Christmas Isn’t Always Merry: Understanding Holiday Stress & Mental Health

Ah, Christmas. The time of year we’re all told to “feel the joy,” wrap families in cozy sentiment, drink peppermint-mochas by a roaring fire, and—in the same breath—navigate budget-blow shopping sprees, family feuds, and the decline of our nervous systems. Let’s be honest: the lights are pretty, but the mental-health undercurrents? They’re messy.