3 Common Issues Couples Experience Around the Holidays—and How to Handle Each

It may be the most wonderful time of the year. But the holiday season actually takes a toll on most of us—and our love lives aren't immune to the stress. “The holidays can bring up intense emotions for many people,” explains Rachel Needle, PsyD, psychologist at the Center for Marital and Sexual Health of South Florida.

While the stress you're already dealing with in your day-to-day life can affect your bond with your partner, you also have to contend with the stress that arises when you navigate the season as a twosome. Maybe you didn't hit it off with your partner's family, yet he wants you to spend the holidays at their dinner table. Or you can't agree when it comes to how much to spend on presents for each other.