Advertise on podcast: Sensational Moms: Support For Overstimulated Moms

Still struggling with back to school transitions, even though it’s October? You’re not alone. Join Whitney and Alex Viera, an occupational therapists specializing in nervous system regulation, as we talk about why adjusting can take 6 to 8 weeks and how to support yourself and your kids in the meantime.  Alex and Whitney have kids spanning toddler to teenage years and are schooling different ways, but this conversation highlights just how much all moms have in common.  All moms and kids benefit from understanding nervous system regulation. What you’ll learn: Why your home is one nervous systemWhy big transitions take 6 to 8 weeks to adjust toHow to help sensory-sensitive kids (itchy socks, clothing battles)Grace and tools for neurodivergent momsQuick 5 to 10 minute resets, movement, and car regulation tipsConnect with Alex Viera: Alex is an occupational therapist who specializes in nervous system regulation. She has an online coaching business supporting moms in their regulation journey and an in person OT practice in Old Fort, NC focusing on outdoor therapy for kids. She also works with families virtually. She works with Neurodiverse families and believes that practicing presence and connection is the foundation for a healthy nervous system. Connect with her on Instagram and Facebook @the.confident.parent and @ot.growing.together or [email protected] .  Stop enduring motherhood and move from overstimulated and reactive to calm and connected with The Regulated Mom Collective. This 8-week small group coaching program combines sensory strategies and nervous system regulation to help you break old cycles, manage triggers, and co-regulate with your kids. Led by a nervous system coach and a mom of 4, you will gain a personalized regulation routine, lifetime access to weekly recorded modules, and a supportive community of moms who truly understand the struggle. Registration closes October 21st. https://sensationalmoms.com/products/group-coaching/ Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

If you feel overstimulated by noise, it's easy to forget that sound can actually HELP you feel regulated. In this episode I dive into 5 simple ways you can use auditory input to help you feel more regulated... and maybe even your kids, too. Yes, there are specific sound based protocols like: Therapeutic ListeningSafe and Sound Protocol... and plenty of others.But it does NOT have to be that complicated to help you feel more regulated. There are really effective ways you can incorporate these techniques for free. How can you actually find even 10 minutes of quiet with little kids or if you're on-the go? And is it even worth the effort? Want to know how this looks in your actual, busy mom life? That's the heart behind Midday Refresh.  What do brain-body supports fit into your life to help you have more energy the last half of the day? Consider me a coach in your back pocket in the Midday Reset. 4 guided audios in a private podcast styleA simple workbook style PDFAll resources easily downloadable-- no extra apps!Get your discount with the code PODCAST-- good for the first 5 podcast listeners who redeem it! https://sensationalmoms.com/shop/ Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

There's no way around it: Kids are loud. But if you're feeling overstimulated already, it really doesn't take much to tip you over the edge. You need relief, and you need it now (or yesterday). But are loop earplugs or anything like them even worth it? Is there a downside to them? Join me in the first episode of the new season where I share the truth behind: whether earplugs might helpthe limitations of ear plugs and the likehow to use them differently if you really want them to help but they haven'twhy auditory sensitivity might be a symptom, not the root how hormones affect hearing Listen to episode Season 2 Ep: 16 to learn more about how we use low-gain hearing aids for auditory processing disorder and hearing sensitivity in our home, with Dr. Rae Stout. https://www.drraestout.com/ Want ONE step to feel more regulated & less reactive as an overstimulated mom? Book your free consultation here . https://calendly.com/sensationalmoms Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

Do you feel guilty or alone because other moms love summer break or eagerly anticipate a new school year... but not you? As a mom of 4 who's easily overstimulated, this episode is what I wish someone had told me 6 years ago. Join me for the last episode of the season, where we dive into: Why summer break & back to school can feel extra heavy and hardWhat back to school dread and summer struggles have in commonWhat to change to find more joy & connection Nervous system regulation is NOT about perfection and always getting it right, but you can feel good about how you show up as a mom... most days. Hit subscribe so you don't miss this first episode of the new season July 31st! Let's stay connected. Grab a free resource for your nervous system regulation HERE and you'll get regular emails with tips and encouragement. ----> https://sensationalmoms.com/free-resources/ Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

If you’re a highly sensitive, easily overstimulated mom who feels touched out, on edge, and exhausted by the constant noise and mess—this doesn’t have to be your everyday reality. We can’t lock ourselves in a quiet room every time things feel like too much. And snapping at our kids or constantly trying to get away from them isn’t how we imagined motherhood would feel. In this episode, I share 6 concepts to help you feel less overstimulated & reactive as a highly sensitive mom: sensory breaks for mom before you snap (even small ones)sensory supports to help you feel calmrest as a priorityschedules & routines that consider your energy & capacity regular touch points in relationships that support uscreate something! Summer is a great time to lean into your own growth. If you pick just 1 of these to focus on before your fall schedule kicks back in, your whole family's day would feel different. What will you focus on? Hop on over to Instagram and tell me https://www.instagram.com/sensationalmoms Grab the other episodes about highly sensitive kids & moms here:  What is a highly sensitive kid https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-is-a-highly-sensitive-kid/id1767942422?i=1000759097911 Co-regulation for moms of highly sensitive kids https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/co-regulation-for-moms-of-highly-sensitive-kids/id1767942422?i=1000761974251 Parenting & homeschooling highly sensitive kids: 5 key shifts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parenting-homeschooling-sensitive-kids-5-key-shifts/id1767942422?i=1000766820313 Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

