Episode 24: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
View transcript on Buzzsprout
This special “Ask Amanda” episode tackles three listener-submitted questions, diving deep into real-life struggles with parenting self-care, EMDR therapy, and navigating high-functioning depression. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, exploring trauma healing, or looking for tangible tools that actually help, this episode brings practical insight and grounded support.
Have a question you’d like answered on the podcast? Submit it here.
Self-care often gets framed as indulgent or elaborate—but for overwhelmed caregivers, especially stay-at-home parents, it needs to be practical and regulating. Amanda encourages listeners to shift the question from “How can I do more?” to “How can I do different?”
Start with the morning. How you begin your day matters. Waking up even 10 minutes before your child can create space for nervous system check-ins, gentle somatic practices like gargling or distance viewing, or simply quiet time on the porch with tea. This isn’t about a perfect routine—it’s about anchoring your day in presence and regulation.
Make use of transitions. After school drop-off, instead of rushing to the next task, try a regulation ritual: distance viewing, color spotting, or a few deep breaths. These small moments recalibrate the nervous system and expand capacity.
And don’t forget the big picture. Overactivity in childhood can fuel a lifelong discomfort with rest. If your child’s schedule feels like too much for them—or you—it’s okay to simplify.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy designed to reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories. It uses bilateral stimulation—like eye movement, tapping, or sounds—to mimic REM sleep and help the brain integrate traumatic experiences.
Helpful for:
Less effective for:
Amanda notes that some clients find EMDR life-changing. Others feel neutral or frustrated. What matters is understanding that EMDR is a tool—not a cure-all.
Restore, Amanda’s 1:1 coaching program, offers a whole-human approach to healing. While EMDR often targets specific trauma memories, Restore guides clients through a structured journey:
Where EMDR can offer relief from a memory, Restore equips you to navigate life with more capacity and resilience.
When a listener shared their experience with high-functioning depression and anorexia, Amanda emphasized the importance of physiological safety.
Key reminders:
Amanda recommends starting with basics: sleep, food, morning sunlight, vagal toning. But to create lasting change, deeper work is needed. This might mean addressing underlying beliefs, healing trauma, or working with a provider who supports nervous system regulation.
For accessible support, check out the Regulated Living Membership—monthly tools and guidance for sustainable healing.
*Want me to talk about something specific on the podcast? Let me know HERE.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
A mental health newsletter that feels like a deep breath: simple, grounding, and here to remind you that healing is possible.
Regulated Living provides neuroscience-backed mental health coaching to help you regulate your nervous system and reclaim your life from anxiety and depression.
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