Dealing with Holiday Stress and Anxiety? These Pro Tips Will Help

This year really threw us into the deep end, didn't it? Perhaps the most glaring issue is that we're still contending with a scary and unpredictable pandemic that's entirely changed the way the holidays look. Some of us have even been impacted directly by this awful virus.

"This year has been a catastrophic one on a number of levels," says Dr. Cochran. "There are many individuals and families who have sustained horrible losses and are enduring ongoing, incredible pain. As a result, a lot of people don't feel much like celebrating the holidays, especially in the face of a seemingly unrelenting pandemic and all the confusion and uncertainty in the world today."

In addition to worrying about how we're going to celebrate — including whether we should spend in-person time with loved ones — this election cycle has been particularly fraught. Tensions are high, families are split, and many are simply feeling exhausted by it all.

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