How to navigate political talk at the Thanksgiving dinner table

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- If you're preparing for a Thanksgiving gathering, you might want to leave politics off the menu. That's the advice of experts this holiday season. Post election, political tensions remain high for many, according to a new online survey.

"This election cycle has been just stressful for everyone," said Tarsha Wiggins, therapist and CEO & founder of Speak Wellness Behavioral Health Consulting.

No matter the political affiliation, emotions have run high for many this election year. "I've heard feedback from both sides, in the sense that, 'I feel very overwhelmed, I feel judged, I feel hurt, I feel let down,'" said Wiggins.

Wiggins says no matter who you voted for, there can be a lot of emotion attached to your political views. Now, with the holidays upon us, it might be best to leave politics out of it.

"We try to just respect one another and kind of avoid speaking about those things because it's a personal decision," said Beverly Wild, who's visiting Milwaukee from Orlando. She says her family focuses on the things they share in common so they can enjoy their time together during the holidays.

"I would say actually it's been very difficult in our family since 2016...it's not gotten easier, either," said Erin Bauer, from Milwaukee.

An online research poll from Prolific found that more than 20% of those surveyed reported family tension has spiked since the presidential election. Thirty-six percent said they worry about arguments this holiday.

"I'm one of those people. My day job does not align with what my parents' beliefs are. I'm essentially a sustainability professional," said Bauer.

She says navigating holiday gatherings while keeping things positive takes intention.

"Our methodology we've been using is basically to shut it down and just say we know where each other stands. If we want to choose to hang out together, we're going to have to respect boundaries...if not, then we don't have to hang out," she said.

Wiggins says setting boundaries is her expert advice.

She suggests deciding what's comfortable for you and communicating it to family and friends. She says also be willing to change your holiday plans if your boundary isn't respected.