Ep. 13 Part 2 - Understanding the Grief That Comes With Parenting a High Needs Child
Grief shows up in unexpected ways when you’re parenting a hypersensitive, high-needs child. And most of it goes unnamed.In this episode of The Regulated Mother, I explore the deeper grief that lives in the nervous system—the kind of grief no one prepares us for.We talk about:The 5 stages of grief adapted for parentingAmbiguous loss, ongoing loss, anticipatory grief, and loss of reciprocityWhy you might feel stuck in a shame-grief loopHow grief from the past gets reactivated in the presentAnd how to begin working with grief in your body, one breath at a timeIf you want to read instead, the full blog is available on my website: https://www.illuminateu.ca/blog/understanding-the-grief-that-comes-with-parenting-a-high-needs-childThis episode is especially for parents navigating Autism, PDA, ADHD, trauma, and other nervous system differences—who are grieving not because they’ve given up, but because they love deeply.
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Ep. 12 Part 1 - The Loss No One Talks About in Parenting a High Needs Child
In this episode of The Regulated Mother, we name the invisible losses that come with parenting a hypersensitive, high-needs child—loss of identity, dreams, freedom, health, and more. If you’ve ever felt like your life no longer looks or feels like your own, this conversation will help you understand why—and remind you that you’re not alone.🖊️ You can also read the full blog on my website: https://www.illuminateu.ca/blog/the-loss-no-one-talks-about-in-parenting-a-high-needs-childAfshan’s instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/afshantaflerAfshan’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@afshantaflerFree Ebook and Video series on the 7 Steps to Regulated & Resilient Parenting with your hypersensitive, high needs child: https://www.illuminateu.ca/regulated-and-resilient-parentingListen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-regulated-mother/id1817810402
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Ep.11 When Your Child’s Behavior Triggers Your Old Wounds of Not Belonging
If you're parenting a hypersensitive, high-needs child, you've likely had moments in public where your child's behavior triggered deep shame—and left you feeling judged, isolated, and like you don’t belong.In this episode of The Regulated Mother, I share a personal story from a birthday party that brought all of that to the surface. We’ll explore why these moments hurt so much, how your nervous system responds to social disapproval, the role of cultural and generational conditioning, and how to begin rewiring a sense of true belonging—from the inside out.Because you and your child deserve to feel seen, supported, and safe—just as you are.🔗 Prefer to read instead? You can find the full blog on my website: https://www.illuminateu.ca/blog/when-your-child-s-behavior-triggers-your-old-wounds-of-not-belongingAfshan’s instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/afshantaflerAfshan’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@afshantaflerFree Ebook and Video series on the 7 Steps to Regulated & Resilient Parenting with your hypersensitive, high needs child: https://www.illuminateu.ca/regulated-and-resilient-parentingListen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-regulated-mother/id1817810402
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Ep.10 Why You Feel Depressed When Parenting a Hypersensitive, High-Needs Child
If you’ve been waking up feeling numb, heavy, or low while parenting your hypersensitive, high-needs child, you’re not alone—and there’s a reason for it. In this episode of The Regulated Mother, I share my personal story of experiencing depression during an intense parenting season and explore what depression really is from a nervous system, emotional, biochemical, and trauma-informed perspective.We’ll talk about:1. How chronic stress and unprocessed emotions lead to shutdown2. The nervous system biology behind depressive states3. How movement, sleep, nutrition, and meaning all play a role4. How Somatic Experiencing and Internal Family Systems help heal depression from the inside out💻 Prefer to read? You can find the full blog article on my website: https://www.illuminateu.ca/blog/why-you-feel-depressed-when-parenting-a-hypersensitive-high-needs-child
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Ep.9 The Key to Handling Your Child’s Big Emotions: Learn to Feel Your Own
When my son was housebound and stuck in burnout, I found myself numbing out—chips, TV, doing anything to not feel the grief I couldn’t face. In this episode, I share a personal story of emotional shutdown, nervous system overload, and the moment I realized I couldn’t hold space for my child’s emotions because I didn’t know how to hold my own.You can read the full post here: https://www.illuminateu.ca/blog/the-key-to-handling-your-child-s-big-emotions-learn-to-feel-your-ownOr listen along as we explore the real reason regulation is so hard—and the gentle steps toward emotional safety for both you and your child.
If you're raising a hypersensitive, high-needs child — including Autism, PDA, OCD, ODD, ADHD, or anxiety — this podcast is for you. I'm Afshan Tafler, a Nervous System Resilience Coach for mothers like you. Here, we talk about what most people don’t: how it really feels, how your nervous system responds, and how to find your way back to calm, courage, and connection — even on the hardest days. You're not alone, and you were never meant to do this without support.
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