If you’ve ever thought, “I shouldn’t be this tired,” this post is your permission slip.

What you’re feeling isn’t failure — it’s ambient burnout. The quiet, relentless kind that comes from being everything to everyone.

You know how they say “Welcome to your teen years!” like you’re entering Disneyland, confetti and cotton-candy? Yeah, surprise: what you’re actually getting is less roller-coasters and more emotional loop-de-loops. Let’s talk about one of the trendiest—but least glamorous—mental-health topics among teens right now: the screen-life spiral.

We’ve been sold a Norman Rockwell version of the holiday: cozy family moments, perfect pies, a roaring fire, and everyone pausing to reflect on what they’re thankful for. But somewhere between delayed flights, passive-aggressive family comments, and existential dread over how much the groceries cost this year, the whole thing starts to feel less “heartwarming” and more “psychological endurance test.”