Your autistic or PDA child isn’t “acting out” — their nervous system is asking for safety, rest, and attuned support.

In this episode of Attuned Spectrum, I explore why autistic and PDA burnout intensifies at the end of the year and what you can do right now to support your child through rising overwhelm, avoidance, shutdowns, and meltdowns. December creates a perfect storm: disrupted routines, sensory overload, rising social expectations, and the emotional intensity of the holiday season — all of which place enormous pressure on a neurodivergent nervous system.

I walk you through the real signs of autistic and PDA burnout (beyond “challenging behaviour”), why these shifts are rooted in nervous system depletion, and how burnout is often the accumulated impact of masking, school stress, and ongoing cognitive load. I share examples from my own home and the community, plus gentle, realistic shifts that can immediately reduce pressure for both you and your child.

You’ll hear practical strategies to help right now: reducing non-essential demands, increasing autonomy, protecting recovery time, adjusting routines, and using co-regulation to rebuild safety.

If you'd like scripts, deeper guidance, and a supportive space to apply these tools, you’re invited to join the FREE Attuned Parenting Foundations Course, which includes 30 days of community support inside Attuned Parenting.

💜 Join for free → chantalhewitt.com/course

Key Takeaways

• Burnout is nervous system depletion, not misbehaviour.
• End-of-year overwhelm spikes due to disrupted routines + sensory load.
• Reduced demands + increased autonomy help children regulate.
• Your co-regulation plays a central role in burnout recovery.
• Validation strengthens safety after meltdowns or shutdowns.

Text me and tell me- What do you want to hear for future episodes?

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You are not failing, and your child is not broken. If you're ready to establish deeper foundations around burnout and sustainability, visit chantalhewitt.com for more resources and 1:1 support.

About the Show: Chantal Hewitt provides neuroaffirming strategies for Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Autism. We help families navigate autistic burnout, family wellbeing and sibling dynamics, challenging behaviour, school refusal and autism meltdowns using low-demand parenting.

Watch on Youtube! 📺 @chantal.hewitt