Things that seem easy with other kids can feel harder with highly sensitive kids, and it can make us really question ourselves as moms. The good news? If we lean into the hard, it actually helps us show up as a better mom for all our kids. The bad news? It is... hard. In this episode, I share 5 ways to support highly sensitive kids.  Shifts in: rhythym physical environment prioritizing basic needsstrengths-based learningmy mindset as a momParenting sensitive kids is challenging but so beautiful. I hope this helps you along the way. Book your free consult and let's see how you can enjoy motherhood again... highly sensitive kids and all. https://sensationalmoms.com/ Learn more about orchids and dandelions here: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/03/04/699979387/is-your-child-an-orchid-or-a-dandelion-unlocking-the-science-of-sensitive-kids Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

When people talk about "sharing your calm with your kid," does it trigger mom guilt because of all the times you remember messing up or overreacting? Parenting a highly sensitive kid can really push you to your limits as a mom. Sharing your nervous sytem when you already feel depleted can feel impossible. In today's episode, we discuss: a framework for how to spot your kid's overload before it spiralswhat co-regulation actually looks like in real lifewhy you don't have to be calm all the timeWant a helpful visual tool to understand what safety vs. threat nervous system cues look like for kids?  --Sign up for my free resources here by April 19th and you'll get it in my weekly Sensational MOMent newsletter, with free tips and encouraging stories for overstimulated moms. --Listening After April 19th? You can also email me for the visual tool here: https://sensationalmoms.com/get-in-touch/ https://www.sensationalmoms.com ---Read more about Kim Barthel's Match, Mirror & Move here. https://www.kimbarthel.ca/reflections/match-mirror-move-heidi --Learn more about empowering kid's self-regulation here: https://www.powerfullyyou.org/ Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

Does your child fall apart over a sock seam? Have big meltdowns after things that seem little to you & everyone else? Feel everything — deeply, intensely, loudly — and you can’t quite figure out why? You might have a highly sensitive kid. In this episode, we break down exactly what that means, what it doesn’t mean, and why understanding it could change everything about your homeschool day. Maybe you're highly sesitive too, as the mom... and that adds a whole extra layer. IN THIS EPISODE • What a highly sensitive kid (HSK) actually is — and what it’s not • Why HSK is a trait, not a diagnosis or disorder • The signs your child might be highly sensitive  • The “delayed meltdown” — why your kid holds it together all day and falls apart at the end. • The real strengths of a highly sensitive child • Why understanding your HSK changes how you design your homeschool day • Shifting from "what’s wrong with my kid?" to "what does my kid’s nervous system need?" Need help sorting through the dynamic of being an overstimulated mom with a highly sensitive kid? Book your free consult call today and let's find one small thing you can do to feel less overstimulated. Book it here: https://sensationalmoms.com/get-in-touch/ Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

Last week we talked about why spring throws off your homeschool and your nervous system. This week we're getting practical — but not in a "here's-your-spring-schedule" kind of way. In this episode I'm sharing what shifting your spring rhythm actually looks like in my home, and some questions to help you figure out what it looks like in yours.  In this episode: One question to ask before you change anything in your routineWhy your "get it all done by lunch" schedule may be working against you in springWhat we keep, loosen, and lean into in our homeschool this time of yearSimple routine shifts to experiment with — no overhaul requiredIs your kids' spring fever driving you crazy and making it all feel hard when you just want to "get it all done" before summer? Let's finish the year in a way that leaves us feeling joyful in this homeschool chaos. What one small shift could bring more joy and less reactivity in your mom life? Let's figure it out together. Book your free coaching session at https://www.calendly.com/sensationalmoms Grab your free 25+ Strategies for Self-Regulation getting started guide at https://www.sensationalmoms.com  Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

For the highly sensitive homeschool mom who hits a wall in spring... you might be surprised because winter is over! Life should feel easy now, right? In this episode I'm breaking down why spring can feel harder before it feels better, what's actually happening in your nervous system and your kids' when the season shifts, and why pushing through your winter routine into spring usually backfires. In this episode: Why the season shift can make dysregulation worse before it gets betterWhat your kids' spring energy is actually telling youWhy pushing through your current routine often backfiresHow nature fits into your nervous system toolkit this time of yearNext week in Part 2 we're getting practical — but not in a here's-your-spring-schedule kind of way. More like, here are some things to sit with and ask yourself so you can figure out what the season is asking for in your specific home. ----- Tired of researching all the options and feeling overwhelmed? Book your free Next Best Step consult for one way to support your nervous system to have more peace & joy in your homeschool.  https://calendly.com/sensationalmoms Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

