7 Tips to Help Cope with Holiday Stress via Kaiser Permanente

As a public health educator, protecting your mental health is essential to healthy living and well-being. Family holiday parties can be stressful, whether it’s another political argument with your uncle or the absence of a loved one who passed. To help you tackle some of these challenging situations, Leigh Miller, LCSW, a therapist and social worker at Kaiser Permanente, shares tips on how to cope.

How to cope with stressful family situations

Managing stressful situations can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to prepare for seven complex — but familiar — family stressors during the holidays.

Political disagreements

Political discussions can lead to significant family disagreements or arguments in some families.

How to prepare:  Make the topic off-limits, if possible. Miller suggests reaching out to your family before your holiday gathering. Let them know that rather than talk about politics, you’d prefer to focus on what’s going on in their lives.

Day-of tactics: If politics arise, gently remind your family that you’d prefer not to discuss the topic. You can also excuse yourself from the conversation and take a short break. Go for a 15-minute walk or chat with another family member.