The New Year’s blues can hit hard, despite the partying and hopes for a fresh start in the new year. Realizing the losses and disappointments at year’s end causes sadness. An attitude adjustment can ease the pain
Societal expectations to spend New Year’s Eve doing something exciting and fantastic can cause intense pressure and stress. Not meeting the standards of a cool, envious New Year’s Eve can also trigger low self esteem. Social media comparisons add to the pressure of making choices about how to celebrate New Year’s.
New Year’s is a combination of looking forward with hope and excitement and reflecting back on the disappointments and losses experienced in the past year. The end of another year of our life is understandably nostalgic for most people. Reflecting on both good and bad memories can be an emotional process. Unresolved or recent losses can make it impossible to feel the joy and seek out the confetti-filled party of the year. For this reason it is vital to consider how you are really feeling on New Years when making plans. Finding yourself in the middle of a boisterous, joyful celebration when you are feeling pensive, sad, conflicted or anxious can be traumatic. Being in touch with how you feel as the New Year approaches and honoring, not judging, those feelings is important when navigating through the expectations of others.
The death of a loved one, family, friend, or spouse is the most painful of all losses. Reliving the experience of such a profound loss is expected on New Year’s Eve when missing who you have lost becomes more acute. Depending on how recent or how deep the loss is should be your guide on how to celebrate or memorialize the end of the year. There is no right or wrong decision. For some, total escapism is needed to avoid feeling overwhelmed with grief. However, when in mourning, energy is diminished, and forcing yourself to smile and laugh can drain physical and mental energy. For some people, having a quiet evening with those you trust and care about will feel more appropriate, manageable, and comforting. Being honest with yourself and communicating what you emotionally want, need, or handle is essential.
Other losses such as divorce or the break-up of a romantic relationship with a person you loved or had hoped for a future can surface as the year ends and you begin a new year without them. Letting yourself mourn and feel the loss can make room for the hope of looking forward. Losses of other kinds like s or personal accomplishments sought after but unfulfilled can also contribute to New Year’s blues.
Approaching New Year’s Eve with an attitude of self-acceptance and positive thinking helps navigate whatever issues are causing stress or sadness. Finding the balance between acknowledging what has happened in the past year and what is possible for you in the New Year will lessen or eliminate the depression that many experiences on New Year’s Eve.
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