Why Family Gatherings During Eid Can Cause Mental Exhaustion

Eid al-Fitr is typically associated with family gatherings, celebrating victory, and strengthening family bonds. However, as the celebration approaches, many individuals experience mounting pressure, exhaustion, and a gradual loss of enthusiasm.

Clinical psychologist Wenny Aidina stated that one factor making family gatherings during Eid a “burden” is having to contend with awkward conversations and negative remarks from others. “In reality, we often feel upset because many people make small talk that is rather stale. They actually want to start a conversation, but don’t know where to begin,” Wenny explained during a KALM Counseling webinar titled “Swallowing Patience Until Full: Tips to Avoid Exploding During Eid,” on Saturday, 14 March 2026.

According to her, this is a very normal phenomenon because such small talk often leads to expectations and unpleasant situations. Wenny outlined that there are at least four types of crucial preparation that must be undertaken simultaneously: financial, physical, social, and emotional preparation.

Financial preparation naturally includes allocating funds for Eid bonuses (THR), travel costs, and various shopping needs. Meanwhile, physical preparation is essential for undertaking the tiring journey home. Of all these, emotional preparation for self-management often becomes the greatest challenge. The accumulation of these four elements drastically drains energy within a very narrow timeframe.

“All of this happens at once during Eid. And sometimes it makes us become exhausted because of role demands that come simultaneously. So, we experience not just dual roles anymore, we have triple, we have four. And that makes us overloaded within a relatively limited timeframe,” Wenny said.

“People become tired more quickly because within a limited time they must prepare everything,” she added.

At the same time, individuals are forced to keep smiling and suppress their emotions when bombarded with a series of questions that tend to intrude on their privacy.