These kinds of conversations can be triggering, so make sure to give yourself space if you’re finding them hard to cope with. You don’t need to kick up a big fuss if you don’t want to – simply excusing yourself or heading out for a quick walk will help to provide a breather.

Recognising and identifying your triggers ahead of time can also help, Dr Spelman says. “Give yourself permission to feel your emotions and practising self-compassion can also help to manage the stress and discomfort caused by invasive questions,” she adds. This might look like journaling after a difficult conversation to work through what happened or sharing your feelings with a trusted person.

You could also use an emotion wheel to acknowledge what you’re feeling, which can help you to work through what’s going on and the feelings building up and worsening in the long run.

How to handle invasive questions about your health from friends and family this Christmas