The Neuroscience Behind your Holiday Overwhelm
Nov 24, 2025
Every December, I see the same pattern: brilliant, capable women who can handle everything … until they can’t.
They’re not lazy or ungrateful—just overclocked.
If you’ve ever agreed to something while your chest tightened or your breath shortened, your body was already saying no before your words caught up.
This week’s episode of Master Stress with Dr S unpacks the science behind that moment.
You’ll learn:
- Why your nervous system confuses approval with safety.
- The stress response behind people-pleasing.
- How to pause before automatic agreement and set boundaries that feel calm, clear, and kind.
Listen here
And to help you put it into practice, I’ve created a free one-page resource:
Download “The Nervous System’s Guide to Saying No.”
It walks you through five simple, science-backed steps to reclaim your peace—no scripts, no guilt.
Bonus Tip
Before you answer any new request this week, pause for one full breath in, two slow breaths out.
If your body expands—say yes.
If it contracts—pause or decline.
That single pause is how regulation becomes your new reflex.
CONTACT
Dr Debar's engagements are intentionally limited each quarter to ensure depth and impact.
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