“The holidays remind me of how broken my family is.”
TikTok: @asaprach7777
Exhausted from the anticipation of a conversation you haven’t had yet?
Your feelings and well-being should always come first, even if they don’t make sense to anyone else. With that being said, if you don’t feel like you have a holiday event in you: don’t go. If there’s a person you’re dreading seeing or a conversation you’d rather not have, set your personal boundaries ahead of time. Give yourself a time limit of how long you’ll be at the event, create a phrase that will excuse you from an uncomfortable situation, or for those who can’t do it on their own, create a buddy system with a friend or relative to help you walk away when needed. . Either way, check in with yourself before, during, and after the scheduled gathering with these 5 tips. The more you feel aligned with yourself, the better the outcome will be.
“I used to care about their feelings and making an appearance, but they do not make me feel welcome.”
TikTok: @brook.a_bear
Regardless of how you feel about the holidays, it can be a stressful and exhausting season for many of us. So when there is the potential of having a great time, don’t let bad energy ruin that for you. Whether last year’s event was turmoil or drama has recently popped off, set a personal goal that for one moment those feelings can be shelved and revisited at a later time when everyone has less to lose.
Take a Holiday Mental Health Inventory: What holiday event or conversation are you not looking forward to having? Share with a community of people who get it or have been there in the comments below.
Thoughtful commentary on the perils of holiday gatherings; create your own traditions and prioritize your mental health. Remain grounded and focus on the love, joy and spirit of the holiday gathering.