Following the presidential election, many Americans are nervously anticipating awkward political discussions at the dinner table this Thanksgiving. According to a survey by Spruce, 64% of Americans have had their holiday season impacted by politics-related stress. Almost half of the respondents have considered banning discussions around politics altogether, to avoid any tension or disagreements, and 64% plan to enforce some sort of boundary. Senior therapist Charity Hagains highlighted unmet expectations, name-calling, criticism, and dismissing feelings as common family relationship strains, especially around politics. Hagains advises lowering high expectations to better enjoy time with family, to avoid a sense of dread leading up to family gatherings. "A common theme for many families is that we place such a high priority on holiday enjoyment. We can have really high expectations of ourselves during the holidays, and when those expectations are unreasonable, we can become stressed, making the holiday unpleasant," explained Hagains. Hagains said that political discussions with family can be “incredibly divisive," and encourages communicating when a conversation makes you nervous or uncomfortable. Trump-supporting family members are the source of 52% of respondents’ Thanksgiving anxiety, while 48% feel Harris-supporting family members are their anxiety source. Others recommend that families opt for more lighthearted topics, such as pop culture or anything that is non-political. Cultivating a space for respectful, open communication is also recommended, and if that is not upheld, remove yourself from any uncomfortable environments.