Managing Family Dynamics During the Holidays
Between October and December, a large number of holidays from a variety of traditions take place. Holiday celebrations are a time of joy, tradition, and relaxation (hopefully). For post-secondary students, they offer a much-needed break from the stresses of studying. Holidays often represent an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends and to enjoy a reprieve from cooking and laundry! However, the reality of the holidays often contrasts with the idealized portrayals in movies; while they can be joyous, they can also evoke excitement and anxiety, especially with respect to family relationships. As Dr. Albers notes, 鈥渉ometown anxiety isn鈥檛 a diagnosis, but it鈥檚 a useful term鈥 (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).