Find out the reason for selfishness and anxiety at the beginning of the year

Find out the reason for selfishness and anxiety at the beginning of the year


There are ways to combat them to prevent them from harming your mental health

For many people, the beginning of the year is the time to review attitudes, rethink results, develop new plans and define priorities. Therefore, it is common to have a certain amount of anxiety and self-control. However, when these feelings get in the way of everyday life, you need to pay attention to them.




According to Ronan Mairesse, specialist in Human Development and Behavioral Analysis, self-control and anxiety become dangerous when they alter physiology, that is, they cause muscle pain, sweaty hands, lack of sleep, among other symptoms. “The body senses when the mind is not well and, in these cases, it is best to contact a psychologist or psychiatrist as soon as possible”, adds the professional.

Causes of self-harm and anxiety

As previously stated, the self-control and anxiety are considered common sensations at the start of a new year. However, there are factors that lead to this, from cultural to social issues. “When we get to the end of the year, culturally, we tend to celebrate our accomplishments. When a person gets to December, for example, and realizes that they haven’t made any progress in the last eleven months, they might feel incompetent,” says Ronan Mairesse .

Blenda Oliveira, psychoanalyst and doctor of psychology, points out that Christmas is also a date that influences self-control and anxiety at the beginning of the year. After all, this celebration has a great family charm, but also an intense reflection, which means moments of suffering for many individuals.

Danger of end-of-year promises

In addition to the reasons mentioned, the anxiety and need for oneself, the result of the promises made the previous year, can also have emotional consequences. According to Ronan Mairesse, if commitments are not fulfilled, many people tend to do so to be sad and feel guilty, even if this outcome does not depend on them.

Furthermore, clinical psychologist Sirlene Ferreira comments that “when very cruel goals are set, the possibility that they will not be achieved is high, which results in disappointment and frustration.”



If tackling self-control and anxiety alone doesn't bring good results, psychotherapy can be a great ally.

People prone to developing anxiety and self-control

Every individual is susceptible to developing anxiety and self-control at the beginning of the year. However, there are more predisposed people, as explained by Sirlene Ferreira, such as those who procrastinate, who create many fantasies, who are too perfectionistic and who are very demanding of themselves and others.

Furthermore, Ronan Mairesse comments that people who are facing big changes and/or are experiencing some psychopathologyAlso, like traumas, they are part of the risk group.

Overcoming self-control and anxiety

To overcome self-control and anxiety you need to take some simple steps. Clinical psychologist Sirlene Ferreira says self-kindness and respecting your limits is the first of these.

Another step in this process is the self knowledge of one’s individuality. This is because knowing yourself is essential to knowing how to act when you do not meet internal and external expectations. “Our way of being is shaped by our family, our friends and society in general, but we cannot forget our biochemistry and the way our beliefs about ourselves, others and the outside world were created” , explains Ronan Mairesse.

Psychotherapy as a great ally

If the steps mentioned do not bring effective results or the person feels he needs further help, psychotherapy can become a great ally in the fight against self-control and anxiety. “It’s important to have someone to talk to and listen to us without judgment,” emphasizes Ronan Mairesse.

Also in this context, the psychological treatment “It is recommended when the person wishes to have an interlocutor who assists them in the process of self-knowledge and who helps them understand how to make the transitions they need and/or seek”, adds Blenda Oliveira.

Ways to avoid self-harm and anxiety

Even more important than dealing with anxiety and self-control at the beginning of the year is finding ways to avoid them. For Blenda Oliveira, an effective way is balanced analysis. “It’s important for people to evaluate what they want and, above all, what they can get,” she explains.

The psychoanalyst and doctor of psychology also comments that it is essential to lower expectations, not compare yourself to others and remember that profound changes are achieved with small steps.

Source: Terra

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