Holiday Syndrome: Why the Holidays Hit Autistic & ADHD Adults So Hard (AuDHD) w/ Dr. Megan Anna Neff

Do the holidays spike anxiety, shutdown, irritability, or a vague sense of dread—especially if you’re autistic, ADHD, or AuDHD? In this episode, Dr. Megan Anna Neff explains “holiday syndrome”—a pattern noticed between Thanksgiving and New Year’s where stress, conflict, somatic symptoms, or old grief can surface, often tied to “unfinished business” from childhood and cultural pressure to feel connected and joyful.

The holidays can be an emotionally complex time, often leading to significant holiday overwhelm, especially for neurodivergent adults. This video discusses how to navigate these feelings, focusing on neurodivergent mental health during the season. We explore why mental health holidays are crucial for well-being and offer insights into managing expectations.

We also talk about why this season can be uniquely intense for neurodivergent adults: routine disruption, sensory overload, rigid “should” expectations, and the stories our brains tell when feelings don’t make sense (“What’s wrong with me?”).

***Please note this video is not medical advice and should not be considered medical advice nor is it therapy. This video is for educational purposes only.***

In this video, you’ll learn:
• What holiday syndrome means and how it can show up (mood shifts, anxiety/panic, somatic symptoms, conflict, relapse patterns, “magic fix” thinking)
• Why the season can activate unconscious dynamics—and why awareness helps
• How “secondary emotions” (judging your feelings) keep you stuck, and what to do instead
• Practical supports: sensory resets, nourishing vs. numbing self-care, anchoring routines, and safe foods

Read more about The Hidden Struggles of the Holidays from Dr. Megan Anna Neff here: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/hidden-struggles-holiday-season/
📩 More resources + weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.neurodivergentinsights.com/resource-vault
📚 Dr. Neff’s books: Self-Care for Autistic People: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1507221932?tag=myndwebsite20-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1
The Autistic Burnout Workbook: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/autistic-burnout-workbook/
Neurodivergent Insights: https://neurodivergentinsights.com
Trainings: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/trainings/
Neurodivergent Insights Workbooks: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/workbook/

Dr. Megan Anna Neff (she/they) is an Autistic-ADHD clinical psychologist who blends research, clinical insight, and lived experience to make sense of adult neurodivergence. She creates clear, compassionate, neurodivergent-affirming education for autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD adults, and for the clinicians who support them.

Each video offers practical tools, grounded explanations, and honest conversations about sensory health, burnout, masking, identity, and everyday neurodivergent life, living with ADHD and Autism.