We talk a lot about “healthy holidays” — how to lighten up the dressing, fit in a walk before the big get-together or swap sugar for something less spiky. And yes, those things matter. But as much as wellness is about food and movement, it’s also about our mental and emotional bandwidth — and for many of us, that gets tested more than any seasonal indulgence.

To get a better understanding of what’s happening beneath the surface of holiday stress — especially the subtle emotional strain — I spoke with neuropsychologist John Sawyer, Ph.D., medical director of Professional Staff Experience at Ochsner Health and co-director of the Center for Brain Health within the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute. He also holds a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, which gives him a deeper view int

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