When the holidays get to be too much and all you want to do is crawl under a rock until the new year is well under way, Suzanne Bartle-Haring wants you to know you're not alone. Bartle-Haring, who is also assistant professor of family relations and human development in the College of Human Ecology, said there are a lot of reasons for such a high amount of stress.
People tend to have high expectations that the holidays can be better than they actually are.
Other issues that might create more stress at this time of year include substance abuse and financial concerns. If money is an issue, it can become an even bigger issue during the holidays. Arguing about money has been reported as one of the top reasons for divorce. Have realistic expectations. That's really important.