My Family Is Perfectly Normal, so Why Am I SO Anxious to See Them for the Holidays?

The holidays are coming up. You’re supposed to be excited about the warmth and good times, but you are feeling dread.

It’s a lonely feeling. Family is expecting to see you and those expectations are packed with additional pressure. And if you’re the only one feeling this way, or if you have been told it is culturally unacceptable to not spend time with family, you are left feeling confused and bewildered. On the other hand, have you ever given yourself the space to consider what is at the root of your dread?