Dodge secondhand stress

Negative emotions can be contagious— especially during the tense holiday season! But experts say it’s possible to protect yourself. Here’s how

You’re excited to see your loved ones this Thanksgiving, but you feel weirdly anxious as well—and you can’t figure out why. Everything’s all set: the dessert you’re bringing, travel arrangements, last-minute to-do’s. So why the tight chest and jitteriness?

Blame “secondhand stress,” a kind of free-f loating tension you “catch” from those around you. When we observe a person’s facial expressions, body language and gestures, our brains begin firing mirror neurons, complex cells that help us interpret the intentions and emotions of others. Groundbreaking research has revealed that these neurons trick our brains into instantly believing that we’re making the same expression or gesture, which in turn, generates a corresponding emotion. For instance, when we see someone frown, we subconsciously feel sadness or anger as if we were frowning, too—a phenomenon known as emotional contagion.

While this can add to your mental burdens, it also creates an unexpected opportunity for deeper connection, notes psychologist Alicia Clark, Psy.D., author of Hack Your Anxiety. “Mirror neurons allow you to connect and tune into other people’s experience and be empathic—you don’t just get the facts about how someone’s feeling, you experience and understand it in your own body and mind, so you can respond compassionately.”

Read on for expert-backed strategies to experience the benefits (connection) without the drawbacks (overwhelming stress and anxiety) as we head into the emotionally-charged holiday season.