Holidays. There are quite a few of them in the fall and winter months, and they’re supposed to be fun, right? Except for many people, they can be stressful. Some facets that can be issues for teens, tweens and pretty much anybody:

• Your favorite holiday is problematic
• Your family is a mess
• You have no $$
• You are without personal or family traditions
• You don't believe in _______ (fill in thing that requires belief)
• You have food allergies
• You’re struggling with mental health

Here are some things to read (or watch) about those subjects.

Surviving and Thriving During the Holidays, Mt. Sinai Adolescent Health Center

“It’s Okay to Like Problematic Things”, URGE  

Tips for Managing the Holiday Blues, National Institute of Mental Health

Dealing with Grief During the Holidays (Doesn’t Mean Avoiding It), Teen Vogue 

Why Coming Out to my Family is Not on My Holiday To-Do List, Teen Vogue

The Agnostic’s Holiday (written by a teen for teens!)

A Teen’s Perspective on the Holidays with Food Allergies, Food Allergy Research and Education

Local teens create the All In My Head: Real Teens, Real Talk podcast, and there are two episodes about therapy: Therapy Part 1: The Teens features teens reflecting on their mental health journeys, and Therapy Part 2: The Therapist has an interview with a local mental health professional, plus tips for teens on talking to families about mental health and therapy.

This article was written for our Family Newsletter, available in English and Spanish. Please sign up here, and you can email us at learning@multcolib.org with any questions.