Thrive Like A Parent

EP:173 In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I’m getting real about what it actually feels like when you start coming out of fight or flight—and why it often feels worse before it feels better. I walk you through my own journey of living in survival mode for years: high-risk pregnancies, preemies, solo parenting, Jonathan’s mental health struggles, his passing, and the long, messy process of grief. I share how year one after losing Jonathan was pure fight or flight, and how year two was a completely different kind of hard: deep exhaustion, brain fog, heaviness, and feeling “lazy” even though it was really my nervous system finally trying to land the plane. We’ll talk about: The real signs you’re coming out of fight or flight (and why it can mimic depression) Why you feel so tired, unproductive, and snappy with loved ones How your brain has been patterned to believe go-go-go = safety Why slowing down feels terrifying, “wrong,” or like you’re failing What your body actually needs: sleep, water, nourishment, gentle movement, and true rest How society and immediacy culture keep us stuck in overfunctioning and burnout. I’ll give you permission (and language) to tell your brain, “I am safe,” even when you’re resting on the couch and that inner critic is screaming “lazy.” This episode is your reminder that feeling heavy, tired, and low when you step out of survival mode does not mean you’re broken—it means your brain and body are recalibrating. If you’re ready to slowly step out of fight or flight, three to five percent at a time, this conversation will help you feel seen, understood, and not alone. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who’s been living in survival mode. If you’re ready for support in regulating your nervous system and stepping out of fight or flight, join Thrive or check out my on-demand courses to start building your real-life toolbox today. Make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and tag me on Instagram with your biggest takeaway from this episode. Links & Resources: 📘 Check out more episodes of Thrive Like a Parent - https://drbrookeweinstein.com/thrive-podcast/ 📸 Follow Dr. B on Instagram -   https://bit.ly/48VZI5e   🌐 Visit our website for more resources on self-care and well-being - https://drbrookeweinstein.com #FightOrFlight #NervousSystemRegulation #TraumaRecovery #GriefJourney #SoloParenting #AnxietySupport #BurnoutRecovery #HealingJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #SurvivalMode #EmotionalExhaustion #ParentingInSurvivalMode #BrookeWeinstein #ThriveLikeAParent #RestIsProductive #RegulateDontDominate

EP:172 In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I sit down with my dear friend Zabie Yamasaki – trauma-informed yoga educator, author, survivor advocate, and founder of Transcending Trauma Through Yoga. Zabie and I dive deep into what it really means to heal your nervous system, reclaim your body after trauma, and honor your capacity as a human, a parent, and a highly sensitive soul. Zabie shares her powerful story as a survivor of sexual trauma, her journey through grief, IVF, pregnancy loss, and her husband’s cancer diagnosis, and how trauma-informed yoga became both her personal lifeline and her professional calling. We talk about: The difference between traditional vinyasa yoga and trauma-informed yoga (and why language and choice matter so much) How trauma lives in the body through anxiety, insomnia, GI issues, and chronic burnout Why movement can be a core regulator and healer—and how to choose the right kind of movement for your nervous system on any given day Letting go of hustle and urgency and learning to live “real slow” instead of “real quick” Honoring your capacity, boundaries, and energy without shame Redefining success as softer mornings, presence with your kids, and a regulated nervous system If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve been in survival mode for years and didn’t even realize it” or “I don’t know how to listen to my body, I just keep pushing,” this episode will feel like a big exhale and a loving permission slip. If this conversation resonated with you: Screenshot this episode and tag me @brookeweinstn and Zabie @transcending_trauma_with_yoga on Instagram. Tell us your biggest takeaway. Share this episode with a friend who’s navigating trauma, grief, burnout, or motherhood and needs to know they’re not alone. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast – it helps this work reach more nervous systems that need it. #ThriveLikeAParent #TraumaInformedYoga #NervousSystemHealing #SomaticHealing #TraumaRecovery #GriefSupport #IVFJourney #BurnoutRecovery #HighlySensitivePerson #MentalHealthPodcast #AnxietyHealing #ParentingWithTrauma #HolisticHealing #YogaForTrauma #RegulateYourNervousSystem #MindBodyConnection #EmotionalHealth #SelfRegulation #HealingAfterLoss #ProtectYourEnergy

