Why can Christmas be challenging for a neurodivergent person?

Christmas can be a great time of year, but it can also be an increasingly challenging time due to the changes it brings about. There’s further expectation placed among neurodivergent individuals to mask to fit in with Christmas tradition. Then you add on the increased traffic in shopping centres, smells and sounds, it can become overwhelming very quickly. There’s often a lot of expectation placed upon someone at Christmas and when you may have challenges with planning and prioritising, the chaos and stress of Christmas can cause it to be an extremely difficult time of year. The Creased Puddle team have come together to share their best tips for managing Christmas as a neurodivergent person:

• It’s ok to say no to a party to manage your social battery and reduce overwhelm.
• It’s ok to take time out on Christmas day.
• 5 minutes of downtime can make all the difference to continue enjoying the day.
• If you are having coaching, take time to reflect on some of the strategies you have learnt.
• Schedule ‘break days’ in your schedule which break up a week, giving you space to pause and rest.
• Set a reminder to do some breathing exercises.
• Use flares or loops to reduce overstimulation from things like Christmas crackers (or noisy family members!).
• Drink plenty of water and plan for a relaxing evening, watch positive films and bring you joy.
• Your house may be a mess, but remember it will pass.
• When you create lists, identify whom you can delegate some of it to so you are not doing it all.
• Do not feel pressured into sending cards, accept those you may get, and say thanks, but explain cards are not something you do (same with presents, in some cases).
• Explore ways to celebrate Christmas beyond drinking and socialising. Share your preferences with someone who understands and can suggest alternative activities for everyone to enjoy.
• Maintain routine and predictability as Christmas usually brings about lots of change.
• Remember to use flares or loops where possible to reduce the sensory overwhelm of the extra noise Christmas creates.
• If you need to visit a shop, try going during times with less Christmas traffic.

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to Christmas – it’s ok to create your own traditions.

We offer many different types of neurodiversity coaching, if you feel that we can help you through the Christmas period, get in touch.

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