For many of us, the start of the new year offers a clean slate from our rigorous year-end vacation schedules, an opportunity to reset and create solutions.
But trying to achieve such lofty goals can go against our natural instincts as humans, says a licensed social worker at Thriveworks, a Dallas-based mental health company. Brianda Diaz de Leon says.
The winter season, which brings cold weather and reduced daylight hours, hits many people. The pressure to achieve more in January, combined with the aftermath of her holiday season, will cause people to struggle with their mental health, she said.
“We’re still kind of animals and in a way[winter]is hibernation time for us, so we experience more fatigue and exhaustion,” Diaz de Leon said.
Here are some other reasons that make this time difficult for people, and ways to deal with mounting anxiety.
January presents a new set of challenges, but mental health will start to decline towards the end of the year, Diaz de Leon said. was higher than last year. Inflation, according to a study by the American Psychiatric Association.
“Our capitalist society and the demands of the capitalist holiday season are sometimes at odds with being human,” Diaz de Leon said. Gun violence and the war between Russia and Ukraine also contribute to American anxiety in 2022.
During the holidays, some people have awkward conversations with family they haven’t seen in a while, she says. Those who suffer from anxiety are likely to feel some residual shame from these interactions, which could last into January.
“We’re in a place where there’s a shift in consciousness, maybe even a shift in political identity, so it definitely came to mind during the holidays,” she said.
This year, Díaz de Leon said she noticed high rates of work-related and pandemic-related burnout among her patients. It has caused concern among some customers as we enter the third year of the epidemic.
“Most of my clients are really struggling,” she said.
Many employees use their paid leave to celebrate the end of the year. But when you return to the office, you experience “PTO blues,” Diaz de Leon says, readjusting to the stressors of normal life.
“January is the end of the holiday season,” she said. “Now many of us have to face the consequences of the economic decisions we make.”
Unrealistic New Year’s resolutions can also contribute to feelings of failure and depression, which can peak around mid-January.
“Halfway through the month, I realized that many of us were falling off the wagon because New Year’s resolutions were likely unattainable,” she said. Adds guilt and shame to
Seasonal Affective Disorder, a relapsing seasonal depression that typically peaks in the fall and winter, may also be responsible for lower mental health levels in January. According to Psychology Today, SAD affects about 10 million people in the United States, and women are more likely to be diagnosed.
Diaz de Leon recommends people practice self-care such as staying hydrated, eating a nutritious diet, getting enough sleep, and incorporating some form of physical activity.
“When I engage in self-care, I literally mean taking care of myself in the most basic sense. Make sure it’s calorie-rich, and so on in the winter months,” she said.
For those of us working from home with a sedentary lifestyle, it’s important to move around during the day, even if it’s just a walk or a five-minute stretch.
And when it comes to New Year’s goals, he advises breaking them down into months or quarters to better manage expectations.
“If your goal is to have an office open by the end of 2023, you might be able to break it down into quarterly goals so you can better track what’s going on,” Diaz de Leon said.
If you are suffering from winter blues or other mental illness, you can seek help. If you are in danger, call 911 or the Suicide Prevention Hotline 988 for immediate help. You can also text SIGNS to 741741 for free, anonymous counseling.
