The holiday season often conjures up images of warmth, joy, and togetherness with family and loved ones. Doesn’t this remind you of the sappy Hallmark movies? For many of us, the holidays can feel heavy. Just even thinking about the holidays can bring up unpleasant memories as well as a fair share of family drama and stress. Whether it’s disagreements, unresolved conflicts, or simply the pressure to have a perfect holiday, coping with family dynamics during this time can be challenging.

The holiday season can be a challenging time for many people, especially those who have experienced trauma. Navigating family dynamics during this period can bring up a range of emotions and stressors. As a stress management and historical trauma specialist, I understand the importance of addressing these challenges with a trauma-informed approach. Here are tools for family healing during the Holiday Season.

Your journey to healing after relationship trauma begins with self-compassion. Refuse to carry feelings of guilt or shame (don’t claim the shame for behaviors you didn’t do or were forced to do, or manipulated in doing). You may not have done something differently to prevented the abuse or betrayal. Recognize your feelings are normal but unhelpful is important for your healing.