Why Depressed Children May Be Prone to the Holiday Blues

If your child is depressed or is prone to depression, you may not be surprised to know that the stress of the season may actually lead to the holiday blues in your child.

Holidays and Stress

Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but some children are simply more prone t0 depression as a result of life stressors. While festivities may be fun for some, a
depression-prone child may find chaos in holiday parties, crowds, or a disruption of his daily routine.

If your child has recently lost a loved one or pet, or experienced a significant life change, like a family divorce or move, the holiday season may seem especially hard to cope with.

What Parents Can Do

If your child is prone to depression, watch closely for changes in his mood, behavior, and daily functioning. If you notice that his behaviors or daily patterns have changed, contact your child’s mental health provider.

Additional symptoms of depression in children may be:

• Changes in appetite and sleeping patterns
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Excessive crying
• Feelings of guilt
• Loss of interest in things of former interest
• Vague and unexplained physical complaints

If your child has suffered a recent loss, allow him to grieve and acknowledge his feelings. Your child may take comfort in keeping old traditions alive or amending them to fit new family dynamics.

Children are also very attuned to their parents’ and caregivers’ feelings and moods. So, try not to let the stress of the season affect you negatively.

The holiday season is all about enjoying and helping one another — try not to worry about meeting unrealistic holiday ideals, and aim for what works best for your entire family