The psychologist explained a person's desire not to celebrate a birthday

Refusal to celebrate a birthday in adulthood is most often associated with a change in attitude towards the holiday itself and the desire for emotional comfort. Olesya Tolstukhina, a clinical psychologist at the Doctor Nearby medical technology company, told Izvestia about this on March 10.

"As people get older, they focus less on social rituals and more and more on their own inner state. A birthday, which was previously perceived as an occasion for fun, begins to feel like a mandatory scenario with expectations, attention and the need to match the role of the "birthday boy," the specialist explained.

According to the psychologist, for some people, such a format becomes an emotional burden rather than a source of joy. Adults often choose to spend this day quietly, without a large number of guests and a festive program.

Tolstukhina noted that an internal reassessment of life may become an additional factor. A birthday is often perceived as a moment of summing up personal results, when a person compares the current reality with their expectations and plans. If there is a feeling of unrealized goals, this can increase sadness and the desire to live this day without unnecessary attention.

Personal experience can also influence attitudes towards the holiday. For example, memories of intense family celebrations, the difficulty of receiving attention, or the feeling of formality of congratulations. The psychologist also stressed that refusing to celebrate a birthday in adulthood is not a sign of a psychological problem. More often, this is a reflection of changed priorities and the desire to spend the day in a way that is truly comfortable for a person — in a close circle of loved ones or alone with oneself.

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Konstantin Letts-Orletsov, head of the Ingosstrakh Virtual Clinic project, said on March 6 that dorophobia — the fear of receiving gifts — can be caused by traumatic experiences, increased anxiety, or perfectionism. According to him, it is the holidays that increase dorophobia, as they are associated with mandatory gift exchanges, increased social pressure and inflated expectations.

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