Political violence isn’t only something you see on the news or protest signs. It lives in our bodies. It shows up in constricted breathing, shattered sleep, chronic pain, hyper-vigilance, and nervous systems that never get to switch off. For many white Americans, state violence looks like a headline. For people of color, especially Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities, it is daily lived experience—a trauma that embeds itself in muscle memory, nervous system regulation, and collective history.

It’s January , which means your Instagram feed is about to become a hellscape of sunrise alarm clocks, meal prep containers, and people who are definitely going to run a marathon this year (they won't).

Let’s be real — hyperfocus is both a superpower and a trap. For people with ADHD or autism, it’s that glorious zone where the world disappears and you can do ten hours of work in what feels like ten minutes.

But it can also mean you hyperfocus on the wrong thing — like color-coding your playlist instead of finishing that report, or spending six hours researching the physics of lava lamps instead of paying bills.

And sometimes, hyperfocus doesn’t just steal your time — it hijacks your basic needs. Hours go by without food, water, or rest. Your body whispers, hey, remember me?, but your brain’s too deep in the tunnel to notice. Over time, that’s what leads to dysregulation and burnout — not because you did something wrong, but because your focus forgot the rest of you exists.

Still, hyperfocus isn’t the enemy. It’s just energy — intense, powerful, and directionless until you aim it. The trick is learning to harness it without losing yourself to it.

If your to-do list has turned into a mountain of “I’ll get to it later,” here are ten ways to get your neurodivergent hyperfocus to work for you instead of against you.

The holidays: twinkling lights, warm vibes, festive gatherings, and — if you've got ADHD — the bone-deep certainty that everyone at the party thinks you're annoying.

Welcome to Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) season, where the tiniest hint of disapproval hits like emotional whiplash and you're suddenly convinced your own family is secretly plotting to uninvite you from Thanksgiving.

Let's break down the ADHD-holiday-RSD shitstorm, why December turns you into a fragile Victorian child clutching pearls, and how to survive without spending the season hiding in your car stress-eating peppermint bark.

Ah yes, the holidays. That time of year when society collectively loses its mind and decides the only acceptable emotional state is festive. If you’re an AUDHDer, this expectation feels less like a celebration and more like a full-contact sport that no one warned you about.

Because let’s be honest: half of the “magic” of the season is actually just sensory chaos, unpredictable schedules, and people demanding togetherness as if it’s a moral obligation. Meanwhile, your nervous system is in the corner whispering, “We talked about this. We can’t do chaos.”

The days get shorter and suddenly everything feels impossible. If you have ADHD or autism, seasonal changes hit different — disrupted routines, light deprivation, and holiday chaos can wreck your already-struggling executive function. Here's why winter makes neurodivergent brains worse and what actually helps.