Navigating the holiday season when family is difficult

BY DR. ERIKA PUIRAS

November is the precursor to what is often a busy holiday season. And, as joyful as they can be, holidays come with a myriad of expectations: gifts, dinners, get-togethers, all of which traditionally involve one’s family. Yet, for many of us who have strained relationships with family members, or for those who have undergone developmental and family-based trauma, this can be an especially hard season to weather. Navigating the implicit and explicit messaging that family is everything (“blood is thicker than water”) can feel like a minefield. As we get closer to the end of the year, there are a variety of reminders and strategies to consider that may help to validate and inform your path forward:

• Sometimes, our family members are those we choose, rather than people r