As restrictions ease across the country, many Americans are conflicted about how to safely attend family gatherings or even say no to them.

Experts say there will certainly be a shift in dynamics, even within households, as people try to figure out what their next steps should be and how they can honor their loved ones while respecting their own boundaries.

According to The Washington Post, the differences in personalities, risk tolerance, and diverse situations may cause rifts within families and even between friends who you consider as close as biological family.

"We want to make them happy, for the most part. We want to be aligned with them," said Lindsay Volpe-Bertram, section chief of psychology at Spectrum Health, a managed care organization in Michigan. She acknowledged that some anxiety is normal when you have to make a stand on safe social distancing but warned that "overthinking situations" and anticipating that people will be upset with your decisions isn't helpful.

Here's what experts recommend to help you feel comfortable about setting boundaries, according the Post:

• Create and communicate your boundaries. Volpe-Bertram suggested making rules without weighing in other people's opinions. An example is telling your family that your will only attend outside gatherings. Communicate your thoughts "clearly and non-defensively," she said.
• Ask about the other person's boundaries. According to the Post, questions like "Could you tell me what makes you safe with social distancing?" opens the lines of communication.
• Don't be afraid to say no. Don't give into people who try to make you feel guilty about your boundaries, Volpe-Bertram told the Post. "The more we can work on our assertiveness skills and feel comfortable stating what we think and what our limits are, the easier it's going to be," she said.
• Be clear about what precautions you need to be comfortable. Experts told MPR News that wearing masks, avoiding car rides with family or friends, and keeping 6 feet apart at small gatherings are some considerations you can impart to loved ones. "We tend to overestimate the risk of getting scary diseases like COVID-19 from strangers," said M. Kumi Smith, an epidemiologist at the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. "But we underestimate the risk of getting it from people we know."
• Validate emotions. According to the Post, it's important to recognize that both parties have feelings and to acknowledge them. Volpe-Bertram suggested saying, "I know you really miss us, and we miss you, too. This is really hard." The expert said that when we validate someone's feelings, it helps break the tension.

Lastly, said experts, it's important to understand that as we learn more about the disease, our own rules of safe socialization may change.