When you have challenging family relationships, the holidays can be activating and destabilizing. You may be experiencing pressure from family members to see them or come home for the holidays, when it’s the last thing you want to do. If your plans do include family members, you may be dreading arguments, pressure, manipulation, or family members ignoring your needs. Doing some preparation in advance of the holidays can help you feel better equipped to navigate this time of year.

Elections can bring up strong emotions in all of us. Hopelessness can strike if we feel disempowered to make changes. Know that these feelings are valid, and that what you are experiencing is real. Elections do have a tremendous impact on us and our loved ones. With that, it’s especially important to attend to our own needs and the needs of our community during these times.

We live in a world that prioritizes the physical above all else. And while it may be easy to identify moments of physical abuse or even physical neglect, emotional neglect can be even harder to articulate. But emotional care is just as vital as physical care, and growing up in a house without it can leave a lasting mark.