AS it's still Christmastime, this article aims to rescue the \"sad\" Christmas experiences of many and engage us into what makes one happy during this holiday, with a little science to explain it.<\/p>\r\r
Results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from Dec. 12 to 18 and released on Dec. 24 showed that of the 2,160 adults polled, 65 percent expected a \"happy\" Christmas this year. This was an 8-percent decrease from the 73 percent last year. It was 79 percent in 2019 and 50 percent during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\r\r
Those who anticipated a \"sad\" Christmas increased to 10 percent in 2024 from 6 percent in 2023.<\/p>\r\r
The \"sad\" Christmas expectation rarely hit double-digit levels like in 2004 (10 percent), 2009 (10 percent), 2011 (11 percent) and 2020 (15 percent).<\/p>\r\r
Social listening<\/strong><\/p>\r\r I conducted a random survey in my Facebook account (with 1.3 million followers) on Dec. 26, 2024. The survey question was: Generally, the Christmas celebration 2024 was happy, sad, or neither happy nor sad? Out of 2,800 respondents, 57 percent (1,527) claim that Christmas is neither happy nor sad, while 31 percent (844) are happy and 10 percent (278) are sad.<\/p>\r\r Another question was: As compared with 2023, Christmas celebration 2024 is happy, sad, the same. Fifty-three percent of the respondents (931) claim that Christmas 2024 is sad as compared with 2023, while 23 percent (420) claim it is just the same, and only 22 percent (402) claim that it is happier.<\/p>\r\r While the survey is not scientific to generalize, it seems to align with what is that of SWS.<\/p>\r\r Opportunity to be happy<\/strong><\/p>\r\r As expressed by respondents, happiness comes from the social nature of Christmas. The parties that reunite families and friends share what is there to share. Even the overseas Filipinos, who are saddened by distance, expressed compensatory communications and virtual get-together. Some rationalize that, while financially unwell, healthy families are reason enough to be happy.<\/p>\r\r The tradition of exchanging gifts triggers happiness.<\/p>\r\r To many, the essence of Christmas boosts the faith that gives their optimism greater value, especially that the celebration is close to the new year.<\/p>\r\r Causes of sadness<\/strong><\/p>\r\r Cited as reason for sadness is the distance from (and loss of) loved ones. The scarce financial resources attributed to joblessness, poor sales of products, high prices of commodities and recent calamities. The uncertainty of the incoming year is also expressed.<\/p>\r\r The social media that connects people is the same platform where one gets to compare the self with another to feel less of what is superficially posted in social media walls and distracts from genuine face-to-face socialization.<\/p>\r\r Christmas and mental health<\/strong><\/p>\r\r Urban legend suggests that psychopathology tends to increase around the holidays, including Christmas. Literature search was conducted by Sansone and published in the Innovation in Clinical neuroscience (2011), and analyzed databases for empirical data relating to this phenomenon.<\/p>\r\r According to the overall trends, the Christmas holidays appear to result in two broad patterns. Indeed, there appears to be an increase in certain types of psychopathology during the holidays, such as worsening of mood and alcohol-related fatalities. There is an increase in dysphoric moods during the holidays.<\/p>\r\r In contrast, however, there appears to be a decrease during the holiday in the overall utilization of psychiatric emergency services and admissions, self-harm behavior and suicide attempts\/completions.<\/p>\r\r However, there is likely to be a corresponding increase, a rebound, in psychopathology immediately following the Christmas holiday. Thus, it appears that Christmas exhibits a generally protective effect with regard to many forms of psychopathology, with the exceptions being mood disorders and alcohol-related poisonings.<\/p>\r\r But in recent times, mental health is more challenged and reality may have changed.<\/p>\r\r Christmas and neuroscience<\/p>\r\r Together, dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin are called \"the happiness trifecta.\" These are the brain chemicals that drive happiness in your brain. And Christmas can send these neurochemicals on an overdrive.<\/p>\r\r Christmas, being a time for giving, triggers the helper's high. When our gifts are received with joy, dopamine, endorphins and serotonin are released in the brain along with activating the emotional amygdala and the empathetic insula. Volunteering and donating to the less fortunate triggers this feel-good effect.