I Survived Thanksgiving, you?

[NotAChevy]

Congrats! For those of us who celebrated Thanksgiving last Thursday- We survived. We survived the wonderfully beautiful meal, the crazy family members who talk above the others, those who create drama no matter where they go, and the others who, upon leaving, even the house sighs a collective, “thank god”.

Now, for those of us w/ADHD, Thanksgiving can be a chaotic situation leading to disaster- The chaos of getting the food on the table, the chaotic dealing of all the family members, and the collective quiet that comes when you're left with just you, the leftovers, and all the dirty dishes.

So, how do we survive this great holiday? This year, I tried a new approach that worked pretty well. It is:

- I dedicated myself to helping my mom in the kitchen until all the food was prepared. That way, I could concentrate on only one thing and ignore everything else. Blocking out the dog, the crazy family, and the general drama, allowed me to feel less anxious, and I ended up being a big help to my mom.

- I made sure I filled my plate first. This allowed me to get to my seat and self-reflect on the importance of the day before everyone else sat down. It also allowed me a minute or two of deep- breathing to reduce the anxiety.

- I concentrated on enjoying my food, not paying attention to the stupid antics of Aunt Sally, or the political BS of Uncle Bob. That way, I wouldn't get drawn into their dribble, and I enjoyed my meal 1000% more.

- I offered to help clean the table. Once again, it allowed me “me-time” which helps to reduce anxiety. Plus, I was accomplishing a goal- a perfectly clear table, which made me proud at completion.

- Finally, I went for a walk after everyone left- Just the puppy and I went on a little walk to relax and reflect.

I'm definitely not anti-social, as I love being around people, but I have that point where I want to be alone to just think. I've heard others w/our infliction say the same thing.

What did you do to make this Thanksgiving, or any big family meal, less stressful?

[STEM_Dad]

I survived, but this was one of the most low-key Thanksgiving holidays in my life. It was just me and my youngest two kids.

But based on past holidays, I know how overwhelming it can be.

I've also found it useful to manage the overwhelm by focusing on a role, like helping out in the kitchen, or playing a board game with the kids, or something like that.