The "With That In Mind" Podcast · Red Bird Mental Health Services

Episode 44: With That In Mind | Navigating Holiday Stress: Tips from Therapists

·50 min·3 clips

Dr. Megan Velozorzi describes “Christmases that you celebrate and Christmases you just get through.”

1. The "With That In Mind" Podcast addresses how Dr. Megan Velozorzi and Kasey can navigate holiday stress during the coming weeks. 2. Dr. Megan Velozorzi hosts the Redbird Mental Health podcast, while Kasey joins her as a therapist discussing client-relevant holiday pressures. 3. The episode asks listeners to decide which holiday activities improve their lives rather than obeying unrealistic expectations. 4. The hosts cite a statistic that 88% of Americans report feeling stressed during the holidays. 5. They also cite that 41% of adults describe holiday stress as more intense than at any other time of year. 6. Finances can require families to accept that they cannot buy every desired gift for people they love. 7. Family obligations can involve intrusive questions from relatives whom people may not see on purpose during the rest of the year. 8. Dr. Megan Velozorzi recalls being taken to four houses on Christmas Day after children had been awake since 4 a.m. 9. Time pressure increases when birthdays for relatives and friends cluster within three days of December. 10. The hosts contrast elaborate traditions with simpler choices such as watching Elf together during Thanksgiving weekend. 11. Dr. Megan Velozorzi describes reducing her holiday decorations from approximately 25 bins to 10 bins. 12. Kasey and Dr. Megan Velozorzi challenge the expectation that homes should resemble Martha Stewart’s house. 13. They describe family food traditions ranging from decorating on Dr. Megan Velozorzi’s mother’s side to cooking Italian dishes on her father’s side. 14. Dr. Megan Velozorzi’s father proposes prime rib, ham, shrimp, lobster, and crab for a gathering of seven people. 15. The hosts reject constant joy as an achievable holiday requirement for people experiencing loss, loneliness, heartbreak, or stress. 16. Dr. Megan Velozorzi recommends boundaries such as limiting a difficult family visit to two hours and preparing an excuse to leave. 17. Dr. Megan Velozorzi describes grief rituals involving a candle, an angel tree, and a new ornament for her deceased daughter each year. 18. The conversation uses therapist guidance, family anecdotes, laughter, and back-and-forth examples rather than a formal interview with an outside guest. 19. People seeking practical holiday boundaries, grief support, and simpler traditions would appreciate this episode. 20. Listeners wanting holiday recipes, shopping advice, or entertainment reviews might skip it.

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