9 Habits That Make Holiday Stress Worse for Families, According to Psychologists
1. Poor communication
Communication is a pillar of any strong relationship. Some families struggle to communicate year-round, while others notice it breaks down amid the holiday hustle."Failing to clearly state expectations and boundaries can lead to misunderstandings and conflict. Don't expect everyone to read your mind," shares Dr. Emily Guarnotta, Psy.D., PMH-C, a psychologist and the owner of Phoenix Health. "Proactive communication is key here."
3. Food pressure
Making dinner a members-only affair for people in the clean plate club is a surefire recipe for alienating some loved ones."Some worry about breaking their diet during the holidays," says Dr. Michele Leno, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and host of Mind Matters with Dr. Michele. "You may be challenged to find the balance between indulging and maintaining healthy eating habits."Related: 4 Food-Related Phrases a Child Psychologist Is Begging Parents and Grandparents To Stop Saying
5. Role lock-in
The holidays can lead us to play specific roles, and we're not talking about the soprano and alto when caroling. "The same person cooks, hosts, buys, wraps, organizes travel and smooths ruffled feathers every year," Dr. MacBride says. "Chronic over-functioning breeds burnout and resentment. It’s often an amplification of daily patterns."She suggests delegating or deciding to do less."Honestly, if it’s that important to others, they will help take it on, and if it’s not that important to them, why are you really doing it at all?" she points out.
7. Neglecting self-care
Speaking of expectation projections: Some families may make a holiday habit of expecting everyone to forego self-care in the name of merriment. The results are anything but merry."Neglecting self-care... always backfires because if you are sacrificing rest, exercise or alone time, you will be more irritable and reactive," Dr. Schiff says. "This amplifies tension rather than closeness."
9. Avoiding difficult conversations
One way to avoid plastering on smiles is to have difficult conversations. Yet, some families have rules against said discussions."Families tend to set rules like no politics, no conflict, no 'heavy' topics," Dr. MacBride reports. "Forced conversations and expectations can create more pressure than the topics themselves."Dr. Guarnotta suggests ripping the Band-Aid off."Facing issues head-on, even if it's uncomfortable, is more productive," she explains.That said, realistic expectations set the stage for success when it comes to conflict resolution. Holiday miracles are probably off the table."Healthy families don’t need to avoid disagreement," Dr. MacBride explains. "They need boundaries around how they disagree. The goal isn’t to resolve lifelong differences between pie and coffee. It’s to practice respectful dialogue."Related: Here’s How To Set Boundaries in Every Area of Your Life—and Actually Stick to Them
Related: How To Deal With a Narcissistic Parent, According to Psychologists
Sources:
Dr. Gayle MacBride, Ph.D., LP, is a psychologist with Veritas Psychology.Dr. Emily Guarnotta, Psy.D., PMH-C, is a psychologist and the owner of Phoenix Health.Dr. Holly Schiff, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist.Dr. Michele Leno, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and host of Mind Matters with Dr. Michele.Hence then, the article about psychologists warn these 9 common family habits make holiday stress so much worse was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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