If you’ve ever found yourself spiraling trying to figure out…
Is this ADHD? Anxiety? High sensitivity? Sensory issues? Something else? — you are so not alone.

In this episode, we sit down with Alane Freund and walk through real parent scenarios that will probably feel very familiar.

We talk about a 4-year-old with intense, daily meltdowns that seem to come out of nowhere…
An 18-month-old who won’t separate or engage socially…
A teen dealing with anxiety, OCD, and school refusal…
And even what “inattentive ADHD” can look like in a highly sensitive kid who’s constantly in their own world.

This is one of those conversations where you start to realize…it’s not as clear-cut as we’ve been told.

Inside the episode, we get into:

• Why highly sensitive kids can look like they have ADHD (even when they don’t)
• How anxiety shows up in the body (nausea, headaches, shutdowns) and why it’s often misunderstood
• The concept of kids being “half their age” when they’re overwhelmed and how that changes how you respond
• Why tantrums aren’t something you fix in the moment (and what actually helps instead)
• What to do when your child refuses school, including options most parents don’t even realize they have
• The difference between temperament vs. diagnosis (and why that matters so much)

We also talk a lot about you as the parent, your nervous system, your triggers, and why your regulation matters more than any strategy.

Because the truth is…these kids can feel confusing, intense, and honestly overwhelming at times.

But they’re also incredibly perceptive, thoughtful, and capable of so much when we understand how to support them.

This episode will help you feel more clear, more grounded, and less like you’re guessing your way through every hard moment.

Get Alane's FREE GIFT here: 10 Pillars of Resilience

https://alane-freund.mykajabi.com/10-pillars-of-resilience

Find Alane here:

Alane Freund | Are You Highly Sensitive
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Find Adrienne on Instagram here and find Leah on Instagram here

Clutter stresses me out, but getting my kids to actually help clean it up? That's a whole other battle. And if you've ever resorted to threatening screen time or bribing with dessert just to get the toys off the floor, first of all, same. But also, this episode is going to change the way you think about all of it.

Leah and I sat down with Ann Dooley, founder of Simple Joy with Ann and creator of the Dooley Method, and I genuinely walked away from this conversation seeing things differently.

Ann is a certified master level KonMari consultant, a parenting coach, and author, and her whole approach is about connection first, which honestly fits in perfectly with everything we talk about on this show.

We get into why threats and bribes actually backfire, like, they're literally triggering your kid's fight or flight response, which explains so much. We also talk about how the home you grew up in shaped the way you deal with clutter today, whether you're the person who keeps everything or the person who throws it all away. Both extremes come with a lot of baggage, and a lot of us are just on autopilot repeating patterns we never even chose.

Ann walks us through her SHINE framework — Seen, Heard, Independent, Nurtured, Engaged — and how using it helps kids actually build internal motivation to help around the house instead of just avoiding it. And she closes the episode with a guided meditation that I genuinely did not see coming but absolutely needed.

If you've ever just done it all yourself because it felt easier than dealing with the meltdown, this episode is for you. It's one of those conversations that sticks with you.

Guest: Anne Dooley | simplejoywithann.com | @simplejoywithann

You may have heard that in order to feel better and regulate your nervous system you need to "process" your emotions.

But how the heck do you do that?

Enter TAPPING - the easy, accessible tool that will help you process and release emotions, and feel better fast - and your kids can use it too!

In this podcast episode we are talking with Nicole Sabella — dancer, wellness coach, and founder of The Nourished Dancer — to explore the transformative practice of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), also known as tapping.

Nicole breaks down how tapping works using the body’s acupressure points to calm the amygdala, reduce cortisol, and help us process tough emotions — from anxiety and overthinking to parenting frustrations and performance stress. Whether you're a busy mom, a sensitive soul, or just navigating life’s daily overwhelm, tapping offers a simple, science-backed tool you can use anytime, anywhere.

You’ll hear:

- A step-by-step walkthrough of a tapping session (perfect for beginners!)

