24/12/2025
A little snippet of the last few days for me and my fam.
We slipped away to the river for a break before Christmas - something my nervous system has come to love deeply!
Honest truth? I’ve always found this season hard.
As an autistic, ADHD, highly sensitive woman, I’ve never really been able to find a sense of calm or contentment around it. I feel like I’m never doing enough, never gifting ‘properly’, and never responding the way I *should*.
I struggle with the perceived pressure, the expectations and the consumerism of it all. And … I want to be more joyful, generous and light.
This is something I often hear from other neurodivergent and highly sensitive people: the wish that they could just ‘loosen up’ or ‘not care so much’ or ‘be more fun’.
Yep. I hear and feel all of that right alongside you. And I think we’re putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves to conform.
And that’s not to say anything about the impacts of grief, trauma, anxiety or depression. It can be a melting pot for some.
So I really just come with a reminder for us all today.
Stop shaming and blaming yourself for how your nervous system processes the world. Stop shaming and blaming yourself for not being able to keep up in the ways you want. Stop shaming and blaming yourself when you don’t feel exactly as you think you should.
Instead, ask yourself: what might I need to feel more supported right now?
Is it a walk, 10 minutes in silence, a conversation with someone you trust, a good ol’ cuddle with your dog, or a quiet cuppa gazing out the window?
Pushing relentlessly is not the way.
Don’t discard yourself, your needs or your self-compassion in pursuit of what you think you should be doing. Pay attention to how you feel and offer yourself a compassionate, kind and supportive response to that 🩷
