Why Holidays Can Trigger Depression: Psychological Aspects and Solutions
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Depression during holidays isn't simply a reaction to external pressures; it delves into the realm of the unconscious, intertwining with our personal narratives. Psychoanalytically, this depression can be interpreted as a surfacing of internal conflicts tied to expectations, grief, and the symbolic weight we attach to holidays.
Causes of Holiday Depression
- Frustrated Expectations and Idealization: Holidays often come laden with expectations of joy, togetherness, and wish fulfillment. We may frame desires as potential life changes. Yet, despite our belief in miracles and sending requests to the universe, life doesn't transform overnight.
- Loss and Melancholy: Drawing from Freudian theory, depression (or melancholy) can stem from the loss of a significant object - be it a person, an ideal, or a sense of belonging. Holidays accentuate these losses, emphasizing family and social connections.
- Struggles with Desire: The holiday season can bring a stark realization of our inability to fulfill deep-seated desires. No gift or event can truly fill a fundamental void. This confrontation with emptiness breeds depression and anxiety.
How to Combat Holiday Depression
The key lies in understanding the expectations and fantasies that surface during this period, as well as uncovering any hidden losses or conflicts fueling the depression.
Seeking the help of a psychoanalyst can provide support in accepting personal shortcomings, understanding desires, and working through unconscious patterns that cause suffering.
