As the holiday season creeps closer here in Wilmington, Delaware, it reminds me that the holidays, while joyful, can bring up complex emotions, put boundaries to the test, and can unravel the progress you’ve made throughout the year.

It’s normal to feel a complicated mix of excitement and dread. You might be looking forward to the favorite family recipes and the time off work, while simultaneously feeling a familiar knot in your stomach about difficult family dynamics and endless to-do lists.

In my work providing therapy for millennial women and high-functioning women of color, I see how quickly this season can drain your reserves.