2023-12-18 18:40:55
December arrived. It is during this period that many people do a kind of “general review” of the last 12 months and realize that practically half of the plans and objectives set were not fulfilled. The end of another cycle, alongside the traditional end-of-year festivities, can trigger feelings of anxiety, melancholy and even depression and insomnia in more sensitive people. This even has a name: end of year syndrome.
“The end of the year syndrome, or dezembrite, is a popular diagnosis that is not formally codified by psychiatry or psychology, but it is a simple way of naming a recurring suffering, which affects several families during this period of the year”, explains the psychoanalyst Christian Dunker, who is also a professor at the Institute of Psychology at the University of São Paulo (USP).
According to psychologist Julia Rigueiro Silva, from the Psychology Service at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, end-of-year syndrome can affect anyone and is a way of naming an emotional state, either by taking stock of the past year, or by bringing unelaborated memories, frustrations and mourning.
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The feelings associated with end-of-year syndrome are very similar to those of people who live in the northern hemisphere and report having “winter depression”. In this case, this feeling is called seasonal affective disorder, as it is related to the change of season.
“When winter begins to approach, many people become more restless, afraid of what will happen, fearing the state of isolation and the difficulties that come with the cold. End of year syndrome is a similar reaction. Feelings of anxiety, sadness and melancholy may appear”, says Dunker.
What triggers the problem?
There are several reasons that help explain why people become more melancholic during this period. Firstly, it is a moment of transition, marking the end of a cycle, which causes anguish and a general state of fear for the changes that will come with the beginning of the new year. “This is a date when many people make decisions. It may involve changing jobs, separating couples, moving house or city. It’s a set of circumstances”, explains the psychoanalyst.
The second point is that, especially at Christmas, people generally participate in celebrations that involve family gatherings, friends and work colleagues. This period is understood by many as a time of renewal, reunion and festivities, but it can bring to light possible conflicts within the family itself that may not be well resolved.
“Faced with social pressure for this to be a time of celebrations, joy and encounters, sometimes people have to deal with frustrating and unresolved situations, generating a greater feeling of anguish”, says the Einstein psychologist. Furthermore, grief is also a factor that can become a trigger: “During this period, feelings and memories become more intense. Family meetings can activate feelings related to loss and the emotional memory of people who have passed away. It ends up awakening a feeling of melancholy and suffering,” she explains.
A third reason for triggering the end-of-year syndrome is that, after Christmas, characterized by family reunions, follows the celebration of the New Year, which is the celebration of the individual’s desires and future: “In general, people they do very short, very quick swings, which are not true personal meditations. They look at the past year as if they were a company”, explains Dunker.
“It is these balances that often lead to a feeling of disappointment and frustration. This ends up making the experience an encounter with emptiness, with loss, with lack, with what the person has not yet achieved. This is an important source of suffering”, explains the psychoanalyst.
Other factors that influence the development of the syndrome include financial problems, accumulation of tasks, feeling of emptiness, feeling of failure, missing people who have left, social isolation, high demand at work, among others. This also encompasses the pressure surrounding the expectations created for the past year and the new year that is about to begin.
Race to offices
Faced with so many mixed feelings, the search for professional help tends to increase considerably at this time of year, especially in the week before Christmas. “This is certain and guaranteed”, jokes Dunker, highlighting that many people seek help because they have an acute problem, as if they could resolve it in a single appointment.
“Old patients reappear saying they need an urgent appointment. New patients, who have never been analyzed, also ask for care this week,” she says.
According to the psychoanalyst, despite so many messed up feelings, most cases are punctual and not everyone continues to undergo therapy at the beginning of the year: “We see many cases of people in acute suffering, but when the new year arrives, everything passes. Some patients include psychotherapy among their goals for the new year, but not everyone follows treatment.”
Although it is usually something temporary, it is important to pay attention to some warning signs that may indicate that the end of year syndrome was just a trigger for the development of another disorder, including depression or anxiety. According to the Einstein psychologist, feelings of melancholy usually disappear after the festive season. If this does not happen, it is recommended that the person seek professional help.
“The mix of feelings is part of it, it’s natural at the end of the year. No one is linear, but when episodes start to become recurring, you need to seek help. Signs include insomnia or excessive sleep, lack of appetite, discouragement, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and abusive use of substances such as alcohol and drugs. If it’s an isolated episode, that’s fine. But when a person isolates themselves, becomes more introspective and loses motivation, a professional look is needed”, warns Silva.
How to avoid end of year syndrome?
Dunker says it’s difficult to avoid or prevent holiday syndrome because the circumstances vary so much from person to person. It is not possible to predict, for example, whether someone will lose their job or whether a couple will decide to separate, as these are specific and individual events that can affect people in different ways.
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However, there are recommendations to make this period less melancholy. The first is to take stock of the year calmly and carefully, writing about the achievements and what has not yet been achieved in relation to the established goals: “Take this task seriously”, recommends Dunker.
The second tip is not to be afraid to take stock, not to be afraid to look at your own life, because this is the moment when everyone is “invited” to live this situation. “Talk to other people you trust, but know and respect your own limits. If we exceed our limits, we become exhausted from an emotional and psychological point of view”, advises the Einstein psychologist.
The third point is to understand that the festivities mean a reunion with the past. So, you need to have patience and tolerance. “Don’t expect too much, because this can bring certain disappointments”, says the psychoanalyst.
Finally, setting realistic goals is also a positive strategy. “If you saw that you didn’t reach the goals that were set the previous year, that’s okay, there’s no need to get discouraged. We will stipulate new plans, but always reflecting on what you managed to deliver. Having an organization, even if it is mental, is important for everyone”, said the psychologist.
Dunker agrees and highlights that creating perspectives for the future is important from both an objective and subjective point of view. “The problem is that we often confuse goals, objectives and metrics with our dreams. We just need to be careful not to confuse dreams with goals so as not to end another unhappy year”, he concludes.
Source: Einstein Agency
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