"Some of my absolute favorite movies are centered around the holiday season. You know, the ones that paint a picturesque image of what the holidays should look like — festive decorations, friends gathering around cozy fires, finding love under the mistletoe, bonding with loved ones, and giving gifts that really mean something. Sure, there may be a few bumps in the road, but in the end it turns out to be the Best Holiday Ever, complete with a happy ending. Except, in real life, that's not usually how my holidays turn out — and I'm sure yours don't, either." -@lizzygulino⁠ ⁠ As the end of the year draws close, the pressure to have a perfect holiday season tends to mount. "Everything around you, societally, is pushing you to be happy and to focus on happiness [around the holidays]," says Alfiee Breland-Noble (@dralfiee), PhD, psychologist, author, and founder of mental health nonprofit the AAKOMA Project. The movies, the ads, the perfectly curated Instagram pictures of decorations, wrapped presents, and matching family jammies all fuel this idea of what we think the holidays should look like. When contrasted with our real-life experiences, we usually end up feeling disappointed, miserable, and frustrated long before we unwrap our first present.⁠ ⁠ We've been through a tough few years — ones that have included a global pandemic, immense personal loss, a collective focus on the heartbreaking social and racial inequities in our country, and anxiety-provoking elections. The holidays may feel like our one chance to end this year on the right foot, but this exact build-up can actually be detrimental to our mental health, setting us up for a serious letdown post-holiday season (or a major meltdown during it). ⁠ ⁠ Avoiding the holiday happiness trap requires being intentional about managing our expectations, says Dr. Breland-Noble. At the 🔗 in bio, she lays out a game plan for us to end this season feeling refreshed, rather than drained. ✍️ @lizzygulino 📷 @heami_ #R29Articles