11/25/2025
The Tuesday before Thanksgiving can bring a mix of excitement — and anxiety. For many, gathering with family or friends means facing tough questions, unsolicited advice, or people who don’t always honor boundaries.
Here are a few ways to prepare emotionally before you walk into the room:
✨ 1. Decide your boundaries ahead of time.
Pick 1–2 topics you won’t discuss (finances, relationships, parenting, etc.). Having your limits set in advance makes them easier to uphold in the moment.
✨ 2. Practice a simple response.
Try: “I’m not discussing that today, but thank you for understanding.”
Short, calm, and firm.
✨ 3. Take breaks, without apologizing.
Step outside, refill your drink, check on the kids, or take a quiet moment in another room. Breaks reset your nervous system.
✨ 4. Use the 5–4–3–2–1 grounding technique.
Great for sudden overwhelm: five things you see, four you feel, three you hear, two you smell, one you taste or imagine tasting.
✨ 5. Give yourself an exit plan.
Decide ahead of time how long you’d like to stay, or when it’s okay to step out if things get uncomfortable.
Remember:
💛 Your mental health matters just as much as the holiday.
💛 Boundaries are allowed.
💛 You deserve a peaceful, grounded Thanksgiving.
And if this time of year feels heavy or brings up emotions you’re still navigating, our clinicians at Sound Health & Wellness are here to support you before, during, and after the holidays.