Episode 271: Keeping it Real During the Holidays: p.s. I Love the Grinch! - Patricia Young

Patricia (she/her) dives into the emotional and sensory whirlwind of navigating change as an AuDHDer during the holiday season. She unpacks the exhaustion that comes from shifting family dynamics, unpredictable routines, kitten chaos, people coming and going, and the desire to show up with more capacity than she actually has. Patricia speaks candidly about shutdowns, resentment, communication misfires and boundary-setting. This episode invites listeners to honor their own wiring, acknowledge their limits, and give themselves permission to navigate change on their own terms—especially when the world is loud, messy, and demanding far too much.

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE

The emotional weight of constant change during the holidays
Why autistic and AuDHD nervous systems struggle with unpredictability
How people coming and going can destabilize daily rhythms
Sensory overwhelm from decorations, noise, and social expectations
The shutdown mode that follows too much “peopling”
Resentment that canform when needs aren’t communicated directly
That awkward dance between wanting to show up and feeling over capacity
Kitten chaos as both joy and sensory overload
Feeling responsible for everyone’s experience (hello, people-pleasing!)
The grief of not feeling safe to voice your values or boundaries
Family conflict and the ripple effects on your emotional regulation
Why inconsistency can be draining for some neurodivergent brains
The need for predictability, routines, and familiar sensory anchors
Internalized pressure to be “easygoing,” especially around holidays
The truth-telling wisdom of the body when burnout hits
“Harvest feast” (aka Thanksgiving) recovery mode
Observing subtle family dynamics that others overlook
Using pacing and gentle self-compassion to navigate the season
How even positive changes can be dysregulating
The reminder that honoring your limits is an act of self-love

SOUND BITES

“Change really affects me. I overdid it, and now my body is telling the truth.”
“Even things that you enjoy can be dysregulating and overwhelming.”
“If someone could respond differently, they would—we’re not choosing to have difficulty with change.”
“Inconsistency is very difficult for me; it’s not about the tree, it’s about the mismatch.”
“I think what I call depression is really resentment for not being direct.”

SENSITIVITY IS NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR; IT’S HOW YOUR BRAIN IS WIRED

You are not broken. You were shaped by systems that weren’t built for you. You deserve rest, joy, and support exactly as you are.

PODCAST HOST

Patricia Young (she/her) was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 17 years, but she is now exclusively providing coaching. She knows what it’s like to feel like an outcast, misfit, and truthteller. Learning about the trait of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), then learning she is AuDHD with a PDA profile, OCD and RSD, helped Patricia rewrite her history with a deeper understanding, appreciation, and a sense of self-compassion. She created the podcasts Unapologetically Sensitive and Unapologetically AuDHD to help other neurodivergent folks know that they aren’t alone, and that having a brain that is wired differently comes with amazing gifts, and some challenges. Patricia works online globally working individually with people, and she teaches Online Courses for neurodivergent folks that focus on understanding what it means to be a sensitive neurodivergent. Topics covered include: self-care, self-compassion, boundaries, perfectionism, mindfulness, communication, and creating a lifestyle that honors you

Patricia’s website, podcast episodes and more: www.unapologeticallysensitive.com

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE

SOUND BITES

SENSITIVITY IS NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR; IT’S HOW YOUR BRAIN IS WIRED

PODCAST HOST

LINKS