- How tapping differs from talk therapy, mindfulness, and CBT

- Real-life applications for moms and kids — from bedtime worries to sibling squabbles

- Why it’s not about “fixing” emotions, but moving through them with self-compassion

- Tips for introducing tapping to neurodivergent children and teens

- And a powerful reminder: "The only way out is through."

Nicole also shares how tapping supports emotional regulation, nervous system balance, and confidence — whether you're facing a big presentation, a tough conversation, or just the chaos of a school morning.

Plus: practical advice for building a 5-minute tapping habit, when to work with a certified practitioner, and how to start small (even if you're skeptical!).

👉 Learn more about Nicole at https://thenourisheddancer.com or connect on Instagram @nicole.e.sabella.

In this episode, Leah and Adrienne dive deep into the invisible burden so many women carry, the mental load.

From remembering school schedules to managing emotional climates at home, they unpack how women, especially highly sensitive and empathic moms, end up as the "default parent," often at the cost of their own well-being.

They explore how hormonal changes during perimenopause, like declining estrogen and oxytocin, can make caretaking feel suddenly overwhelming, even impossible. When your brain fog thickens and your patience thins, it’s not failure, it’s biology. And yet, cultural expectations haven’t caught up.

Why are we still told to “do it all” when our bodies and minds are signaling it’s time to share?

Leah and Adrienne discuss:

- The difference between helping and truly owning responsibilities (spoiler: your partner isn’t “helping”—they’re co-parenting)

- Practical ways to redistribute the mental and emotional labor in your relationship

- How burnout shows up, from irritability to “hospital fantasies”, and why naming it reduces shame

- Strategies for raising boys who grow into emotionally attuned, capable men who co-create family life instead of just “pitching in”

They offer actionable steps for couples, like weekly check-ins, assigning full ownership of tasks, and modeling shared care, to build a more balanced, sustainable family dynamic.

Whether you're in the thick of parenting, entering perimenopause, or raising the next generation of caregivers, this conversation is a lifeline. It’s time to stop carrying it all, and start sharing it all.

💬 We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @adriennebishopcoaching or @risingsuntherapy

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe and join us in two weeks for our next episode.

Are you struggling to find time for self care? Does it feel like just one more thing on your to-do list that you're failing at?

In this episode, Adrienne and Leah explore what self-care really looks like for highly sensitive moms. From sensory-friendly environments to emotional wellness and creative outlets, they offer practical, bite-sized strategies to help you feel more grounded, supported, and seen. This isn’t about adding more to your plate—it’s about shifting how you care for yourself in a way that honors your sensitivity.

Key Takeaways

• Self-care is a lifestyle, not a checklist
• Small changes can have a big impact on your nervous system
• Connection and solitude are equally important
• Creativity and movement help release emotional tension
• Sleep hygiene and nourishment are foundational to resilience

🌐 Connect With Us ⁠@adriennebishopcoaching | ⁠@leahandreoni

✨ Get's Adrienne's FREE guide - 5 Ways to Stay Calm When Your Kids are Driving you Crazy! - https://www.adriennebishopcoaching.com/5-ways-to-stay-calm/

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

Perimenopause doesn’t just bring hot flashes, it can quietly reshape everything about how you show up as a mom, partner, and person. And for highly sensitive moms, the emotional intensity, brain fog, and shifting energy levels can feel especially overwhelming.

In this honest, empowering conversation, Ashley Basilio, midlife wellness advocate, talks with Adrienne and Leah about her own perimenopause journey and how it collided with parenting teens, burnout, and identity shifts. As a certified menopause health coach and founder of the Strong Her Together community, Ashley blends science, warmth, and lived experience to help women understand what’s really happening, and how to respond with kindness, not guilt.

We dive into:

• What perimenopause actually is (and why it’s not just about reproduction)
• How hormonal shifts impact mood, memory, and parenting capacity
• Why highly sensitive women may feel these changes more deeply
• The surprising upsides of this life stage
• Practical tools for self-care, boundary-setting, and hormone support

Whether you're in perimenopause or preparing for it, this episode is a lifeline for any HS mom navigating change with grace and strength.

