219. Overstimulated, Overwhelmed, and Over It: Emotion Regulation During the Holidays

The holidays are supposed to be joyful—but for many families, they quietly amplify stress, overwhelm, and emotional reactivity.

In this special crossover episode with Parents of the Year podcast, Dr. Caroline and her husband Andrew step away from “perfect holiday” pressure and take a psychologically grounded look at why emotions run hotter during the holidays, for both kids and adults.

We explore how disrupted routines, sensory overload, social comparison, family dynamics, and unrealistic expectations tax the nervous system—and why emotional meltdowns, irritability, withdrawal, or disappointment are not signs of failure, but signals of dysregulation.

This episode bridges emotion regulation science with real-life parenting moments, including:

· Why overstimulation is often behind kids’ holiday meltdowns

· How social media comparison fuels anxiety and emotional exhaustion

· The role of structure, predictability, and proactive planning in regulation

· Why parents’ emotional regulation sets the ceiling for their children’s

· How to identify non-negotiables, let go of the rest, and reduce emotional load

· Practical strategies for creating “magical moments” without emotional burnout

Rather than trying to make emotions disappear, this conversation focuses on helping families anticipate emotional needs, regulate proactively, and respond with intention instead of reactivity.

This episode is especially helpful for parents navigating:

· holiday anxiety or dread

· overstimulated or emotionally reactive children

· family gatherings that activate old patterns

· the pressure to “make it special” at the expense of everyone’s nervous system



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Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/