S1 E17 ADHD Women VS. Thanksgiving Chaos: How to Survive the Day

Many ADHD women move through Thanksgiving with a mix of joy, pressure, sensory overload, and invisible labor that most people never see. This episode offers a grounded, honest look at how the holiday actually feels for neurodivergent women without shame, without judgment, and without telling you how you’re “supposed” to handle it. Jess and Jeannine explore the very real contrast between the parts of the holiday that feel comforting and the parts that drain us. From early-Christmas dopamine and all-day cooking marathons to childhood split-holidays and overstimulation before noon, they walk through the full spectrum of ADHD holiday experiences with warmth, humor, and compassion. In this episode, you’ll hear about: The playful chaos of getting into holiday mode early Why cooking energizes some ADHD women and overwhelms others How invisible labor shapes the emotional weight of Thanksgiving Delegating tasks in a way that feels supportive rather than stressful Building a “Minimum Viable Thanksgiving” that actually fits your nervous system Setting boundaries that keep the day peaceful, not perfect Why small or unconventional Thanksgivings count just as much as the traditional ones How to stay present enough to be part of the memories—not just the labor behind them This episode is for anyone who wants permission to make Thanksgiving simpler, calmer, and more reflective of how their brain actually works. You’re not alone in the way you experience this season, and you deserve a holiday that gives back more than it takes. 00:00 – Cold Open: Mariah in November & ADHD Holiday Vibes 00:39 – Invisible Labor & Why Thanksgiving Feels Like a Logistics Operation 01:08 – Show Intro: Two ADHD Women, One Holiday Season 02:31 – Split-Screen Thanksgiving: Cooking Dopamine vs. Holiday Whiplash 05:23 – Delegating, Letting People Help, and Letting Go of Perfect 07:47 – Minimum Viable Thanksgiving: Presence, Not Perfection 11:55 – Boundaries Without Being a Holiday Grinch 14:15 – Alternative Thanksgivings Count Too 16:00 – Closing: Peace, Pie & Permission to Rest

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