Black Friday’s Impact on the Brain: Clinicians and Top Consultancies Warn About Growing Stress of Holiday Shopping Illustration of a girl stressed due to holiday shopping As Deloitte, PwC, and Accenture holiday shopping reports warn of record cognitive stress and rising indecision this holiday season, clinicians explain why constant decision-making drains the brain, and what can be done to support it. November 21, 2025. As Black Friday and the holiday season are approaching, three of the world’s leading consultancies, Deloitte, PwC, and Accenture, have released reports highlighting record levels of cognitive stress and rising indecision among consumers. Clinicians warn that, beyond budget tightening and economic instability, this is leading us to…