Healthline: What is ‘Christmas Creep’ and Why Can It Stress You Out?

““People are feeling stretched thin and worried about finances, and inflation would just add more stress,” says Lena Derhally, LPC, founder of Lena Derhally Psychotherapy and author of The Facebook Narcissist. “I know that people go into debt over holiday shopping without inflation, so imagine how inflation might make that even worse than it already is.” There isn’t research on how an extended season of holiday deals affects mental health. But generally, data has indicated that the holidays, especially the gift-giving expectations, are stressors.

A small 2021 survey of 500 adults by Sesame, a healthcare provider, indicated that gift shopping was the season’s biggest stress trigger. A Coinstar survey of 2,000 adults from 2019 had a similar finding. More than half of the respondents said they were experiencing stress over finding the perfect gift. Adding to this stress could be bad news for retailers. A 2018 study suggested people spend less during the holidays when they are stressed.

Though the holidays can challenge some people mentally and financially, others love the season. It may not even be about the gifts — just the sight of a lit-up holiday tree makes them happy, too. Experts share that if that’s the case, there’s no shame in decking your halls in October and basking in the glow of an artificial tree set up on the floor at Costco. “This is particularly true for people who have holiday trees and decorations linked with experiences, loved ones, and recollections,” Peifer says.”

Some Insights From This Article

• Christmas and the holidays are creeping up faster than one might expect, major retailers are starting holiday season and sales early in October even before Halloween.

• With this Christmas “creeping” up mental health experts predict an increase in certain holiday-related stressors occurring earlier than normal. This can include family stressors and stressor associated with gift shopping which can be particularly exacerbated this year given high rates of inflation.

Have you found the holiday season particularly stressful? How so?

Full article is here!

#Holidays #Shopping #Stress