Advertise on podcast: Chronic Illness Moms | Feel Better, Stress Relief, Fatigue, Inflammation, Brain Fog, Better Sleep, Neurodivergent

Register for the Feel Better For The Holidays workshop: workshop.ashleybraden.com   Hey friend,  - Do you feel like you're doing everything right with sleep and still wake up exhausted? - Could things like your room temperature, blue light before bed, or eating too close to bedtime be quietly working against you, even if you've never thought to blame them? - Have you ever tracked how you feel after waking instead of just how many hours you got? In this episode, I'm explaining why hours asleep and truly restorative sleep aren't the same number, even when it feels like you're doing everything right. I'm covering several hidden things that can quietly block deep sleep without you realizing it: cortisol that's still elevated at bedtime, a room that's too warm, blue light in the hour before bed, and eating too close to bedtime, plus what to track instead if you want a more honest read on your sleep than a tracker gives you.   Related Episodes:  This Is Why You're Always Tired but Still Can't Sleep at Night (It's Not Just in Your Head) Feeling Fatigued No Matter How Much You Sleep? The Breathing Habit Secretly Draining You   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29): workshop.ashleybraden.com Free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected]  Next Steps: Instead of tracking hours slept, track how you feel about thirty minutes after waking: foggy, okay, or clear, for a few mornings in a row. Join a supportive community of chronic illness moms in the free Facebook group Chronic Health Moms Register for Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29) at workshop.ashleybraden.com

Register for the Feel Better For The Holidays workshop: workshop.ashleybraden.com   Hey friend,  - Do you feel lonely in this even when you're surrounded by people who love you? - Did you know feeling isolated can actually keep your stress response activated? - Have you found even one person who fully gets what your days look like? In this episode, I'm talking about why managing chronic illness and raising a neurodivergent kid can feel so lonely, especially during a season built around togetherness; why that isolation is a physiological stress response and not just an emotional one; and why real connection is part of your actual stress relief and recovery, not a soft extra.   Related Episodes:  2 The Diagnosis Trap: Why Chasing Answers Is Keeping You From Feeling Better This Is Why Clean Eating and Better Sleep Aren't Fixing Your Fatigue   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29): workshop.ashleybraden.com Free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected] Next Steps: Reach out to one person this week and say one honest sentence about what this season actually feels like for you. Join a supportive community of chronic illness moms in the free Facebook group Chronic Health Moms Register for Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29) at workshop.ashleybraden.com

Register for the Feel Better For The Holidays workshop: workshop.ashleybraden.com   Hey friend,  - Does your body ever feel completely different from Monday to Wednesday, with no obvious reason why? - Have you grieved not being able to plan your holidays around your own body? - When your body surprises you with a bad day, does it feel like there was nothing you could have done about it? In this episode, I'm talking about why chronic illness can make your body feel so unpredictable from one day to the next, especially once your schedule stops being your own this season; the real grief underneath that unpredictability; and why an unpredictable body doesn't mean you have zero control.   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29): workshop.ashleybraden.com Free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms   Related Episodes:  3 Shifts to Make When a Flare Cancels Your Plans (Instead of Feeling Like a Failure) Chronic Stress at Home? 4 Small Shifts That Calm Your Nervous System   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected] Next Steps:  Each morning this week, check in and ask your body what it actually has today before assuming yesterday's capacity. Join a supportive community of chronic illness moms in the free Facebook group Chronic Health Moms Register for Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29) at workshop.ashleybraden.com

Register for the Feel Better For The Holidays workshop: workshop.ashleybraden.com   Hey friend, - Do you keep waiting for a full rest day that never actually comes, especially with the busiest season of the year still ahead? - What would happen if you let one thing on today's list go instead of squeezing it in anyway? - Could two quiet minutes with your coffee, or a few slow breaths before you walk into somewhere loud, actually count as real rest? In this episode, I'm sharing five small, real ways to build rest into a day you're already living, none of them requiring a free afternoon you don't have.  I'm talking about sitting down for the last sips of your coffee or tea instead of drinking it on the move, letting one thing on your list go undone on purpose instead of circling back to it, sitting down next to your kid during homework or a holiday craft instead of using that time to catch up on tasks, taking three slow breaths in the car before you go inside, and stepping outside for two quiet minutes before or after a gathering. This is for the mom heading into a season that's about to ask a lot of her, who needs rest to look like something she can actually reach today, not a free day that never shows up on its own.   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29): workshop.ashleybraden.com Free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms   Related Episodes:  Stop Treating Rest as a Reward for Chronic Exhaustion and Burnout Too Busy to Rest? 5 Mini Breaks To Try When You’re Feeling Fatigued   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected]   Next Steps: Pick just one of the five rest strategies from this episode and try it this week before adding another. Join a supportive community of chronic illness moms in the free Facebook group Chronic Health Moms Register for Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29) at workshop.ashleybraden.com

