Depression symptoms ‘eased’ by reviewing quarrels

REPLAYING a family quarrel in your head can help to ease rather than prolong the tension, psychologists have suggested.

Going over the details of an argument and remembering exactly what happened rather than sweeping it under the carpet or letting bad feeling fester helps keep perspective, academics at the University of Exeter said.

The advice is released as families continue their festive celebrations, and comes ahead of a time when psychologists say they usually see an increase in referrals for depression.

Psychologists at the university found that people who recalled an emotional incident, including details of how and where it happened, were more able to deal with future similar stresses and the process stopped them becoming so upset about past issues. Professor Ed Watkins, of the Mood Disorder Clinic at the university, said he found improvements in the mental health of people who learn to go over events in a constructive way. He said: “Christmas and the New Year can be a tricky time for many people’s mood whether it be due to the colder and darker weather, the often common family tensions and quarrels, which sometimes lead to the reopening of old grievances, finances being tight, or the triggering of unfavourable comparisons with how we want to be this year or against ‘picture-perfect’ ideals of a Merry Christmas.

“We often see this in an increase in referrals for treatment for depression in January and February. Staying with the details of what happens and keeping it in context can be one way to prevent these challenges of the festive season becoming something worse.”