Ms. N.H.M., 31, living in Tan Son Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, was assigned to lead an important project that had to be completed before the Tet holiday.

In the final months of the year, her workload surged, deadlines tightened, and the pressure of preparing financially to return to northern Vietnam for Tet with her family left her in a constant state of tension and anxiety.

She developed a range of symptoms, including insomnia, headaches, rapid heartbeat, chest tightness, poor appetite and weight loss.

Believing these were simply signs of normal work-related stress, she tried to endure and forced herself to push through.

However, over the past month, she became physically and mentally exhausted.

Each morning, she woke up feeling heavy, empty and fearful of work, unable to find meaning in life and overwhelmed by a sense of failure.

She even became irritable and short-tempered whenever someone mentioned Tet.

After visiting a hospital for examination, Ms. M. was diagnosed with a depressive disorder.

Doctors prescribed antidepressant medication, combined with psychological counseling and transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy.

Thanks to timely intervention, her mental state improved significantly, and she was no longer obsessed with numbers or financial concerns.

Speaking to VietNamNet, clinical psychologist Hoang Quoc Lan, a member of the Vietnam Association for Psychotherapy, said the year-end period consistently sees a marked rise in psychological stress.

Reports from the World Health Organization show that stress linked to economic and work pressure is among the leading risk factors that can trigger or worsen anxiety and depressive disorders, especially during “social peak periods” such as holidays and Tet.

A survey by the American Psychological Association involving more than 3,000 adults found that around 60–65% of respondents experienced a noticeable increase in stress toward the end of the year.

The main causes were financial pressure, unfinished work and family expectations.

People in middle- and lower-income groups were more severely affected.

In Vietnam, a community survey conducted in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in the post-Covid-19 period recorded that more than 40% of adults showed mild to moderate anxiety symptoms.

Those facing economic and work pressure at year-end were at higher risk.

This shows that year-end stress is not an isolated phenomenon but a public health issue that requires proper attention.

According to Lan, early warning signs that should not be ignored include persistent insomnia lasting one to two weeks, ongoing anxiety with repetitive thoughts about money, work and the future, irritability and emotional outbursts affecting family relationships, fatigue, low mood, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, and unexplained physical symptoms such as headaches, palpitations and digestive disorders.

When these signs appear, people should seek professional support instead of trying to “endure it until Tet is over.”

Lan also emphasized the importance of reducing exposure to stress-inducing sources, especially social media.

Many studies show that excessive social media use during holidays and Tet increases feelings of comparison and inferiority.

Actively limiting time spent online and being selective about social engagements can help protect mental well-being.

Individuals should also care for their bodies and brains by getting enough sleep, engaging in light physical activity and practicing relaxation techniques.

Lan stressed that a healthy Tet is not defined by spending or outward appearances, but by having enough inner peace to step into the new year without carrying excessive psychological wounds from the old one.

Phuong Thuy