Sugar, Excitement, and Regulation: A Holiday Trifecta - Part Three

The Crash, The Cling, and The Come-Down

Every sugar high has an emotional sequel — and it usually drops right around the time you’re packing up the cookies and wondering why everyone’s suddenly melting down. The good news? It’s not personal. The bad news? It’s biology.

The crash, the cling, the come-down — it’s the nervous system’s way of saying, “that was a lot, and I’m out of steam.” It’s not the end of the fun; it’s the recovery period that lets joy have a next chapter.

The party’s over — but the nervous system’s still cleaning up confetti.

✨ One thing to remember

After a burst of sugar and excitement, the nervous system doesn’t gently drift back down.
It drops.
Fast.

That drop looks like:
• Tears over tiny things
• Clinginess or “don’t leave me” energy
• Irritability
• Sudden tiredness
• Going quiet
• Grumpy or “prickly” moods
• Meltdowns that seem to come out of nowhere

This isn’t misbehaviour.
It’s the come-down — the brain’s recovery phase after running hot for too long.

Especially for those with FASD and other neurodevelopmental differences, the crash can feel bigger, louder, or longer because their brains use more energy just to navigate everyday environments. Add holiday chaos? It’s like hitting the gas on an already-empty tank.

Their behaviour isn’t falling apart.
Their regulation is.

✨ One thing to release

Release the expectation that your child/teen/adult should “hold it together” after the fun ends.

Fun is still stimulation.
Joy is still energy use.
Excitement is still a neurological workout.

The come-down can be the hardest part — and it’s not a sign that the event was too much or that the day was a failure.

It’s simply a brain saying:
“I’m done. I need soft, safe, quiet now.”

Let that be okay.

✨ One thing that may help today

Create a Soft Landing Zone.

A Soft Landing Zone is a predictable, gentle space where the nervous system can fall apart safely and recover slowly.

Ideas:
• A dimly lit room
• A favourite blanket or weighted lap pad
• A cozy corner with pillows
• A bath with warm water
• A quiet show or low-music playlist
• Time together with no talking
• Simple, repetitive activities (sorting, stacking, doodling)

The magic of a Soft Landing Zone isn’t the stuff in it — it’s the permission it gives:

Permission to be tired.
Permission to feel big feelings.
Permission to reset without pressure.

Soft landings today make tomorrow gentler.