Register for the Feel Better For The Holidays workshop: workshop.ashleybraden.com   Hey friend,  - Do you feel guilty even on days you handled a lot, especially with the holidays piling on? - Have you ever wondered if you're "doing enough" without ever landing on an answer? - Could what you're calling guilt actually be grief? In this episode, I'm talking about why "am I doing enough" never actually has a finish line for a mom managing chronic exhaustion and caregiving on top of the holidays, the difference between guilt and grief, and why the invisible work you do every day counts every bit as much as what's on your to-do list. If you're bracing for holiday burnout, this one's for you.   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29): workshop.ashleybraden.com Free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms   Related Episodes:  Wondering Why You Can’t Feel Better? The Unnamed Grief Behind Chronic Exhaustion for Special Needs Moms Processing Grief, Stress, and Emotional Burnout as a Mom with Neurodivergent Kids   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected]   Next Steps: Write a "did-do" list of three things you actually did today, including the invisible work no one else saw. Join a supportive community of chronic illness moms in the free Facebook group Chronic Health Moms Register for Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29) at workshop.ashleybraden.com

Register for the Feel Better For The Holidays workshop: workshop.ashleybraden.com   Hey friend,  - Do you feel like your body overreacts to small, everyday stress, especially once things get busier? - Have you heard "regulate your nervous system" everywhere but aren't sure what it actually means? - Do you feel wired and exhausted at the same time by the end of most days lately? In this episode, I'm breaking down what's actually happening in your body during a stress response, why this time of year keeps your nervous system on high alert more than most, and one fast, research-backed stress-relief tool — the physiological sigh — you can use anywhere to help regulate your nervous system, even in the middle of a gathering.   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29): workshop.ashleybraden.com Free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms   Related Episodes:  Struggling With Brain Fog? 3 Breaths to Try Before You Reach for More Caffeine You're Not Failing, You're Overstimulated: The Mental Breathing Room Most Overwhelmed Moms Are Missing   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected] Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms Facebook Group → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube   Next Steps: Next time you feel a stress spike, try the physiological sigh: two inhales through your nose, one long exhale through your mouth. Join a supportive community of chronic illness moms in the free Facebook group Chronic Health Moms Register for Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29) at workshop.ashleybraden.com

Register for the Feel Better For The Holidays workshop: workshop.ashleybraden.com   Hey friend,  - Do you sleep a full night and still wake up foggy? - Have you noticed more memory lapses or emotional overwhelm once your schedule gets fuller this time of year? - Do you know what deep sleep is actually doing for your body? In this episode, I'm explaining what deep sleep actually does for your brain-  clearing mental buildup, consolidating memory, and resetting your emotional regulation - and why sleep deprivation and brain fog tend to hit hardest once travel and late nights start stacking up this season. If you've ever slept a full night and still woken up exhausted, this episode breaks down why, in plain language.   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29): workshop.ashleybraden.com Free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms   Related Episodes:  Feeling Fatigued No Matter How Much You Sleep? The Breathing Habit Secretly Draining You Stop Treating Rest as a Reward for Chronic Exhaustion and Burnout   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected] Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms Facebook Group → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube   Next Steps: Tonight, set your phone aside about 20 minutes before you intend to fall asleep and notice how your brain responds. Join a supportive community of chronic illness moms in the free Facebook group Chronic Health Moms Register for Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29) at workshop.ashleybraden.com

Hey friend,  In this quick bonus episode, I'm turning the mic around and asking you what would actually help you feel better right now, so future episodes on fatigue, brain fog, better sleep, and stress relief keep fitting your real life as a chronic illness mom. You can answer four quick questions by email, or fill out a short form if you'd like to share more.  How to Share: Option 1: Email me at [email protected] with your answers to these three questions: What does a hard day look like for you right now? Walk me through what's going on with your life and your symptoms.  If I could help you with one thing with your health and symptoms, what would it be? Are you raising a neurodivergent child? Option 2: Fill out the short form to share a little more 📝 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWxBf6fQ1zgFW_A88od3QxcT2o_eiYAVEZ272TinaTqk-OOg/viewform?usp=header With You,  Ashley

