Resisting the Holiday Hustle: How Houston-Area Families Can Protect Their Mental Health This Season
December 2025 — If you’re raising a family in the Houston area, the holidays may feel less like a winter wonderland and more like a race against the calendar. Between carpool chaos, community events, school concerts, and jam-packed parking lots, the most wonderful time of the year can feel... anything but.
Elizabeth Westbrook, LCSW, a Certified Neuropsychotherapist and local parent of four, knows this experience all too well. “What starts as a sweet season of gratitude quickly becomes a swirl of carpool lines, Light Up the Night events, travel-team tournaments, and classroom parties,” she shared. “If you’re doing your best but feeling stretched thin or two steps away from crying in the Target parking lot, you’re not failing. You’re just a human being trying to keep the holiday magic alive.”
Westbrook is part of Here Comes the Sun Counseling and The Reclaimed Collective, where she supports parents through stress, trauma, and complicated family dynamics. With deep clinical training and a relatable, real-world approach, she says the seasonal stress spike is a common pattern—especially in bustling suburban communities like Katy, Cinco Ranch, Cross Creek Ranch, and surrounding areas.
And it’s not just anecdotal. According to a 2023 report from the American Psychological Association, nearly 9 in 10 adults experience significant stress during the holiday season. For over 40% of parents, it directly impacts their mental health. Meanwhile, family-focused studies reveal that 38% of parents feel increased strain during school breaks, when routines vanish and responsibilities grow.
Why It Feels So Hard Right Now
Westbrook points out that many parents in Fort Bend and Harris County are juggling full-time jobs while school is out. “The kids are home, but you’re still working,” she said. “The mental load skyrockets—schedules shift, meals multiply, and the requests for Chick-fil-A (always on a Sunday!) never stop.”
On top of this, families in Katy and West Houston often feel caught in a cycle of comparison. “Between the picture-perfect holiday setups in Elyson or Cane Island and the endless ‘must-do’ lists floating around local mom groups, parents feel pressure to make it all extra,” Westbrook explained. “But more isn’t always magical. Sometimes more is just… too much.”
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She urges families to slow down and focus on meaningful moments instead of manicured ones. “Not every moment needs to be captured and posted. We all know that getting your teen in anything but gym shorts and your toddler not picking their nose for the family photo is a win. Less pressure leads to more peace.”
Recognizing the Holiday Blues
Feeling overwhelmed during the holidays doesn’t always mean clinical depression—but it is worth paying attention to. Westbrook notes that many parents experience:
- Emotional exhaustion or irritability
- Loneliness, even in crowds
- Guilt for not “enjoying the season enough”
- Grief after divorce, loss, or major life changes
- Pressure to carry everyone else’s emotions
“Your nervous system doesn’t know it’s December,” Westbrook said. “It only knows you’re overwhelmed.”
She encourages families to focus on what grounds them: “Keep a few things predictable—bedtimes, routines, a favorite show, or a regular workout. Just two consistent moments a day can stabilize you and your family.”
Practical Tools to Reset and Recharge
Westbrook shared simple strategies that can help families in Katy, Fulshear, West Houston create more manageable holidays:
- Pick the traditions that actually matter. Ask your kids what they love most—you may discover you can skip more than you thought.
- Delegate. “Grocery pickup, store-bought cookies, and saying ‘no’ to one or seven events can be a game changer,” said Westbrook.
- Let go of guilt. “Just because you say no this year doesn’t mean you always will. Meet your family where you’re at.”
She’s also created a free Reset Workbook to help individuals ease into the new year with reflection and intention. It's available online at reclaimed-co.com.
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When It’s Time to Reach Out
Sometimes the stress goes beyond seasonal hustle. Westbrook advises seeking professional support if:
- Sadness or irritability becomes daily
- Family conflict escalates
- You feel stuck or like you’re not bouncing back
- Your children are acting out more than usual
“At Here Comes the Sun Counseling, we understand what it feels like to have an increase in the hustle during the holidays,” Westbrook said. “We offer complimentary 15-minute phone consultations so you can get the mental wellness support you need—not just to survive the holidays, but to truly thrive beyond them.”
If you or someone you know is struggling this season, you're not alone. Local mental health professionals like Elizabeth Westbrook and her team are here to help Houston area residents reconnect with what matters most: presence, peace, and people—not perfection.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
