No matter how mature you are in everyday life, when it comes time to head home for Christmas, we often find ourselves acting like grouchy teenagers. However, if you end up clashing with your family over the holidays, research suggests that you are far from alone. Psychologists say that well-functioning adults often end up feeling and acting like younger version of themselves when around their families. According to Dr Chester Sunde, a licensed clinical psychologist in California, this is due to a completely normal and very common process called 'regression'. He says: 'In my clinical practice, many clients describe finding themselves feeling and acting like teenagers shortly after walking into their parents' house.

Source: Daily Mail December 23, 2025 19:38 UTC