Register for the Feel Better For The Holidays workshop: workshop.ashleybraden.com    Hey friend,  - Do you keep starting over with your health because the plan was always too big to keep up with? - Have you been waiting to feel motivated before you make a change, right as the busiest season of the year closes in? - What would it look like if you showed up for yourself for five minutes a day between now and the new year? In this episode, I'm sharing why motivation follows action instead of coming before it, why the all-or-nothing approach to healthy habits keeps backfiring right as the holidays close in, and the one five-minute daily habit that can actually stick where bigger, burnout-inducing overhauls haven't. This is your simple starting point for heading into the season without waiting until you feel ready.   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29): workshop.ashleybraden.com Free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms   Related Episodes:    3 Shifts to Make When a Flare Cancels Your Plans (Instead of Feeling Like a Failure) The Good Day Trap: Why Moms with Chronic Symptoms Crash After Their Best Days   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected] Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms Facebook Group → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube   Next Steps: Choose one five-minute daily habit in the area you most want to support, and commit to it today. Join a supportive community of chronic illness moms in the free Facebook group Chronic Health Moms Register for Feel Better for the Holidays Workshop (free, live, Oct 29) at workshop.ashleybraden.com

Hey friend,  Have you ever believed your exhaustion and brain fog were just going to be your life from now on? Do you feel like you've tried everything, and nothing actually stuck? Are you craving real support this season instead of trying to white-knuckle through it alone? In this episode, I'm sharing the real story behind my free Feel Better for the Holidays workshop, why I built it, what finally helped me stop believing exhaustion and brain fog were just my life, and what you'll walk away with if you join me live on October 29th: a reset for stress, sleep, and brain fog and energy, plus a bonus.   Next Steps Step 1: Register for the free Feel Better for the Holidays workshop on October 29th here: workshop.ashleybraden.com

Hey friend,  Do you lie down exhausted every night but your body won't actually let go? Have you accepted that "good sleep" just isn't something your body does anymore? Is there a weighted blanket in your house right now that's only ever been used for your kid? I'm Ashley, a mom living with chronic illness in a neurodiverse family. If you're dealing with constant fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and broken sleep while trying to keep up with your kids, you're not alone. This podcast is for chronic illness moms raising neurodivergent kids who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits to finally feel better in their bodies. Each episode shares nervous-system-friendly support to help you calm overwhelm, boost energy, and practice healthy habits that improve your symptoms, even in the middle of a full, demanding life. In this episode, I'm sharing why the weighted blanket you may have already bought for your kid's sensory needs might be exactly what your own nervous system has been missing at night. We talk about deep pressure stimulation, the cortisol-and-melatonin chemistry shift it triggers, and a real randomized controlled trial in adults with insomnia, plus an honest look at where the kid-specific evidence is still thinner.   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned 1:1 chronic health coaching: https://ashleybraden.com/coaching Join the free Chronic Health Moms Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Natural products to support your stress and sleep: ashleybraden.com/shop Related Episodes: 244. The Diagnosis Trap: Why Chasing Answers Is Keeping You From Feeling Better 235. Wondering Why You Can’t Feel Better? The Unnamed Grief Behind Chronic Exhaustion for Special Needs Moms   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected] Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms Facebook Group → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube   Next Steps: Tonight, if there's a weighted blanket already in your house, try it yourself for one night and notice what your body does. Join a supportive community of moms navigating mom burnout and new routines in the free Facebook group, Stress, Sleep, and Chronic Symptom Support for Moms of Neurodivergent Kids Get more personalized support with a Feel Better Coaching call at ashleybraden.com/coaching

Hey friend,  Do you feel like the harder you push to feel better, the more exhausted you end up? Have you ever wondered why "doing all the right things" still leaves you depleted? Do you deal with fatigue, brain fog, or feeling cold, and wonder if stress could be part of it? I'm Ashley, a mom living with chronic illness in a neurodiverse family. If you're dealing with constant fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and broken sleep while trying to keep up with your kids, you're not alone. This podcast is for chronic illness moms raising neurodivergent kids who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits to finally feel better in their bodies. Each episode shares nervous-system-friendly support to help you calm overwhelm, boost energy, and practice healthy habits that improve your symptoms, even in the middle of a full, demanding life. In this episode, I'm sharing why pushing harder when you're already depleted can backfire, and the surprising role chronic stress plays in how your body actually uses thyroid hormone. We walk through why more effort isn't always the fix, exactly what a standard thyroid panel does and doesn't check, and three honest, felt-experience signs that tell you more than a lab draw can.   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned 1:1 chronic health coaching: https://ashleybraden.com/coaching Join the free Chronic Health Moms Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Natural products to support your stress and sleep: ashleybraden.com/shop Related Episodes:  Still Exhausted With “Normal” Thyroid Labs? Here’s What Could Be Missing When Chronic Illness Interrupts Your Exercise Plan Here’s How to Move Forward Without Guilt   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected] Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms Facebook Group → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube   Next Steps: Tonight before bed, ask yourself one question: did today feel like recovery, or more stress stacked on stress? Join a supportive community of moms navigating mom burnout and new routines in the free Facebook group, Stress, Sleep, and Chronic Symptom Support for Moms of Neurodivergent Kids Get more personalized support with a Feel Better Coaching call at ashleybraden.com/coaching

