For some people living in Luxembourg, December is not only about lights, Christmas markets and celebrations. For expats and some workers, the holiday season often brings a familiar but rarely discussed feeling: loneliness, low mood and emotional exhaustion, often called ‘Christmas blues’.
“It is usually short lived and very human,” said Ivana Budisin, MSc Clinical Psychology candidate at London Metropolitan University and founder of Food Lab Psychology in Luxembourg, a clinic that focuses on clinical and nutritional psychology.
© Photo credit: Ivana Budisin
Budisin practices clinical psychology, the branch of psychology that studies, diagnoses and treats mental health conditions, emotional difficulties and behavioural issues. “We work with how the brain and body react to stress, to isolation, to life transitions. It is about understanding why someone feels the way they do and helping them find practical ways to navigate it,” she explained.
“Christmas blues happens when our belonging system feels stressed or astray. People tend to feel lonelier, flatter, more irritable or low in mood,” she said.
Also read:Feeling sad at Christmas: How to get through the holidays
A country far from home
Luxembourg has one of the highest proportions of foreign residents in Europe: nearly half of the country’s population are foreign nationals and almost half were born abroad, according to census data.
Many residents live far from family, facing high travel costs, visa restrictions or work obligations that make returning home during the holidays difficult, if not impossible in some circumstances.
“Holidays can remind people that they are missing someone, or that they want to be somewhere they cannot be,” Budisin said. “That is very common. It is not a weakness. It is a reaction to context.”
Our nervous system loves repetition. Same food, same music, same jokes, same time of year. We even have a name for it: that is what tradition is
Ivana Budisin
What people feel at this time of year is not at all imagined, the psychologist said. “There are biological things feeding into it, and social ones too,” she said. “Winter shifts the system towards a very low battery. People move less, diet changes, alcohol consumption often increases. All of this affects sleep and mood pathways.”
Budisin was careful to distinguish Christmas blues from clinical depression. “For most people, it is short-lived and not a permanent disorder,” she said. “Clinical depression does not lift when Christmas is over. If low mood, loss of pleasure and fatigue are present every day for more than two weeks, that is when people should really seek professional help.”
Christmas blues, by contrast, often show ups as a sudden emotional shift, she said.
Also read:When Christmas is a test of endurance: tips for people with mental health issues
Why expats feel it more intensely
The experience can be particularly strong for expats because several emotional systems are triggered at once, according to Budisin. “At Christmas, the brain is scanning for belonging,” she said. “Questions like: ‘Who am I to these people? Where is my place?’ get very loud.”
She also highlighted the role of rituals. “Our nervous system loves repetition. Same food, same music, same jokes, same time of year. We even have a name for it: that is what tradition is,” she said. “When you move countries, many of those rituals disappear. You can be at a Christmas market and still feel disconnected because the smells, the language, the jokes are not the ones you grew up with.”
Another layer comes from memory. Nostalgia can intensify the blues. “You are adding another layer of not even being present. Then there is a form of idealising some memories, maybe not being very realistic about how Christmas actually was,” she said.
I was missing not just my family, but the version of myself I am when I am with them
Adele
Over time, the feeling could change rather than disappear. “For newcomers, it often shows up as adjustment stress. You are living between two identities,” Budisin explained. “For long-term expats, it can be guilt, or a sense of being trapped. People say, ‘On paper my life is perfect, but I still miss home.’ Both things can be true.”
Adele, an American expat living in Luxembourg for five years, who chose to remain anonymous to avoid worrying her family, echoed this experience.
“I realised I was missing not just my family, but the version of myself I am when I am with them,” she said.
For three years in a row, she could not reunite with her family for Christmas due to high travel costs and because she did not want to leave her labradoodle behind. “Luxembourg [City] feels very quiet at Christmas, it’s almost a ghost town. […] It makes the distance louder,” she said.
An expat described Luxembourg City as “a ghost town” during the Christmas holidays © Photo credit: Chris Karaba
Working through the holidays
Another group particularly affected are those who work during Christmas, from healthcare staff to hospitality and transport workers.
