Are you stressed as 2023 approaches? If so, you may be suffering from New Year’s anxiety. But what are the causes of these anxieties generated by the new year and how to deal with them? Explanations.
- If you suffer from New Year’s anxiety, take care of yourself, including watching the amount of alcohol you drink.
- “Even if you feel like you’re surrounded by people who are happy and upbeat, know that not everyone feels that way and you’re not alone,” according to Catherine Hallissey.
We know that the end of year celebrations can be a source of stress for many people. Once Christmas is officially over, that anxiety gradually diminishes. But for some, new anxieties arise a few days later, more precisely at the approach of the new year. It has a name: New Year’s anxiety.
New Year’s anxiety: the fault of “a lack of structure”
According to the psychologist, Catherine Hallissey, this stress, caused by the new year, is triggered by multiple factors “ranging from the practical aspect (overcrowded schedules, extended family time, financial constraints) to the existential aspect (eg, ‘What am I doing with my life?’)”. “Many people feel pressured to make the coming year their ‘best year’, which can lead to crippling anxiety before the year even begins, and others may still be disappointed at not having achieved everything they wanted this past year”she explained to Stylist UK.
Asked by the magazine, the psychotherapist, Jacqueline Carson, indicated that the contrast between the period before Christmas and that after could be destabilizing. “As Christmas approaches, we are usually very busy and focused on what we need to do. Once the big day is over, we have a lull until New Year’s Eve. (…) This can trigger anxiety. anxiety because there is a lack of structure. Physically and mentally, we may find it difficult to adapt to the period of intermediate calm”she clarified.
How to overcome New Year’s anxiety?
To deal with these anxieties, the two specialists advise to recognize what one feels and to determine the cause of this stress. Step two: add some structure to your days. “Take time for yourself, but use it to do something you love. You don’t want to be too rigid, but having a plan for what you do each day will help you stay focused on the present,” said Jacqueline Carson.
Catherine Hallissey recommends resisting the urge to make resolutions not to put too much pressure on yourself during an already trying time of the year. “Set yourself a specific and realistic goal for the coming year”, added the psychologist.