If the time change has kind of wrecked your week before it's even started — tired kids, shorter fuse, and a homeschool day that felt impossible — your nervous system is telling you something important. In this episode I'm breaking down what daylight saving time actually does to your body and your kids', why homeschool moms feel it harder than most, and what you can do this week to support your nervous system through the transition. In this episode: Why it's not just one hour — the science behind why the time change hits so hardWhat daylight saving time does to your regulation window as a homeschool momWhy your kids seem harder this week and what their nervous system actually needsSimple nervous system support tips & routine shifts that you can use todayReady to stop feeling reactive & snappy with the kids? Let's find your next best step together. What's the next one simple, do-able step for you? Book your free coaching session at https://www.calendly.com/sensationalmoms Interested in trying out the Midday Refresh for $27 and a free coaching session to personalize it? Grab the last spot and email me at [email protected] to get more details or sign up. Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

If you're a homeschool mom drowning in mom guilt — snapping at your kids, feeling touched out and overstimulated, then hating yourself for it — this episode is for you.  I'm Whitney, a pediatric OT turned nervous system regulation coach for moms. And today I'm getting real about something I've lived through myself: those seasons where mom guilt isn't just a one-off feeling. It's a cycle you can't seem to break. In this episode I'm sharing: - What's really at the root of mom guilt for many overstimulated homeschool moms. The 3 mismatches that lead to disproportionate reactions with your kids 3 practical tools you can use today — including co-regulation, the RAIN meditation, and micro doses of nervous system support.Let's move through the guilt and find joy and connection with your kids on the other side with nervous system regulation support. Waitlist & Free Coaching for Midday Refresh: https://subscribepage.io/FLNazu (free coaching for first 2 moms-- you'll see info in your email inbox!) Free Weekly Tips & Learn more about coaching: https://www.sensationalmoms.com Tara Brach's RAIN meditation: https://www.tarabrach.com/rain/ Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

Are you an overwhelmed homeschool mom who feels overstimulated by noon? Many homeschool moms experience a daily midday slump — a mix of mental load, sensory overload, emotional exhaustion, and physical fatigue that can quietly lead to homeschool burnout. If you’re feeling touched out, reactive, or drained before lunchtime, it’s not a character flaw. It’s your nervous system asking for support. In this episode, we explore why overstimulation is so common in motherhood — especially for highly sensitive moms — and how a simple midday reset can prevent the afternoon from slipping into survival mode. If you’re tired of feeling exhausted halfway through your homeschool day, this conversation will help you understand what’s happening and what to do next. I also share a simple, on-demand resource called The Midday Refresh, created specifically for overwhelmed homeschool moms who want calmer afternoons without overhauling their entire routine.  It's 4 short audios with a do-able guide to make small shifts with a big impact... but not overwhelm you with more to do in your busy life. ---> Access the Midday Refresh here https://sensationalmoms.com/shop/ — If this episode resonates, subscrilbe to the podcast and share it with another homeschool mom who feels overstimulated and drained, too.  Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

Winter can feel especially hard for overstimulated moms — but that doesn’t mean you're lazy or there's something wrong. In this episode, I share sensory-based ways to support your body and nervous system during winter without pushing through or forcing productivity. From a sensory and nervous system perspective, winter brings:  less light more time indoors disrupted routines...and increased demands All of which can make regulation harder!  Join me to learn simple shifts toward warmth, gentle movement, rest, and compassion. All so you can find more joy & connection in your chaotic days. --- The internet is full of advice, but what if you had ONE next step to focus on? That's what your free Next Best Step consultation is all about-- less "shoulds" and more peace. Book yours here.  Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.

There’s a lot of pressure right now telling moms they need a nervous system reset — especially if you’re feeling overstimulated, exhausted, or emotionally maxed out.  But what if your nervous system isn’t broken at all? In this episode, I’m gently unpacking why nervous system resets don’t always work, where this message comes from, and why so many overstimulated moms feel worse after trying to “fix” themselves.  We’ll talk about what’s actually happening in your body, how chronic sensory overload affects regulation, and why support works better than pressure. If you’re a mom who feels touched out, mentally overloaded, or stuck in survival mode — this episode will help you understand your nervous system through a calmer, more compassionate lens. No resets. No rigid routines. Just realistic nervous system support that fits real mom life. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the idea of a “nervous system reset” is misleadingWhat overstimulation looks like in the nervous systemWhy regulation isn’t about fixing yourselfWhat helps overstimulated moms feel safer and more supportedThis episode is for homeschool moms, sensitive moms, and anyone who feels overwhelmed by constant noise, demands, and expectations — and is ready to stop chasing regulation and start responding to their body instead. Need more patience and energy for the last half of the day ? Access your Midday Refresh here.  Send Whitney a Text This podcast is not meant as medical advice or a substitute for any medical advice. Please contact your health professional with any mental health or physical health questions or concerns.