Healthy Ways to Handle Holiday Emotions: A Therapist’s Advice a 1-minute video with Dr. Daniel BE
During the holidays, it’s nearly impossible to avoid the bombardment of societal messages to embrace certain emotions and deny others.
Why Do Holidays Cause Stress?
Holidays often come with a barrage of expectations, many of which pressure us to feel a certain way: cheerful, generous, grateful, and above all, happy. But for many, these expectations can feel overwhelming, especially when life’s challenges or unresolved emotions make it hard to match society’s picture-perfect holiday image. When we struggle to meet these standards, we’re often left feeling isolated, like something must be wrong with us if we don’t feel the holiday joy everyone else seems to be celebrating. This disconnect creates a pressure cooker of emotions—anxiety, guilt, loneliness—that can quickly turn the holiday season into a season of stress.
Adding to the pressure, holiday traditions often revolve around behaviors that can mask or distract from what we’re truly feeling. From endless social gatherings and family obligations to indulgent meals, shopping sprees, and celebratory drinks, these rituals create temporary highs that can obscure underlying emotions like sadness, frustration, or grief. While these moments can offer comfort, they often keep us from engaging with the full spectrum of our feelings. As a result, we might find ourselves going through the motions of celebration while privately feeling disconnected or overwhelmed.
Skills for Dealing with Holiday Emotions
The good news is that these intense holiday emotions can actually be an opportunity for growth. Instead of suppressing or escaping what we feel, embracing our emotions can open the door to healthier habits and more meaningful connections. Working with a therapist, especially during the holidays, can help us navigate these challenges in a way that embraces our whole emotional experience. It allows us to build resilience, find inner peace, and gain tools to handle seasonal stress without relying on quick fixes. Taking a more conscious approach to the holiday season ultimately supports our well-being, our relationships, and the things that matter most.
Learn more about Dr. BE
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
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