Photo Illustration: Caroline Shepard

It's as predictable as plastic reindeer, spinning dreidels, family visits, and overspending on gifts: holiday anxiety. And we shouldn't take it lightly. According to a paper published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the effects of psychological stress can weaken immune function and trigger inflammation, raising the risk of autoimmune disease, coronary artery disease, and depression.

We asked three stress experts what they've learned from their research and how they apply these skills to their own periods of seasonal pressure.

• David D. Burns, MD, has the secrets of effective communication
• Alice Domar, PhD, knows how to get your mind off it
• Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD, can help you get back in control