<\/p>\r\r **media[500770,500771,500772,500773,500774,500775,500776,500777,500778,500779,500780,500781,500782,500783]**<\/p>\r\r The reward circuit in our brain is activated and incentivized by the act of generosity. Dopamine increases motivation and confidence; endorphins reduce stress and improve mood; and serotonin improves sleep, memory, learning and appetite.<\/p>\r\r The Christmas celebration \u2014 even just the viewing of decorations and music \u2014 induces activation in our brain circuitry.<\/p>\r\r Researchers at the University of Copenhagen used MRI and found an increased activity in the sensory motor cortex, the premotor cortex and primary motor cortex, and the parietal lobules in the people who celebrated Christmas, compared with those who did not. These are the areas that are typically connected with self-transcendence and spirituality, social bonding-sharing behavior and recognition of facial emotion. This means, our brain literally has a Christmas network that gets especially activated during this time of the year.<\/p>\r\r The cuddle hormone \u2014 oxytocin \u2014 is also triggered and released by Christmas by spending time and reconnecting with the people we care about. Oxytocin is responsible for the warm fuzzy feelings associated with all the varieties of love. It's connected to trust, empathy and intimacy. The bonding time that is tied with memories can release oxytocin in our brain, making us crave time with friends and family.<\/p>\r\r Christmas gift we should never miss<\/strong><\/p>\r\r Go out and see the streets light up and decorations. It may be gone soon. So savor the happy mood they bring.<\/p>\r\r Do something good. Find someone to help. It doesn't need to be expensive and extravagant gifts. Read the happiness on the face of the person you are helping. Witness the happiness that your generosity brings. Don't feel the burden of having to give expensive gifts. The thought, most of the time, is enough.<\/p>\r\r Never compare yourself with another. Even on social media. Note that what you are seeing are just the versions that one chooses to show. It is not the totality of the life that person lives. There is no reason to feel less. Count your blessings \u2014 as there are many. Celebrate them and be grateful for having them.<\/p>\r\r If you are in grief or in trauma, process it. Don't repress or suppress it. Express it by acknowledging what you feel. It is OK to not be OK. Your feelings are valid. Don't blame yourself. Find someone around you to share it with. Choose the person who will just listen and unburden you with your baggage.<\/p>\r\r Ask for help if you need it. It is always worth the try. You don't have to be alone.<\/p>\r\r What makes the Christmas holiday a special one is the origin of the celebration. The birth of the child Jesus in the manger. It didn't picture comfort and luxury but of faith, hope and love. That makes Christmas a magical experience. We just need to bring that magic into our lives. Into our homes.<\/p>\r\r Christmastime gives us all the equal chance to happily reflect on the past, be joyful in the present and be hopeful for the future. Merry Christmas!<\/p>","article_custom_fields":"{\"\":[\"\"],\"seo_meta_keywords\":[\"\"],\"seo_meta_description\":[\"\"],\"seo_meta_title\":[\"\"],\"sponsored_flag\":[\"\"],\"offer_flag\":[\"off\"],\"featured_article_flag\":[\"\"],\"drupal_json\":[\"{\\\"type\\\":null,\\\"properties\\\":{\\\"PUBLISHED\\\":0,\\\"PROMOTED\\\":0,\\\"STICKY\\\":0},\\\"fields\\\":[]}\"],\"wp_custom_json\":[\"{\\\"type\\\":\\\"\\\",\\\"fields\\\":[]}\"],\"article_tags\":[\"\"],\"show_image\":[\"off\"],\"Disable_Ad\":[\"off\"],\"disable_player\":[\"off\"],\"column\":[\"\"],\"kicker\":[\"\"],\"edel\":[\"\"],\"delu\":[\"\"],\"delt\":[\"Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.\"],\"premium\":[\"off\"],\"Redirect_URL\":[\"\"],\"Registration_required\":[\"off\"],\"background_image\":[\"off\"],\"user_needs\":[\"\"],\"page_number\":\"0\",\"initial_publication\":\"\",\"date_created\":\"2024-12-26 21:28:05\",\"date_modified\":\"2024-12-26 22:59:01\",\"last_modified_user\":\"Sherwin Arnaiz\",\"section_color\":\"\",\"target_page\":\"0\",\"cxense_metatags\":null}","cms_type":"live","author_id":2734,"section_id":13,"seo_meta_keywords":"The,science,of,Christmas,happiness","seo_meta_description":"","seo_meta_title":"The science of Christmas happiness","publish_time":"2024-12-27 00:08:00","related_articles_ids":"","article_tags":"","sub_section_id":6,"visit_count":60,"sponsored_flag":0,"offer_flag":0,"featured_article_flag":0,"media_gallery_flag":0,"video_gallery_flag":0,"highlight_flag":0,"top_story_flag":0,"is_updated":0,"is_old_article":0,"old_article_id":0,"article_byline":"Carl E. 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