What is the Jaguar Syndrome?
by Mark Sichel, LCSW
A man of 55, let's call him Harold*, went to a psychotherapist for depression. He had never been depressed before. In fact, things could not have been better for Harold than they were at this time of his life. His children were finally grown and settled, he and his wife were enjoying their empty nest, and he had recently been able to afford his life-long dream: a Jaguar sports coupe, convertible, red exterior with tan leather seats.
Harold had wanted a Jaguar his entire life. He felt that this particular sexy car was the ultimate symbol of success and prestige. Harold had convinced himself that he would be truly happy when he had a Jaguar. Lo and behold, Harold was now not only NOT experiencing the joy he imagined he would be feeling, but he was in fact deep in a pit of depression.
There are lots of different ways to refer to this phenomenon, but we'll call it the Jaguar Syndrome. All the hype and commotion about the new millennium leave us all vulnerable to the Jaguar Syndrome: failed expectations, disappointment, and a party that could never be as good as it was supposed to be. How many of you feel let down by the absence of drama in this new millennium? Are you surprised that the year 2001 doesn't feel too much different than the nineties?
New Years Eve is a difficult evening for many people, and New Years of 200 and 2001 in particular, we were all supposed to experience the biggest party of our lives. However, for many of us, prices, transportation, and fear kept us away from the big celebrations. New York City outside of the Times Square celebration was eerily quiet New Years Eve. The bars were empty, the restaurants had available reservations, and there were many taxicabs available for hire, a phenomenon unheard of in New York City on New Years Eve.
Suicide statistics reflect the overwhelming power of the Jaguar Syndrome. In the weeks before Christmas, when people eagerly awaited the holidays, there was a decrease in suicide attempts. However, after Christmas, when the Jaguar Syndrome first goes into effect, there were approximately 40% more suicide attempts than expected. The syndrome of expectation followed by disappointment brings up all kinds of memories of broken promises and disappointments. The Jaguar Syndrome can cause general malaise, poor self-esteem, disharmonious love relationships, and even symptoms of depression. Try to keep your expectations realistic and you can avoid falling prey to the Jaguar Syndrome.
If you want to read more about suicide, go to National Institute of Mental Health.
If you want to work on your self-esteem, we recommend our Self-Esteem Workshop, and for symptoms of mild depression, making a Gratitude List can always give one some perspective.
*The names of all clients have been changed to protect their identities.
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