries of the former Soviet Union they so fondly love the New Year and celebrate it with such style and taste for so long. And it should be noted that we do not need any other holiday in the year like the New Year. We celebrate it a week and a half after the longest night of the year, when the light day in most parts of our country is offensively short. Ahead of us are the classic February frosts and a cold March winter. Finally, it is the height of the epidemic season – and a break in studies and kindergarten visits helps to reverse the development of the epidemic of influenza and ARVI.
What else contributes to the development of New Year’s depression?
- Melatonin production disorders. In our area, we have no opportunity to rise with the rising of the Sun and lies with its sunset. We get up at night and return home at night. It goes against our circadian rhythms and the production of the hormone melatonin. As mentioned above, the New Year holidays fall just in the most difficult winter period – there is no sun and is not expected. A violation of melatonin production is a risk factor for the development of depression and psychosis.
- Diseases of the thyroid gland. Studies have shown that between 10 and 15% of people with depression suffer from a violation of thyroid hormone production. Hypothyroidism can manifest itself in different ways, but depressive symptoms are among the most common.
- Allergies. It is no secret that there is a whole group of New Year’s allergies that are becoming more acute closer to the holidays: allergy on the mold that lives on the tree, and on the proteins of dust mites, frolicking on dusty toys and Santa Claus overalls, and increased allergenic during festive gatherings – both in a restaurant and on a visit … Immune sensitivity is also a risk factor for depression .
- Diabetics are also at increased risk of developing depression due to fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Insulin is involved in the transfer of tryptophan – an amino acid necessary for the production of the hormone joy serotonin.
In addition to the above pathologies that contribute to the pre-holiday, there are also nuances psyche acting in the same direction. For example, a 1980 study by Chicago scientists proved that one of the key factors in the development of pre-holiday depression is the naive belief that everyone else, except the sufferer, has a great time, and their families are the essence of love and mutual understanding. And in 1999, Canadian scientists identified two major stressors (stressors) of pre-New Year depression: personal loneliness (40%) and lack of family (38%).
So, these factors are fueling the growth of depressive moods during the holidays. But, contrary to popular belief, this does not affect the statistics of suicides or other cases of self-harm. But the share of alcohol poisoning increases at this time noticeably. Psychologists believe that you can cope with pre-New Year depression.
How do gifts affect the psyche?
Give gifts! This is the most New Year remedy for depression recommended by American psychologists. In their experiment, they offered a group of subjects to spend “free” five dollars for a gift to themselves or a gift to another person (for example, in the form of a charitable donation). But on one condition: the money could be spent only in the same way.
It turned out that after a short time, the joy of the gifts to oneself disappears, but the feeling of happiness from the gift to another person does not decrease, no matter how many times the gift was made.
Similar studies have confirmed a simple truth: people who make a gift, experience it every time as a unique event, and rejoice every time. And the constant receipt of money quickly turns into a routine that ceases to be a holiday.
Scientists also say that the gifts we give strengthen our place in society, support and develop social ties, create a sense of being useful for a person – and these are the factors that reduce the effects of depression.
Top 9 Antidepressant Holiday Mood Principles
Considering the above, it is possible to say with confidence: both external factors and our attitude to the events that have passed and are to blame are guilty in the pre-New Year depression. Many of these factors can be changed to your advantage.
- Psychologists are advised to keep the New Year mood within themselves. Even fleeting thoughts, distracting from this pre-holiday excitement, should be muffled by New Year’s business: sign postcards, cook festive dishes, pack presents, and even stand in line for champagne and tangerines. Pay more attention to the festive things you are doing right now, even if your brain stubbornly slips on alternative realities that seem more interesting.
- If there is a feeling of being overwhelmed with affairs, a pathological delay in all possible terms – do not allow panic and bustle to overwhelm yourself. It is better on the contrary, to sit in a separate room in a comfortable chair, relax, concentrate on your breathing and spend a few minutes in peace and quiet. Such a short meditation will allow you to restore emotional balance and take up the preparation of the holiday with new forces.
- If you are going to sum up the entire outgoing year, do not include negative on the list. May he remain last year. Take with you only joyful memories, small and big victories, achievements and successes.
- People who are prone to New Year’s depression, it is not recommended to celebrate the New Year alone. No opportunity to invite guests? You can get to visit someone or arrange a New Year’s trip to a holiday home or any other place where people who are strangers to each other will have a reason to meet each other and exchange congratulations. By the way, check out what is happening on January 1: there are quite a few adventure lovers who organize walks, excursions, races, nature trips on this very day.
- Do not wait for miracles – create them yourself. Buy something you have dreamed about for a long time, but put it in a box that says “This is not the most important thing in the world.” Make decisions about problems that have been hanging over your head for a long time, which you still lacked determination to deal with. Give yourself a holiday made with your own hands.
- Find those who need gifts. This may be the elderly, the disabled, the inhabitants of the hospice. Give them your help! And the feeling of happiness will not keep you waiting.
- Be careful with holiday sleep! Lack of sleep also aggravates depression. Holidays – the best time to sleep off. Allow yourself to do it – this is also a good way to feel the real holiday.
- Given the acute shortage of sunlight, compensate for its lack of long walks. Winter holidays are a great time to stroll in a good company on a bright sunny day.
- Holidays – the time of free choice. Say “No!” To those guests and those matters that do not please you. Allow yourself a break from the commitments.