Forget Sunday Scaries: Why 'New Year Blues' Are So Brutal |
I get pretty severe Sunday scaries, or the creeping sense of dread that happens as the weekend comes to an end.
So perhaps it’s no wonder that, as Christmas ends and 2026 draws ever nearer, I’m feeling more on edge than usual. After all, it’s not unlike the end of a very extended, food-filled weekend.
I find myself flitting between purposeless melancholia, overwhelm at my expectations of the year ahead, and a sense that the new year acts as a sort of annual report I’ve miserably failed.
Not exactly good for small talk over festive canapés, is it? But according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, I’m not alone; 64% of us suffer from “post-holiday blues”.
What are the symptoms of post-holiday blues?.
Per BetterHelp, symptoms can include sadness, apathy, a sense of emptiness, restlessness, irritability, frustration, stress, and a sense of loneliness.
Those with “post-holiday blues” might also experience muscle tension, aches, or pains,........