Ever head into December feeling oddly confident, only for Christmas to immediately prove you wrong? One minute you’re convinced this is the year you’ll be organised, calm and festive. The next, you’re overstimulated, surrounded by half wrapped gifts, and wondering why everything feels so loud.

In this episode, I’m talking about what Christmas looks like when you have ADHD and anxiety in the mix. The sensory overload. The emotional whiplash. The way one “simple” task somehow turns into twelve separate ones. And why feeling behind in December isn’t a personal failure, it’s a completely predictable brain response.

✨ What I cover:

Why December hits ADHD brains harder than any other month

How sensory overload builds fast during Christmas

Why gift giving is never just one task

The dopamine spikes and crashes that make everything feel more intense

Why feeling behind is basically part of the festive package

Tiny survival strategies that actually help

Decision fatigue and how to reduce it

Why rest is regulation, not laziness

Letting go of the idea that Christmas is a performance

Normalising messy, chaotic, imperfect festive seasons

💬 Quotes to remember:

“Dopamine goes absolutely feral.”

“Christmas tasks are not one task.”

“Sensory stacking equals chaotic brain soup.”

“December is not a productivity test.”

“Resting is not quitting, it’s regulation.”

🧠 Takeaway: Christmas with ADHD and anxiety isn’t supposed to look calm, polished or effortless. It’s louder, messier and more emotional, and that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Once you understand what your brain is up against, the guilt eases and the season becomes a little more manageable. You don’t need to win Christmas. You just need to survive it kindly.

#ADHD #ADHDChristmas #Anxiety #Neurodivergent #ADHDPodcast #TheAnxiousADHDer #MentalHealth #ADHDLife