Managing Holiday Stress and the Blues

State: Rhode Island Department of Education Teens feel stress during the holidays, too Many adults feel stressed out or get the blues during the winter holidays. But they don’t always realize that teens get these feelings, too. The same things can cause these feelings for teens as they do for adults: Hectic schedule Financial stress Increased family conflict or misunderstanding Crowds Pressure to live up to idealized images of holidays and family life Changes in diet and routines Cabin fever Pressure to find the perfect gifts Not getting the gifts you wanted Other unmet expectations Increased grief about divorce, death, or other family changes (see below) Shortened amount of daylight (a cause of serious depression for many1) Also, many teens feel empty because holidays are not the same as when they were young kids.