The Christmas and the end of year holidays are commonly associated with happiness and harmonythis is what has probably been instilled in us since childhood. However, not everyone experiences them the same and can be triggers for stress and anxiety. The purchase of giftslas family gatherings or work, bills and the transit On the streets they can make more than one lose their cool.
To these questions we can add the mourning for the absent: not only for the deceased, but also for other losses, such as those who emigrated.
stress It affects each person differently and influences depending on the personality, gender and agesay the experts.
In dialogue with Infobaethe doctor Rolando Salinas (MN 72241), head of Mental Health at the German Hospital and professor of Health Psychology at the Argentine Catholic University (UCA) explained:
“In general, the end of year holidays are a reason for family reunion and unity. However, it must be accepted that they carry a component of stress due to issues related to organization of the meetings, closures and balances of the work and personal year, added to the concerns excessive, which are a source of anxiety”.
Los mourning for the absent are another cause of stress at this time, the doctor said, adding: “Many people they relive the losses, the deathsfamily breakups, and in our current case, the distance of young emigrants. Parents, especially at a certain age, are happy about the progress of their departed children, but also become aware of the absence”.
Another stress factor is current economic limitationssaid the expert, “which become evident in the face of the expense involved in a meeting or celebration, especially when there were better times.”
And he added that currently, festivals like the Christmas, who were massively accompanied by religious feelings, They lost that transcendent and hopeful meaning for a large part of the people. “The esperanza In the future it is fundamental for the celebration in the deepest sense,” he stated.
On the other hand, the concept of family is no longer limited to traditional modelit is increasingly common to choose those people with whom we share our lives, who become the chosen family.
Dr. Salinas added that the change in traditional family structures has also put end-of-year celebrations to the test, “which can involve a certain adaptive stress to accept more complex models with a plurality of coexistence dynamics”.
For its part, Emilse Schenka graduate in Psychology from the University of Buenos Aires (MN 34531) and coordinator of the Psychology team at the Hirsch Center, referred to the impact of the holidays on older people: “Family gatherings can often generate stress in them because they leave the routine to which they are accustomed and also because of the extra expenses that, perhaps, they cannot afford. This can produce guilt and dissatisfaction”.
Another point to take into account is the soledad that those who do not have family members feel and in this time of meetings, it is much more evident. “If you don’t have family to get together, you have to encourage participation in retirement centers or clubs, where they can be with other peers celebrating the holidays,” commented the professional.
Within the work of maintaining traditions, it is usually women who carry out this invisible work that requires a energy overstrain. Planning the meal, shopping, cleaning and decorating the house, choosing gifts for each family member or friend. It is a task that is usually carried on the shoulders of women.
And study a European scale, carried out in 2023, showed the disproportion of family tasks carried out by women and the consequences that these have for their mental and physical health.
9.5% of women reported high levels of conflict between their workload work and family workcompared to 6.5% of men. On the other hand, the 26% of them indicated that they are usually or always responsible for organizing joint social activities, compared to 19% of them. Routine purchasing decisions fall 55% on female shoulders, compared to 44% on male shoulders.
Maria Olivellacoordinator of the Equality Unit of the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), stated in an article published on the website of that university that “some—or many—women have fear of these vacation spaces, such as Christmas or summerbecause for some it is a vacation, but for others it is a lot logistical work and of personal relationship management”.
Women usually take on most of the tasks to be done during the holidays. This overexertion and mental load can trigger stress and exhaustionsay the UOC experts and recommend redistribute family responsibilities during Christmas so that everyone can fully enjoy the holidays.
Psychology explains that some people don’t like Christmas because difficulties in regulating your emotions or due to various psychological circumstances. This makes them more vulnerable to suffering from any of these syndromes:
- Grinch syndrome: is a colloquial term used to describe the negative emotional state that some people experience during the holidays. It can manifest itself in many ways, with anxiety, depression, nostalgia.
- Empty chair syndrome: refers to the difficult emotions felt when facing the loss or lack of a loved one.
- Christmas carol syndrome: It is expressed when people come into conflict with themselves for not connecting with the Christmas spirit, which generates stress and anxiety.
Experts say that you have to learn to manage stress to have a happy holiday. To achieve this goal, the advance preparation and the taking of collaborative family decisions They are key elements to mitigate tensions and have a good time.
Dr. Salinas stated: “The most important recommendation is to be able separate the important from the accessoryputting the emphasis on improving and enjoy meaningful interpersonal connections”.
For her part, Ms. Schenk highlighted: “The first thing is anticipate and start organizing in time, Know where they are going to meet, at what time, who is going to go and what they have to prepare. “You can also ask older people how they want to celebrate and if they want to invite a friend to feel more accompanied.”
And he added: “We must plan round trip transfer y Do not subject the elderly person to staying up late in a place to avoid physical and mental exhaustion. It is important to tell her that when she feels tired, someone will take her home.”
The experts also highlighted the importance of maintain healthy habits: follow one balanced diettry to Do not overdo it in food or drink; make a regular physical activity and prioritizing rest. The key is in listen to your own bodythe specialists assured.
Finally, if the discomfort During the holidays, going to a mental health professional can help address where family conflicts come from and try to manage them.
