It's that time of year again. The holiday season is about to begin. Six weeks from now, we will be exhausted, glad the season is about to end. But during the coming weeks there will be marathon shopping trips, holiday parties, cookies to be baked, presents to be wrapped. We will, most likely, be over-extended, stressed and over-stimulated.

Picture the young child on Christmas Day. She has been up since early morning, unwrapping gifts. The tree is lit up, there is music playing and people gathering to wish each other a happy holiday. There are treats out on the table and new toys everywhere. She is tired, cranky and over-stimulated. There have been too many temper tantrums and her parents are frustrated with her behavior. They have a choice, they can yell at her, adding to the stimulation all around her. Or they can understand the problem and either bring her into another room to unwind or put her down for a nap. Most children, once they are in quiet surroundings, can "reset" their minds. Once they slow down, close their eyes or take a nap, the over-stimulation goes away and they are once again cheerful cherubs.

But what do you do when you are an adult and it is no longer possible or appropriate to remove yourself from the situation to reset or slow down your mind. Instead, you stay at the party or the mall or even at work, when a whirlwind is going on all around you. As an adult with ADHD, you pay attention to everything, the lights, the sounds, the smells until it is all too much and you are over-stimulated and now you can't focus on anything. Your mind goes blank, you want nothing more than to run, far away from the activity.

In today's world it is easy to become over-stimulated. We live in a high-energy, fast-paced society. Everything needs to be done now. Everything is done to the extreme. Stores don't simply decorate for the holidays, they become a holiday showplace. People don't browse the stores looking for the perfect gift, they go on a mission and shop for hours. Malls are crowded beyond belief. We cram in every social event we possibly can, afraid of offending someone by saying no. We volunteer to bake cookies and cupcakes for our children's school parties. We want to experience every moment of the holidays. We don't want to miss a thing. But we end up exhausted, cranky and irritable, just like the toddler on Christmas Day.

The following are tips to help you reduce feelings of being over-stimulated during the holiday season.

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify

• Use wrapping services offered by stores or charitable organizations. Your gifts will look beautiful and you will have taken one task off your list of things to do.
• If hosting a party or dinner, make it pot-luck, buy a deli tray and serve sandwiches or purchase pre-made foods from a local restaurant, grocery store or catering service.
• If you feel overwhelmed in a crowded mall, shop online instead. Most stores will post a date you need to order by in order to have the gift in time for the holidays. When a gift is for someone out of town, you can have it sent directly to him or her, saving you from standing in line to have the gift shipped.

Take Care of You