<description>&lt;p&gt;Christmas isn’t “cosy magic” for many ADHD mums — it’s a high-pressure, high-sensory, invisible-load marathon that no one else sees. In this episode, Jane breaks down why holiday overwhelm hits harder, why silent rage feels frightening and unfair, and what your nervous system is actually doing long before the wrapping-night meltdown. You’re not failing Christmas — you’ve been carrying it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What We Cover&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why ADHD mums hit Christmas overwhelm weeks before the day arrives&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The collapse moment: when invisible load becomes unmanageable&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Sensory + emotional overload during holiday tasks&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How ADHD brains burn dopamine faster under combined pressure&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The physiology behind “Christmas rage,” shutdown, and snapping&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why joy disappears when you’re the one creating the magic&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to shift the load, communicate earlier, and prevent holiday burnout&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This Episode Is For You If…&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;You dread Christmas because you’re the one doing everything&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;You crumble under the wrapping + fairness + noise + pressure&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;You feel guilty for not loving the season&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;You hit a snapping point you didn’t see coming&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;You wonder why one small question can tip you over&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;You want to understand what your body is actually trying to tell you&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Key Takeaway&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;p&gt;Your nervous system cannot enter joy while running executive load, sensory filtration, conflict prevention, and emotional labour. It’s not personal — it’s physiological.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Resources &amp;amp; Mentions&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://adhdmums.com.au/product/adhd-mums-energy-accounting-guide/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Energy Accounting Guide&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;— A tool to reduce invisible load and prevent overwhelm&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://form.jotform.com/JaneMcFadden/perimenopause-self-check" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Perimenopause Self-Check&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;(because hormonal load amplifies Christmas overload)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;h3&gt;🔗 Related Resources&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;✨ &lt;a href="https://courses.adhdmums.com.au/plan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Festive F&lt;/strong&gt;*ck It Plan&lt;/a&gt; — your calm, realistic December planner&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; 🆓 &lt;strong&gt;Free Resource: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;a href="https://adhdmums.com.au/product/adhd-mums-energy-accounting-guide/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;The Energy Accounting PDF&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;🔗 Related Episodes&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://adhdmums.com.au/podcast_episode/stop-people-pleasing-christmas/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Stop People-Pleasing This Christmas — The Year I Stopped Apologising for My Child&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;br/&gt;</description>

ADHD Mums

Jane McFadden

64. Did Santa Just Take Credit for My Mental Breakdown?

DEC 8, 202511 MIN
ADHD Mums

64. Did Santa Just Take Credit for My Mental Breakdown?

DEC 8, 202511 MIN

Description

Christmas isn’t “cosy magic” for many ADHD mums — it’s a high-pressure, high-sensory, invisible-load marathon that no one else sees. In this episode, Jane breaks down why holiday overwhelm hits harder, why silent rage feels frightening and unfair, and what your nervous system is actually doing long before the wrapping-night meltdown. You’re not failing Christmas — you’ve been carrying it.What We CoverWhy ADHD mums hit Christmas overwhelm weeks before the day arrivesThe collapse moment: when invisible load becomes unmanageableSensory + emotional overload during holiday tasksHow ADHD brains burn dopamine faster under combined pressureThe physiology behind “Christmas rage,” shutdown, and snappingWhy joy disappears when you’re the one creating the magicHow to shift the load, communicate earlier, and prevent holiday burnoutThis Episode Is For You If…You dread Christmas because you’re the one doing everythingYou crumble under the wrapping + fairness + noise + pressureYou feel guilty for not loving the seasonYou hit a snapping point you didn’t see comingYou wonder why one small question can tip you overYou want to understand what your body is actually trying to tell youKey TakeawayYour nervous system cannot enter joy while running executive load, sensory filtration, conflict prevention, and emotional labour. It’s not personal — it’s physiological.Resources & MentionsEnergy Accounting Guide — A tool to reduce invisible load and prevent overwhelmPerimenopause Self-Check (because hormonal load amplifies Christmas overload)🔗 Related Resources✨ Festive F*ck It Plan — your calm, realistic December planner 🆓 Free Resource: The Energy Accounting PDF🔗 Related EpisodesStop People-Pleasing This Christmas — The Year I Stopped Apologising for My Child