A real‑talk therapist’s guide to holiday stress, gathering fatigue, festive comparison syndrome, and creating a season that actually feels good for your nervous system.​

In this episode, Carrie sits down with therapist and wellness educator Chloë Bean to unpack holiday stress, gathering fatigue, and what “festive comparison syndrome” is doing to your mental health and nervous system. You’ll hear practical somatic tools for when anxiety spikes at the dinner table, simple ways to set holiday boundaries without feeling like an asshole, and realistic self‑care practices that help you rest, regulate, and actually enjoy parts of the season on your own terms.​

We've all been there—mid-December, scrolling through picture-perfect holidays while juggling real-life chaos and complicated family dynamics.

Chloë shares grounded, actually-practical tools for navigating holiday overwhelm, holiday anxiety, and the people-pleasing patterns that tend to flare this time of year. Expect somatic support you can use on the spot, simple boundary-setting, and a more realistic take on holiday self-care.

What We Cover:

• Festive comparison syndrome
• Somatic tools for holiday anxiety
• Communicating boundaries without guilt
• A non-performative gratitude practice
• Gift giving without the stress
• Why rest counts as productivity

Resources Mentioned:

• Chloë’s Free People Pleaser Workbook
• Take Chloë’s Burnout Quiz

Real talk: You can’t control the season—but you can regulate through it. This episode helps you create a holiday that feels calmer, kinder, and more aligned with your nervous system.

Connect with Chloë Bean:

Website: https://www.chloebeantherapy.com/meet-chloe

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloebeantherapy/

Connect with us:

The Human Array: https://thehumanarray.com

The Human Array LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/

Carrie Allen LinkedIn https://bit.ly/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehumanarray/

TikTok: https://bit.ly/THATikTok