This part 1 of my five part series: When the World Feels Like Too Much.

When the world feels overwhelming—personally or collectively—sleep is often the first thing to fall apart.

In this episode, we begin a five-part series on how to care for yourself when life feels heavy, unstable, or unsafe. We start with sleep—not because it’s easy, but because it’s foundational.

We’ll explore why stress disrupts sleep so quickly, why ADHD brains are especially impacted by poor rest, and why trying harder to sleep often backfires. This episode offers a nervous-system-informed approach to rest that’s realistic, flexible, and compassionate—especially during hard seasons.

This is not about perfect sleep routines or fixing yourself. It’s about protecting your capacity and giving your system enough rest to get through what you’re living in—without losing yourself.

✨ Next up in the series: How to Move When Everything Feels Like Too Much

—CHAPTERS—

00:00 Introduction: The Impact of Stress on Sleep

00:29 Series Overview: When the World Feels Like Too Much

01:58 Welcome to the Self Loved ADHD Woman's Way Podcast

02:44 Why Focus on Sleep First?

04:34 The Importance of Sleep Hygiene

20:39 Advanced Sleep Strategies

28:20 Dealing with Poor Sleep Nights

31:38 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

✨ If you found this episode helpful… Please follow, subscribe, and share it with another ADHD woman who needs support!

💛 Connect with me on social media!

Youtube: @Jenbarnes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenbarneslicsw/

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal health or medical advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice or psychotherapy.

If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency please contact emergency services in your area. If you are in the USA, dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis line or 911 for a medical emergency.

There are days when “just pushing through” isn’t strength—it’s a survival reflex.

In this episode, I talk about what happens in our nervous systems when violence, injustice, or collective trauma hits close to home. When something tragic happens, your body doesn’t experience it as news. It experiences it as threat.

And for many ADHD women—especially those who are justice-sensitive—that threat lands deeply.

We will explore:

• Why ADHD nervous systems tend to react strongly to injustice • How emotional heaviness, numbness, or shutdown are normal responses • Why suppressing feelings often shows up later in the body • How to safely make space for what you’re feeling without collapsing • When to work with emotions alone—and when to seek support • Why action and advocacy can be regulating when done intentionally

I also share specific, accessible ways to take action if that feels right for you—without pressure, shame, or urgency.

This episode is not about productivity. It’s not about fixing yourself. And it’s not about bypassing what your body already knows.

It’s about meeting this moment honestly and supporting yourself with care.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode

ResistBot Text the word RESIST to 50409 Or visit ResistBot online to contact your representatives

https://resist.bot/

5 Calls App Provides current issues, call scripts, and direct connections to representatives

https://5calls.org/

—CHAPTERS—

00:00 Introduction: Pushing Through Isn't Strength

01:06 Welcome to the Self Loved ADHD Woman's Way Podcast

01:47 Coping with Tragic Events

02:54 Understanding Our Feelings and Reactions

05:56 Normalizing Emotional Responses

12:16 Taking Action and Advocacy

17:13 Conclusion: Supporting Yourself and Others

✨ If you found this episode helpful… Please follow, subscribe, and share it with another ADHD woman who needs support!

💛 Connect with me on social media!

Youtube: @Jenbarnes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenbarneslicsw/

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal health or medical advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice or psychotherapy.

If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency please contact emergency services in your area. If you are in the USA, dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis line or 911 for a medical emergency.

Many ADHD women notice something this time of year that’s hard to explain.

Their minds feel louder. Busier. Restless—even when nothing is “wrong.”

In this short New Year’s Day episode, we explore a different way of understanding that mental buzz—one that isn’t about productivity, dopamine, or mindset fixes.

Through a seasonal lens rooted in Ayurveda (a sister science of yoga), we’ll look at why winter can naturally amplify mental restlessness, anxiety, and scattered energy—and what helps soothe the nervous system instead of pushing against it.

This episode gently introduces grounding practices that support your body and brain during the slower, quieter season of winter, without adding pressure or another thing to manage.

✨ Expect reflection, seasonal wisdom, and simple ways to help your system feel safer, steadier, and more settled right now.

—CHAPTERS—

00:00 Introduction: Understanding the Busy Brain

01:06 Welcome to the Self Loved A DHD Woman's Way Podcast

01:48 Seasonal Reasons for a Busy Brain

02:55 Introduction to Ayurveda and Doshas

04:57 Understanding Vata Dosha

08:04 Balancing Vata Dosha During Winter

10:25 Grounding Practices for a Calmer Mind

15:44 The Benefits of Oiling Your Body

20:37 Additional Grounding Techniques

21:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

I got my sesame oil from https://shop.gardenofedenstores.com/products/sesame-oil?_pos=1&_sid=58ca071e4&_ss=r&variant=396380021

You can also find it (or almond oil) in the body care or beauty section of places like Whole Foods, co-ops, and possibly Sprouts or Natural Grocers.

Classic: https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/pages/dosha-quiz

More in depth with 5 mind-body profiles (mental, emotional, behavioral, physical, fitness), offering a more nuanced view of how dosha influences both body and psychology:

https://lifespa.com/body-type-quiz-dosha-ayurveda/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Please follow, subscribe, and share it with another ADHD woman who needs support!

Youtube: @Jenbarnes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenbarneslicsw/

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal health or medical advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice or psychotherapy.

If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency please contact emergency services in your area. If you are in the USA, dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis line or 911 for a medical emergency.