While 25 and 26 December plus 1 January are legal public holidays in Luxembourg, a share of the workforce remains active during this period, particularly in essential services.
“Psychologically, this can feel like social exclusion,” Budisin said. “Christmas is happening, and I am just servicing it.”
I usually choose to work through most of the holidays because the office is quieter
Marek
Marek, a Polish expat who works for Amazon in Luxembourg and did not want to share his surname for privacy, described a different side of the holiday experience. “I usually choose to work through most of the holidays because the office is quieter, and it is easier than facing the emptiness of my flat,” he said. “But even then, it can feel really depressing. After work, I often have no one to spend time with, no one to grab a coffee or just talk to.”
“As in most teams, my managers are in different countries, so I still feel pretty alone. […] At the same time, being at the office feels familiar, so I guess it’s okay in a way,” he concluded.
Workplaces play a larger role in employees’ emotional wellbeing during the holidays than many employers realise, especially in an international environment like Luxembourg, the psychologist said.
“For people who are away from family, work often becomes their main social anchor,” she explained. “So how companies handle this period really matters.”
One of the most important factors is predictability. Clear communication around schedules, workloads and expectations helps reduce stress at a time when people are already emotionally stretched. “Uncertainty costs a lot of mental energy,” Budisin said. “Knowing what is expected of you and when you can rest makes people feel safer.”
Workplaces play an important role in employees’ emotional wellbeing during the holidays, a psychologist said. © Photo credit: Guy Wolff
Recognition is equally crucial, particularly for those working through the holidays. “It does much more for mental health than wellness slogans or small gifts,” she repeated. “Feeling part of a team, rather than sacrificed, makes a big difference.”
She also encouraged companies to avoid assuming that everyone experiences Christmas in the same way. Creating flexibility around social events, using inclusive language, and acknowledging that not everyone celebrates helped employees feel respected. “Belonging is about being allowed to show up as you are,” Budisin said. “Sometimes support is simply not forcing cheer.”
Small, human gestures often matter more than formal initiatives. Managers checking in, teams sharing meals without pressure, or offering time off after the holidays could act as what Budisin called “social nutrition”.
“People do not need a perfect Christmas at work,” she said. “They need signals that they matter and that they are not alone.”
Also read:12 reasons to leave the house during the festive holidays
What actually helps
Rather than telling people to stay positive, Budisin recommended a practical approach. “I suggest three steps: notice the story, soften the story, and then feed the system,” she said.
That starts with paying attention to internal narratives. “Write down what you are telling yourself, even if it is ugly, like ‘everyone else has a real family and I am alone,’” she explained. “Then ask: is this a fact or a feeling? What would I say to a friend who felt this way?”
Scheduling short, intentional video calls with friends and family, going to a café where someone recognises you, or joining a club or activity can help sent small, regular signals of feeling connected and safe, Budisin said. “Scrolling and observing other people’s Christmas is the opposite of what you need,” she added.
Budisin also warned against comparing oneself to curated holiday images online. “Social media is just the highlight reel of other people’s belonging. We do not see them in the kitchen with their parents or siblings. This is not proof that you are doing Christmas wrong.”
Finally, Budisin emphasised that persistent distress should not be ignored. “If the feeling does not lift after the season, if sleep or appetite are disrupted, or if thoughts about not wanting to be here appear, then please contact a mental health professional,” she said. “Do not carry this alone.”
Where to seek help in Luxembourg
If you or someone you know is struggling with low mood, loneliness, or distress, these services can offer support:
📞 112 – Emergency services (medical, fire, ambulance) available 24/7.
📞 SOS Détresse – Crisis line for emotional support and distress (available daily; extended hours on weekends). Call 45 45 45.
📞 Kanner‑Jugendtelefon – Confidential support for young people and children. Call 116 111.
📞 Psychosocial or mental health helpline – Multilingual support. Call 8002 8080 (7:00– 23:00).
📞 Centre de Santé Mentale Luxembourg – Mental health centre. Call 49 30 29.
or find some other useful addresses here.
Also read:Who to contact if you need support or feel alone