We wish you an AAD Christmas
By Chelsie Barron, Assistant Psychologist
Bright twinkling lights, carols, meeting new people, eating different foods…sound like a perfect Christmas? For some neurodivergent individuals, Christmas can be a stressful time and not the welcome break that most people enjoy.
For most people these are things that make Christmas so special, however for a neurodivergent individual, these are the very factors that make Christmas so difficult and a time to get through as quickly as possible.
Change
Some neurodivergent individuals, particularly Autistic people, can sometimes find change difficult. Changes to routines, environment and social expectations can mean that Christmas can be a confusing and challenging time. For those who value predictability surprise guests can be overwhelming.
The unpredictable nature of the festive season can also heighten people’s anxiety. Overall, these changes can result in an unpleasant experience.
So what can we do to help everyone enjoy the festivities and reduce distress?
- Introduce the decorations slowly so the changes to the environment are not sudden. Alternatively, just have the decorations up from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day in order to reduce the length of the time of the change.
- Involve everyone in planning the changes; for example, shopping for decorations, deciding where to put them, deciding on the number of decorations.
- Create a schedule for Christmas day including all activities such as opening presents, eating lunch, and family visits. A schedule will create structure and reduce the unpredictability of Christmas day.
- Create a safe Christmas-free zone. If Christmas becomes overwhelming this can be used as a retreat.
Some of the people we support share their thoughts about Christmas…
- “Carols are a bit loud”
- “I get excited about Christmas but sometimes I feel a bit anxious”
- “I don’t like crowds at Christmas”
- “I don’t like singing with lots of people”
- “I prefer Christmas to be short”
Sensory Overload
Christmas can be an overstimulating time for all of us! Some people will appreciate the new high impact sensory stimulation, for others this can be a struggle.
The types of extra sensory stimulation that we tend to associate with Christmas include:
- Vision—Extra visual stimulation to process such as lights and decorations.
- Smell—Different and often more intense smells such as incense, perfumes, cooking, rich food to smell and taste.
- Touch- New clothes, adornments, decorations and crowds.
- Sound—New and multiple layered sounds to process such as crowds, background music, excited children, carol singers and brass bands.
Someone with heightened sensory stimulation find these sensory experiences overwhelming and not at all pleasurable.
So, what can you do to help reduce sensory overload and manage difficult situations?
- Steer clear of crowds if you know this is a difficult situation.
- Keep decorations to a minimum.
- Avoid Christmas crackers.
- Offer structure to present opening e.g. take turns opening gifts, restrict the number of gifts from each person.
- Use preferred therapeutic tools to reduce sensory overload e.g. ear defenders, fiddles, weighted blankets.
Communication aids
Communication aids have been shown to reduce anxiety for neurodivergent individuals. Big changes in routines such as going to events, parties and meeting new people can not only make the world appear chaotic and unpredictable but also places new social demands on the person which can lead to heightened levels of arousal and distress.
Good communication is vital in preparing people for change; without the appropriate communication strategies, neurodivergent people can feel excluded and find the festive period stressful.
So, what strategies can we use?
- Countdown calendars to visually communicate Christmas Day and the events leading up to it.
- Storyboards to communicate changes in routines.
- Visual schedules to communicate daily routines and reduce the level of disruption.
- Christmas Makaton signs to enable everyone to feel included.
And remember…
ASK: Encourage open discussions with the neurodivergent individual about how they feel, what they find challenging, and what strategies are working for them. This dialogue can provide valuable insights into how to adapt your approach.
ACCEPT: Recognise that neurodivergent people are not all the same. They have unique needs, strengths, and preferences. Be prepared to accept their differences and adapt your approaches to meet these individual needs.
DEVELOP: Think of ways to teach new skills, techniques like deep breathing or sensory coping strategies can make a world of difference in emotional regulation. Model and encourage the use of calendars and organisation Apps for planning organisation.
By incorporating these strategies and recognising the unique abilities and needs of neurodivergent individuals, we can create inclusive and empowering environments for them to thrive.
