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Home/Opinion/ Beware Post-Christmas Stress Disorder

Beware Post-Christmas Stress Disorder

Written by Dr. Warren Throckmorton | Sunday, January 3, 2010

Now that Christmas is past, I suspect symptoms of Post-Christmas Stress Disorder will be observed frequently (don’t ask what frequently means, just go with me here). Be sure to seek treatment at the first signs of trouble.

Diagnostic Criteria for 311.5x Post-Christmas Stress Disorder:
A. Four (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same two-week period and represent a change from previous functioning.
The individual:

(1) refuses to take down Christmas decorations within one week after Christmas. (In chronic cases, leaves decorations up year round.) Note: In children, makes Christmas related requests year round;
(2) seeks out shopping opportunities on the day immediately following Christmas;
(3) describes depressed mood, more days than not (e.g., sings “Blue Christmas” repeatedly);
(4) manifests vocal tics (e.g., “Ho, ho, ho”);
(5) displays compulsive Christmas related behavior (e.g., Wraps and unwraps presents even though no gift is inside);
(6) displays at least once, catatonic, expectant behavior (e.g., Stands for long periods of time, immobile, under mistletoe);
(7) describes gift returns which outnumber number of presents received;
(8) displays irrational interpersonal behavior (e.g., Calls the time and temperature recorded line to say Merry Christmas);
(9) manifests inappropriate startle response (e.g., jumps or easily startled by video game or other novel noises); and/or
(10) is avoidant of references to Christmas (e.g., refers to “holiday trees,” “holiday ornaments,” “happy holidays” and/or “the Sparkle season;”

For more, read here.

Related Posts:

  • Three Ways to Celebrate Christmas
  • Remember Sybil
  • Christmas Joy Mingled with Sorrow
  • Three Simple Christmas Reflections
  • Neither Shall They Learn War Anymore

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