By Stephen C. Schultz As we enter the holiday season, my hope is that it brings meaningful time with family and moments of renewed connection. For many, this time of year is restorative. For others, it can quietly intensify what is already fragile. It is a difficult reality that inquiries often increase around the holidays. When teens are already struggling, the added expectations, social pressures, and family dynamics of the season can amplify underlying issues. If you are a parent finding yourself in that place, please know you are not alone. Adolescents who are navigating depression , anxiety , trauma , or complicated peer relationships often experience the world in ways that feel narrow and rigid. That isn’t a criticism, it is developmental reality, particularly when emotional concerns are layered onto typical adolescence. Perspective can become constricted. Reactions can become heightened. Some teens who struggle academically or act out with anger develop a guarded stance tow...
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