Hey friend,  Do you rely on caffeine just to function most mornings? Does your sleep schedule feel unpredictable no matter what you try? Do you know what morning light is actually doing for your hormones?  I'm Ashley, a mom living with chronic illness in a neurodiverse family. If you're dealing with constant fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and broken sleep while trying to keep up with your kids, you're not alone. This podcast is for chronic illness moms raising neurodivergent kids who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits to finally feel better in their bodies. Each episode shares nervous-system-friendly support to help you calm overwhelm, boost energy, and practice healthy habits that improve your symptoms, even in the middle of a full, demanding life. In this episode, I'm sharing why morning light plays a bigger role in your energy and sleep than most people realize, so you can stop relying on caffeine alone to get through the day. We talk about how a few minutes of real outdoor light sets your body's clock, why it's a different kind of wake-up signal than coffee, and why consistent timing matters as much as getting it at all.   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned 1:1 chronic health coaching: https://ashleybraden.com/coaching Join the free Chronic Health Moms Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Natural products to support your stress and sleep: ashleybraden.com/shop Related Episodes: 238. What Your Post-Workout Crash Is Really Telling You About Your Body 201. When Chronic Illness Interrupts Your Exercise Plan Here’s How to Move Forward Without Guilt   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected] Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms Facebook Group → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube   Next Steps: Tomorrow morning, before anything else, step outside for a few minutes, kids and all if that's your routine, and notice how the rest of your day feels. Join a supportive community of moms navigating mom burnout and new routines in the free Facebook group, Stress, Sleep, and Chronic Symptom Support for Moms of Neurodivergent Kids Get more personalized support with a Feel Better Coaching call at ashleybraden.com/coaching

Hey friend,  - Do you avoid movement completely if it doesn't feel like a "real" workout? - Have you ever pushed through exercise and paid for it for days after? - Do you struggle to trust your own body from one day to the next? In this episode, I'm sharing why small, frequent movement works better than one hard workout for a body managing chronic illness and unpredictable fatigue. I'll walk through why movement doesn't have to hurt to count, and what you're actually rebuilding — trust with your own body — every time you show up small and consistent instead of chasing a "real" workout you don't have the energy for.   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned 1:1 chronic health coaching: https://ashleybraden.com/coaching Join the free Chronic Health Moms Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Natural products to support your stress and sleep: ashleybraden.com/shop Related Episodes: 238. What Your Post-Workout Crash Is Really Telling You About Your Body 201. When Chronic Illness Interrupts Your Exercise Plan Here’s How to Move Forward Without Guilt   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected] Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms Facebook Group → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube   Next Steps: Pick one simple movement and do a small amount of it three or four times throughout your day, well under your limit each time. Join a supportive community of moms navigating mom burnout and new routines in the free Facebook group, Stress, Sleep, and Chronic Symptom Support for Moms of Neurodivergent Kids Get more personalized support with a Feel Better Coaching call at ashleybraden.com/coaching

Hey friend,  - Do you feel like you have to manage your body more carefully than everyone else around you, whether that's food, a symptom, or a flare you're trying to catch before it lands? -Does being this careful with your health feel like a curse most days, one more invisible layer of work no one else in the room is carrying? - Could the awareness you're building by managing chronic illness actually be a real, transferable skill instead of just a burden? In this episode, I'm talking about the specific kind of tired that comes from managing chronic illness when everyone around you gets to be careless with their body — tracking symptoms, catching a flare before it fully lands, reading every label before you eat. I'm naming the real unfairness in that first, because skipping straight to a silver lining never actually helps an exhausted mom feel better. Then I'm walking through why the self-awareness you're forced to build isn't just one more healthy habit to check off — it's a real, transferable skill that shows up everywhere in your life, not just at the dinner table.   Part 3: Resources and Links Mentioned 1:1 chronic health coaching: https://ashleybraden.com/coaching Join the free Chronic Health Moms Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Natural products to support your stress and sleep: ashleybraden.com/shop Related Episodes: 244. The Diagnosis Trap: Why Chasing Answers Is Keeping You From Feeling Better 235. Wondering Why You Can’t Feel Better? The Unnamed Grief Behind Chronic Exhaustion for Special Needs Moms   Connect with Me: Contact → [email protected] Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms Facebook Group → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube   Next Steps: Next time you catch yourself doing the extra work of managing your health, say it out loud as a skill you're building, not a burden you're carrying. Join a supportive community of moms navigating mom burnout and new routines in the free Facebook group, Stress, Sleep, and Chronic Symptom Support for Moms of Neurodivergent Kids Get more personalized support with a Feel Better Coaching call at ashleybraden.com/coaching