Santo Domingo.– Although for For many, Christmas is synonymous with celebration.family gatherings and festive glow, for others it becomes one of the most emotionally difficult times of the year.
The clinical psychologist Itania Mariaspecialist in mental health and grief, explained to El Día, that far from being a myth, the so-called “seasonal depression“It is a reality that affects thousands of people between October and December, with an impact that intensifies as the holidays approach.
“It is very true. “It’s not a myth.” says the specialist.
“Since October there are those who begin to feel persistent sadness. The end of the year invites us to count: what dear people are gonewhat goals were not achieved, what partner was lost, what work ended. It is a time of reflection, but also confrontational with what hurt or didn’t go as we expected.”
The emotional weight of December
The specialist points out that Christmas touches deep fibers because it is full of family rituals.
Read also: Christmas and the “white depression”: how to deal with it
“Mothers are usually the soul emotional of the homes. When mom is missing, dinner doesn’t taste the same. When dad no longer heads the table, the absence is felt in every detail,” he explains.
Pain does not only come after a death: divorce, separation, estrangement from children or forced migration are also experienced as losses.
“I can be living in London with all the conditions to be happy and still feel sad when I see my friends celebrating together. LChristmas reactivates that duel for migration that many underestimate,” he comments.
Added to that nostalgia is the pressure of the calendar. Each December becomes an emotional clock that demands results, even for those who don’t feel ready to be held accountable.
“Unfulfilled goals are reviewed: lose weight, take a trip, change the car, buy an apartment, have children, find a partner. And on top of that comes the little friend who reminds you, ‘And the car?’, ‘And the child?’, ‘And are you still single for another Christmas?’,” says the psychologist.
The call “Christmas social pressure” is a factor that, according to Itania, can trigger sadness or anxiety in those who already feel vulnerable.
“Not everyone has the coping tools to respond assertively. For those who care too much about external judgment, Christmas can become a painful mirror.”
Keys to emotionally surviving the end of the year
A point that the specialist repeats is the importance of practicing self-compassion.
“If I couldn’t meet my goals, what really happened? Were there circumstances beyond my control? Were there unforeseen expenses, illnesses, financial losses? We cannot live from inhuman self-demand.”
For 2026 he says the key is achievable goals. “If I earn 75 thousand pesos, I cannot demand from my reality that supports goals that They require 95 thousand. If this year I couldn’t buy the jipeta of my dreams, maybe a smaller car is realistic. If I want a partner, I have to ask myself if I’m really open to meeting someone or if I’m still waiting for a fairytale Prince Charming.”
The specialist insists that setting objectives must be done from real data and not from unfair comparisons or fantasies. And that is where another silent enemy comes in, social networks.
Christmas on Instagram: other people’s happiness as a trigger for emotional discomfort
The psychologist is forceful, “The networks are sending many people to therapy.”
In a time where photos abound perfect family, trips, corporate parties and public demonstrations of love, those who do not live that reality can feel deeply insufficient.
“The question comes: ‘And why not me?’ What does Juliana have that I don’t have? “Why her and not me?” he explains. For many, seeing the success of others does not inspire, but rather fuels destructive comparison.
However, Itania proposes a different approach: look at the practices that worked for others and turn that inspiration into action.
“If your friend is doing well, ask yourself what she did that you could adopt. Let her success serve as a driving force, not torture.”
Christmas loneliness
Another trigger of sadness at this time is loneliness. The specialist affirms that Christmas increases the feeling of isolation in those who do not have a strong emotional support network.
family photos, the illuminated trees and large dinners can become painful reminders for those who have no one to share with.
“I do not recommend that anyone spend Christmas alone. Look for a friend, a friend, invite yourself. One year I myself called a friend, ‘Are you going to Villa Tapia? Well, I’m going with you.’ And I was happy that Christmas.”
For her, these types of decisions are “intelligent and healthy practices” that protect against isolation, one of the quickest paths to depression.
The shadow of collective mourning
Itania remembers that the country is still experiencing the emotional impact of recent tragedies. The most marked, that of April 8, which left 236 dead.
“There are millions of Dominicans grieving this Christmas. Not only those who directly lost a loved one. Also those who connect emotionally with that merengue they listened to, with that place they visited, with that tradition that is no longer the same.”
He says Christmas music is capable of activating memories that previously generated joy and today produce tears.
What to do if someone close to you is depressed?
The psychologist offers a practical guide to accompany those who are going through deep sadness:
- Active listening: No cell phones or distractions. “Look in the eyes, be present.”
- Emotional validation: Saying “I understand you”, not “be strong” or “be positive”.
- Accompaniment without pressure: Do not force parties or activities that they do not want to do.
- Significant presence: “Let them know you’re there. Even if it’s bringing dinner.”
The objective is to help without imposing, to be there without invading, to accompany without judging.
