Balgarianovinite.com In an interview for BTA, psychotherapist Neli Lesser said that young and aware people will adapt more easily to the transition from the lev to the euro, as leaving one’s comfort zone leads to fears.
Asked why Bulgarians are concerned about the introduction of the euro, Lesser said that the Bulgarian people are very oppressed. She stated that the conviction that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down and the fear of being judged by one’s peers can lead to years of oppression. She warned that oppressed people cannot express themselves and added: “By expressing our emotions, we are authentic, and when we are not authentic, our psyche expends too much energy suppressing negative experiences, instead of using the energy we need in life to be happy and live with pleasure. The psyche of a child who is oppressed in some way is structured in such a way that its first goal is to survive in the family system and receive as much love as possible from those on whom it depends.” She argued that a child would immediately activate their survival instinct and, instead of asserting themselves and being ambitious, they would become suppressed. Lesser added: “This is how adults who have not learned and do not understand who they are grow up, so what they do aims to please their parents.”
Anxiety among Bulgarians
Lesser shared that she often comes across mothers in Bulgaria who are more concerned about others might say about their children, which is a fear that gets passed down on the children. She reported that Bulgarian mothers seem to worry more about whether their children will graduate from school and seem disinterested in whether those children are actually happy. The expert advised parents to have faith in their children so that they do not grow up anxious.
According to the psychotherapist, Bulgarians tend to trust others more than they trust their own judgement, because they lack the confidence they needed to receive as kids.
Negativism and positivism
Lesser said: “If I compare people in Bulgaria and the US, Americans wear artificial smiles, demonstrating that everything is fine, which is positive but fake. This is because of the American mindset that others will not solve their problems, and there is no point in frowning, so they do not allow themselves to be negative. Bulgarians are sincere and authentic, so they wear their heart on their sleeve, however, when they focus on this negativity, it continues to dominate their lives. If you constantly say that everything is bad, that politics is bad, that there is little money, it would be difficult for something from outside to come and rescue you.” She stated that from a psychological point of view, this attitude in a person shows that there are deficits in their psyche, such as a lack of confidence, lack of love, so that person would be looking for someone else to fill the gaps. She added: “For all the goals we have, we expect someone else to make us happy. Filling these deficits from an external source is impossible.”
Fear of adopting the euro
Lesser said: “Every time our psyche leaves the zone of the familiar, there is turbulence because instead of seeking support within themselves, people shift the responsibility outside, and everything that is new stresses the psyche. In my opinion, many people will be frightened.” She warned that if a person has not handled their existing fears, any change to the status quo would bring new fears and cause anxiety. She said that Bulgarians will have to learn to cope, since anxiety can erode one’s health and disrupt their personal life.
Are young people more adaptable?
According to the therapist, people under 35 have enough energy to cope. She said: “They can overcome many more challenges and pursue their goals more vigorously. During the midlife crisis, which is happening earlier and earlier, the psyche usually becomes exhausted, because we realize that the goals we have set are compensatory and do not always bring inner satisfaction. I wanted that car or that apartment, I have them, but the happiness is short-lived, and then you fall back into your old state because of the deficits you have and feel dissatisfied. At this age, people understand that this is mentally exhausting. In such a situation, our psyche finally makes us look inside ourselves and understand that these goals are not satisfying because through them, we are seeking a certain state, and they cannot give it to us. When they discover a ‘hole’ in their soul, many people fall into some kind of addiction.”
Lesser graduated with a degree in economics in Varna, on the Black Sea. In the 1990s, she left Bulgaria and moved to Germany. Later, she moved to the US, where she studied psychology and psychotherapy. She is a professor at Barry University in Miami, Florida. Psychotherapist Says Young People Will Adapt Faster to Euro Adoption 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-12-30 10:44:57 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
