Family gatherings at the holidays can put estrangement into sharp relief. Each get-together constitutes a kind of roll call for who’s in and who’s out. This can be devastating for those excluded and challenging for those included in family events where tensions run high.

The estranged suffer from greater depression, loneliness, and low self‐worth as the weather turns cold.

“Fall sucks,” a woman who doesn't talk to her siblings said bluntly. “I say it every year. The holidays rub your face in the estrangement.”

One estranged woman reported that she wakes up crying in her sleep, devastated by her losses. Even some who chose to sever family relations sometimes find that holidays spent alone prompt a reevaluation of whether a cutoff was the right choice.

Whether you decide to go solo or join in your family gatherings, here are tips to help you cope.

Whatever you choose to do, be proactive. Anticipate the challenging aspects of the days ahead; make your plans and stick to them. Following through on what’s best for you allows you not only to take control of your situation, but also to congratulate yourself for doing just that.

QOSHE - 15 Tips for the Estranged to Cope With the Holidays - Fern Schumer Chapman
menu_open
Columnists Actual . Favourites . Archive
We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close
Aa Aa Aa
- A +

15 Tips for the Estranged to Cope With the Holidays

25 0
20.11.2023

Family gatherings at the holidays can put estrangement into sharp relief. Each get-together constitutes a kind of roll call for who’s in and who’s out. This can be devastating for those excluded and challenging for those included in family events where tensions run high.

The estranged suffer........

© Psychology Today


Get it on Google Play