Sensational Moms: Support For Overstimulated Moms

Whitney Whitten
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Parenting
  • Biweekly

For the overstimulated mom who is burned out, reactive, and ready to stop feeling guilty at the end of the day. Do you spend your days feeling touched out, talked out, and reactive — when all you really want is to actually enjoy being a mom?  I'm Whitney, a sensory integration occupational therapist turned nervous system regulation coach, homeschooling my 4 kids as a highly sensitive mom. I created this podcast for the overstimulated mom who is ready to go from burned out and reactive to joyful and connected — without having it all figured out first. Each episode we talk about the real stuff: emotional and nervous system regulation, sensory overload, the mental load of motherhood, doable self-care, and neurodivergent homeschooling. Real understanding. Real moms. Real brain-body tools and rhythyms that work. You don't have to have it together to help your kids thrive. Let's figure it out together.

  1. 6d ago

    How to Stay Calm With Kids (And Why You Don’t Have To)

    Staying calm with kids sounds like the goal. But for a long time, I thought the goal was to be the calm mom, and it didn’t help me or my kids. In this episode, I’m sharing why faking calm can backfire for overstimulated moms, and what kids actually need instead. I’ll walk you through what happened on the nights I pushed my frustration down and then lost it anyway, how kids borrow calm from us through co-regulation, and a simple “match, mirror, move” approach for big feelings.  I’ll also talk about how neurodivergent and highly sensitive kids often feel it when your words and your body don’t match, and why repair after a hard moment matters so much. If your afternoons fall apart, or you feel like you’re failing at “gentle parenting,” this one is for you. In this episode Why the “calm mom” ideal sets us up to push feelings downWhat kids pick up from your body, tone, and pace, even when you say “I’m fine”Why neurodivergent and highly sensitive kids may struggle more with mismatched signalsWhy a perfectly “calm” response can leave a child feeling unseenMatch, mirror, move: three steps for meeting big feelingsThe five steps of repair after you yell or shut downWhy I built in midday support, so you have more to give by late afternoonLinks and resources The Midday Refresh, my personalized plan for supporting yourself before the afternoon gets hard: https://sensationalmoms.com/products/midday-refresh/My free Sensory Reset Toolkit and other freebies: sensationalmoms.com/free-resources/Book a free consult with me: https://calendly.com/sensationalmomsRelated episodes Mom Guilt & Overstimulated Moms: 3 Shifts to Break the CycleYou Don’t Need a Nervous System Reset (Here’s What You Actually Need)Regulated Mom, Regulated Home: Start HereSend 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.

  2. Oct 16

    Navigating Seasonal Transitions with Neurodivergent Kids and Moms, ft. Alex Viera

    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 vieraalexandria@gmail.com .  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.

    Navigating Seasonal Transitions with Neurodivergent Kids and Moms, ft. Alex Viera

  3. Oct 2

    Using Sound to Calm Your Mom Nervous System: 5 Easy Ways

    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.

  4. Sep 18

    Are Loop Earplugs the Answer for Noise Overstimulation?

    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.

  5. Jun 12

    Why Summer Break & Back to School Feel Hard for Overstimulated Moms

    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.

  6. May 22

    Highly Sensitive Moms: 6 Things to Do Differently If You're Chronically Overstimulated

    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.

  7. May 8

    Parenting & Homeschooling Sensitive Kids: 5 Key Shifts

    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.

  8. Apr 17

    Co-regulation for Moms of Highly Sensitive Kids

    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.

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About

For the overstimulated mom who is burned out, reactive, and ready to stop feeling guilty at the end of the day. Do you spend your days feeling touched out, talked out, and reactive — when all you really want is to actually enjoy being a mom?  I'm Whitney, a sensory integration occupational therapist turned nervous system regulation coach, homeschooling my 4 kids as a highly sensitive mom. I created this podcast for the overstimulated mom who is ready to go from burned out and reactive to joyful and connected — without having it all figured out first. Each episode we talk about the real stuff: emotional and nervous system regulation, sensory overload, the mental load of motherhood, doable self-care, and neurodivergent homeschooling. Real understanding. Real moms. Real brain-body tools and rhythyms that work. You don't have to have it together to help your kids thrive. Let's figure it out together.

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