The holiday season is not synonymous with joy for everyone: one in three people with depression would see their symptoms worsen during this period.

This is what a survey funded by a pharmaceutical company says¹, who found that the main trigger for periods of depression around Christmas is loneliness (33%), followed by financial difficulties (29%).

“While depression can be linked to a chemical imbalance, it can also be the result of difficult circumstances, and the holiday season can be a stressor that triggers a depressive period,” explains Camillo Zacchia, Professional Head of Psychology at the Institute. Douglas mental health scholar².

Loneliness: incompatible with the holidays

According to Camilio Zacchia, the Holidays are a time when the social and family aspect is omnipresent. This is the period when we give a lot of importance to relatives and friends.

“But when you are without family or friends, or when you experience conflicts with them, the Holidays are reminiscent of the state of loneliness in which we live,” explains the specialist in anxiety disorders and depression.

And the situation becomes a vicious circle: depressed people are often isolated from others, and their loneliness exacerbates their condition during times when others are rejoicing. “Loneliness is incompatible with the public message conveyed during the holidays,” illustrates Camillo Zacchia.

How to avoid loneliness?

It would be possible to mitigate the risks of relapsing into depression as the holidays approach, provided you prepare.

According to Camillo Zacchia, we must analyze the reasons that make the Holidays sad by asking certain questions:

• What does Christmas mean to me?
• Why is this a difficult time?
• Am I creating too many expectations?
• Am I setting realistic goals?

Then, to break the isolation, it is not necessary to aim so much for a goal to be achieved, but for a strategy or an activity, to avoid being disappointed.

“If I want to find myself a companion, you should not look for a companion. Rather, it is necessary to promote social situations where I will be in contact with people, he indicates. It is often through activities that we meet people, with whom we forge links, some of whom will become friends and, who knows, maybe a soul mate. “

Which activity to choose? There are plenty of them and you have to go according to your own tastes, but the important thing is to opt for an activity in which there are other people.

“If you have difficulty in making contact with others, psychotherapy can help to fight anxiety and the fear of being judged, and to start trusting others again,” recommends Camillo Zacchia.

The opportunity to take stock

According to him, the holiday season can be a great opportunity to take stock. “But now is not the time to try to fix everything,” warns the psychologist. We must rather ask ourselves what we will do this year to make things better next Christmas. “

He therefore advises against changing or stopping treatment when experiencing an unstable period. “I recommend continuing with psychotherapy or medication, as the case may be, and waiting until after the holidays before trying a new approach,” he concludes.

Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net

1. The survey was conducted by Harris / Decima between October 16 and October 27, 2008 among 143 Canadians diagnosed with clinical depression. The margin of error is 8,2%, 19 times out of 20. Based on a press release issued on December 3, 2008 by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly Canada.

2. Find out more about Camillo Zacchia.