🧠 Recommended Resources

• 📘 The Menopause Brain by Dr. Lisa Mosconi
• 🌐 menopause.org – Find a certified menopause provider near you

🙋‍♀️ Where to Find Ashley

• Website: getfitwithashley.com
• Community: Strong Her Together
• Podcast: Stronger Voices (on all platforms)
• Instagram: @getfitwithashley

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

How many of us have struggled to motivate our kids to cooperate? Or just get stuff done?

In this episode of Real Parenting for the Sensitive Mom, Leah and Adrienne explore how understanding your child’s temperament can transform the way you motivate them. Drawing from Kathleen Edelman’s book A Grown-Up’s Guide to Your Kids’ Wiring, they break down the four temperaments—Sanguine, Choleric, Phlegmatic, and Melancholic—and how each one responds to different types of encouragement, expectations, and communication.

Parenting is 80% trying to get your kids to do things—and it’s hard. But when you understand how your child is wired, everything changes. Leah and Adrienne share personal stories, practical tips, and mindset shifts that help you stop pushing your wiring onto your kids and start parenting the child you actually have.

Key Takeaways

• Motivation becomes easier when you stop expecting your child to act like you.
• Each temperament thrives under different conditions—fun, control, connection, or clarity.
• Adjusting your language and expectations can unlock cooperation and confidence.
• Understanding your own temperament helps you navigate parent-child dynamics more gracefully.
• The best parenting happens when we honor who our kids truly are—not who we wish they were.

Resources Mentioned

• A Grown-Up’s Guide to Your Kids’ Wiring by Kathleen Edelman
• Temperament quiz for kids (available in the book)

Don’t forget to rate and review Real Parenting!

🌐 Connect With Us ⁠@adriennebishopcoaching | ⁠@leahandreoni

✨ Get's Adrienne's FREE guide - 5 Ways to Stay Calm When Your Kids are Driving you Crazy! - https://www.adriennebishopcoaching.com/5-ways-to-stay-calm/

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

The postpartum period is one of the most transformational times in a woman’s life. She is changing from the inside out - from brain changes to cellular changes and it can be very overwhelming for the sensitive mom.

During pregnancy and after giving birth, drastic hormonal shifts occur and you are expected to manage all of this with elegance, grace, looking good and enjoying every moment. That is not the reality for most moms, and these expectations can cause a host of problems during motherhood, including postpartum disorders.

In this episode, we explore how highly sensitive moms uniquely experience the postpartum period. We discuss what the symptoms of postpartum anxiety, depression, and postpartum OCD look like and how to take care of yourself during this tumultuous and beautiful time.

Recognizing symptoms of a postpartum disorder early is key, and in this episode we talk about how to know what those symptoms are and when to seek professional help. Management of these symptoms, whether on the normal spectrum or a disorder may include therapy—especially cognitive behavioral therapy—medication like SSRIs, and strong support systems.

We also talk about how lifestyle changes such as better sleep, nutrition, and mindfulness help immensely to keep you emotionally healthy.

We’ll talk about:

• Why sensitivity amplifies emotional and physical challenges
• What to do when symptoms become overwhelming
• How to create a smoother, more supportive postpartum experience

Even if you're past this phase of motherhood, this podcast will be so healing for you as a senstiive mom, because, let's be honest, you never stop being "postpartum" and it may even help you feel like you weren't crazy for feeling the way you felt or having the struggles you had.

What Helps Highly Sensitive Moms Thrive during postpartum and how can you prepare?

• Gentle support systems: Empathetic friends, family, or therapists who validate and listen
• Quiet time and boundaries: Guilt-free space to recharge and protect emotional energy
• Mindfulness and grounding: Practices that soothe the nervous system and reduce overstimulation
• Professional help: Therapy, medication, or support groups tailored to postpartum mental health

If you or a highly sensitive mom you know is pregnant, or you are in your 4th trimester, this episode is for you!

Professional Resources:

Postpartum Support International: postpartum.net

Perinatal Partners Network: perinatalpartnersnetwork.com

Postpartum Stress Center: postpartumstress.com

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.