12/23/2025
In theory, this season is supposed to be relaxing, joyful, and full of community. But the holidays can be a tricky time, especially if you are navigating chronic illness or chronic pain.
Spoons are getting spent left and right. Expectations are higher for yourself and from other people. The weather is not in favor of your dysautonomia or mast cell issues. You might not be exercising quite as often or eating according to your dietary needs.
Itās hard to say no. Itās also hard to explain when people donāt understand. Itās especially hard when you have an invisible illness. Sometimes it might simply be too exhausting to explain why you canāt do certain things, why you need to come late, or why you need to miss the event entirely. Sometimes it feels easier to just show up and do what everyone is expecting.
What you do in this season entirely depends on what nourishes your nervous system. I am here to give you permission to do that in whatever way that looks like for you. If that means setting more boundaries or taking more time for yourself, you can do that. If that means pushing yourself further than you normally do but knowing that you will have time to recuperate after, that is also a choice you get to make.
Donāt forget all of your tools in this season. Sometimes in the busyness it gets hard to remember the simple things that make your life easier, whether that is making a visit to your care team providers, getting an IV, wearing your compression gear under your Christmas pajamas, mixing electrolytes into your hot chocolate, bringing your noise reduction earbuds or headphones, bringing an ice pack or a hot pack to the holiday party, or telling Aunt Karen for the thousandth time that your disease is not going to go away if you do yoga.
I support you. Iām sending you as many spoons as I can, and I hope your holidays bring you joy in some way.
Much love,
Sharon
EDS MCAS POTS endometriosis me/cfs long covid post concussion syndrome TBI nervous system Christmas holiday shareable
