As a therapist, I always love to hear when a new mom has a wonderful, supportive partner. Hearing that mom is cared for by someone who is making sure she gets rest, meals, and moments to herself makes me feel confident in her family system....
While there is a lot to celebrate and look forward to in the coming month, the holiday season can also prove to be a really stressful time of year. It may not come as a shock to many, research consistently shows an increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety during the holidays. There are a number of contributing factors to what might increase our stress levels during holidays. There might be changes in gatherings since COVID, expectations to be persistently joyful, grief and loneliness can feel heavier, passionate political opinions at the dinner table can create tension, shorter days may contribute to seasonal affective disorder, and there is often an increase in financial strain, to name a few. With all of this in mind, it’s perfectly reasonable that we might notice an increase in stress and tension during the holidays.
Over the last year (or several, really) I have sat with so many clients as they express frustration, confusion, sadness, and anger over what they are seeing in the world around them. I have heard so many people talk about avoiding the news and social...