We’re not just stuffing stockings.
While Santa’s riding around with Rudolph, lovers are riding each other — as a means of escape from Christmas drama and trauma, a new, ho-ho-hot report on Yuletide stress reveals.
“Holidays amplify everything that already exists beneath the surface,” said lead author Michael Salas, a licensed professional counselor, of the frisky findings. “For many people, sex becomes a way to cope with anxiety, loneliness or emotional overload rather than a reflection of genuine desire.”
It’s all about getting relief — via a risqué release.
Despite being harked and heralded as the “most wonderful time of the year,” the next, festive few days often come jam-packed with pressures, problems and pains stemming from the seasonal celebrations, psych pros like Salas warn.
And merrymakers in 2025 have it the worst, according to the data.
The American Psychiatric Association determined that 41% of folks in the US anticipate experiencing more stress related to the holidays this year than in 2024, according to a new survey of 2,203 adults.
A whopping 75% of respondents deemed the troubled economy at their top concern, with 46% admitting their fear about being able to afford or shop for holiday gifts. An additional 32% are worried about dealing with challenging family dynamics.
So, to avoid Christmas crankiness, sexpots are getting naughty and feeling nice.
“When people are overwhelmed, the nervous system looks for relief,” Salas explained. “Sex can temporarily quiet stress responses, even if the underlying emotional issues remain unresolved.”
The therapist noted that fatigued couples typically use hanky-panky to avoid having difficult conversations or to reduce conflict rather than address it.
Sexually active singles, however, often amp up their boinking — especially with exes — towards the end of the year in search of comfort.
“This season acts like a pressure cooker,” continued Salas, of Vantage Point Counseling. “Boundaries weaken, unresolved issues surface and people often lean into intimacy as a way to stabilize themselves emotionally.”
And he’s not just jingling your bells.
Researchers with Indiana University and the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência in Portugal previously determined that “interest in sex peaks significantly during major cultural or religious celebrations — based upon a greater use of the word ‘sex’ or other sexual terms in web searches.”
But Salas advises against turning to XXX-rated activities as one’s sole source of solace.
“When sex becomes the primary way someone regulates stress or self-worth, it can mask deeper emotional needs,” he said. “That’s when people feel confused afterward — closer [to one another] in the moment, but more disconnected later.”
Here are Sala’s top tips for navigating holiday stress, sex and self-regulation.
- Practice emotional boundaries: Recognize when intimacy is being used to avoid stress rather than address it.
- Create space for self-regulation: Short breaks, walks or quiet time can reduce emotional overload.
- Set realistic expectations: The “perfect holiday” doesn’t exist because pressure to perform often backfires.
- Communicate openly: Honest conversations about needs and stress can strengthen intimacy more than avoidance.
- Normalize mixed emotions: Feeling stressed, insecure or disconnected during the holidays is common and human.
Read the full article here
