The buzz word of the moment! It is getting a tad overused these days which can sometimes take off some of the shine. Some would say a first world complication?!

So very briefly, as people do degrees on the topic, why am I flagging it up today?

If one exists in the neurodivergent world ( that’s 15-20% of us in the UK) the best gift you can give yourself ; or someone who needs it, is getting acquainted with this term and then do your damndest to manage it. It’s a force that can paralyse function and it’s very rarely proportional. Those who endure with it can themselves be dismissive of it in others. If we recognise it though we can be in charge of it. It is more attainable than we think.

So today the overwhelm monster (they are scary, have a very negative aura alongside a pressuring attitude) came and sat with me while scrolling on Instagram looking at Christmas decoration posts. It’s been a busy day! Grand staircases adorned with several trees and a lot of hot chocolate shots. Obviously I got straight onto Pinterest plus other favoured sites and tried to find a door wreath that was actually still in stock. It then spiralled into Christmas pj’s, a Christmas cushion, I need to wash the champagne glasses, I don’t actually like any of my old decorations so clearly need a redesign and the list went on and on! Heaven knows if I’m actually going to have any success in finding a Yule log in stock! It is actually ridiculous and I absolutely knew it but I was partaking in the madness. Hook line and sinker I was on the Christmas thought train. So what did I do?! I actually had to take the babyface to piano so I reluctantly dragged myself out from the warmth of the log burner, left the cats to it and in an instant I was in a queue in maldon around a popular supermarket which is probably busier than usual as others probably too at the onslaught of the Christmas adverts felt compelled to run out and stock up on stuffing mix , chocolate and baileys (which we will all clearly eat before the big day anyway!) so note to self, don’t get overwhelmed. I purposely have too stop it in its tracks. It’s time too employ those coping strategies with avengeance. A list can actually be the best friend you never thought you had, time out will be more powerful than you think, distraction may be the name of the game or just put a Christmas movie on, grab a hot chocolate and enjoy yourself. It seems so obvious when you think about it and write it down so maybe that’s my therapy.?

All pretty ordinary stuff I’ve said above. It’s quite black and white when written down and likely applies too so many people. It’s actually quite comforting that it’s quite standard. I can’t blame an acquired brain injury on becoming overwhelmed. It’s absolutely probably not helping but it’s recognised and with recognition comes the ability to conquer. Christmas that is, not the world!

Do a reset and embrace the magic ✨