EP:171 This solo episode has been a long time coming. I’m finally sitting down to walk you through what the last few months have really looked like behind the scenes — the baseball fields, the retreats, the business highs, the gut punches, and turning 40 in the most unexpectedly beautiful way. I take you with me through: Motherhood in the thick of it – Eli’s select baseball, Charlie’s umpiring journey, and what it’s been like to finally feel joy and “magic” again after years of grief. Big work seasons and leadership retreats – the conversations that lit my brain on fire, falling in love (again) with the business side of what I do, and why connecting with other women fills my cup. Mother Collective & Smarty Pants events – the deep, honest talks with women who are quietly suffering in their relationships, being called “crazy,” gaslit, and doubting their own reality. I share how that mirrors my past, and why self-worth and nervous system regulation are non‑negotiables. Trust, family, and my 40th birthday – the painful “no” from my family, the overwhelming surprise Carter planned with my best friends at Miraval, and what it brought up about being loved, chosen, and celebrated. Underneath all of it is this: learning to trust yourself, protect your peace, regulate your nervous system, and refuse to be spoken to or treated in ways that don’t feel safe or respectful. If this episode hits home, please: Share it with a friend who needs to hear they are not crazy and not alone.. Hit follow and leave a review so more parents can find this work. Screenshot and tag the show so I can see what resonated most and keep creating what you need. #motherhood #momlife #parenting #selfworth #nervoussystemregulation #mentalhealth #healing #griefjourney #toxicrelationships #gaslighting #marriage #relationshipadvice #baseballmom #anxiety #burnoutrecovery #boundaries #hashimotos #personaldevelopment #podcast

EP:170 In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I sit down with my client and friend Dr. Michael Braunstein to pull back the curtain on what it really looks like for a high-achieving husband, dad, and provider to work on his emotional regulation, marriage, and parenting. Michael and I talk about the invisible pressure so many men carry—being the provider, holding it all together, never showing they’re at capacity—and how that almost broke him, his marriage to Lindsay, and their blended family. We walk through: How their relationship slipped into loving but exhausting codependency—both over-giving, both resentful, and neither getting their needs met. The “fire hose” fights that built up over weeks of unspoken frustration and ended in late-night blowups. The way real-time support and regulation tools (like voice messaging instead of waiting for once-a-week counseling) helped them calm their nervous systems in the moment, not weeks later. How shifting from “fixing” to supporting with phrases like “I hear you,” “Thank you for sharing,” and “What do you need?” completely changed their communication We also go deep into: Their different parenting styles: Michael as the more boundaried, stern parent and Lindsay as the more emotional, nurturing parent—and why both are essential for healthy kids. Allowing kids to struggle, fail, and problem-solve, instead of lawnmower parenting everything away Navigating Lindsay’s Graves’ disease diagnosis, her near-bedridden season, Michael’s knee surgery, and how their new tools held their family together through it One of my favorite parts of this conversation is hearing Michael describe, in his own words, how regulation has given him more enjoyment—not just “better performance”: more enjoyment in his marriage, more enjoyment with his kids, and more peace inside his own brain. If you’ve ever wished your partner “got it,” or you’re a dad who’s exhausted from holding it all together but doesn’t want “traditional therapy,” this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now and save this episode to come back to the tools Michael shares. 💌 Share this with a dad, partner, or husband who needs to hear another man talk honestly about mental health, marriage, and regulation. 🔁 Tag this episode in your stories and tell me your biggest takeaway—I do read them. ⬇️ Ready to work on your own regulation and family dynamic? Learn more about Thrive Like a Parent and my coaching offers in the show notes. #ThrivelikeaParent #EmotionalRegulation #MensMentalHealth #DadLife #MarriageSupport #ParentingTools #CodependencyRecovery #BlendedFamily #ADHDParenting #NeuroscienceBasedParenting #CalmNervousSystem #BurnoutRecovery #GentleParenting #ConsciousParenting #AnxietySupport #GravesDiseaseJourney #HighAchievingDads #RelationshipTools #BrookeWeinstein

EP:170 In this first part of my conversation on Thrive Like a Parent, I sit down with longtime client Michael Braunstein—a former collegiate athlete, business owner, and dad of four in a blended family. From the outside, everything looked “great,” but inside, Michael was completely maxed out. He found himself snapping at his kids, drowning in pressure, and even wondering how some dads reach the point of walking away. That breaking point ultimately led him to my work and the concept of regulation. In Part 1, we explore where Michael began: stuck in constant “fix it” mode, overwhelmed by life, and caught in a roller coaster inside his marriage. You’ll hear how understanding his gas-pedal brain, recognizing his own limits, and shifting from fixing to supporting opened a completely new path for him—one that changed the way he showed up for himself, his wife, and his kids. This episode sets the foundation for Michael’s transformation and gives a raw look into what happens before regulation tools begin to take hold. If you’ve ever felt like, “I love my family, but I can’t keep living like this,” Michael’s story will help you feel seen—and remind you that change starts with understanding your own brain. 👉 Ready to understand your brain, regulate your nervous system, and create a calmer home? Join Thrive or apply to work with me 1:1. #ThriveLikeAParent #DadMentalHealth #GasPedalBrain #ParentingTools #MarriageAfterKids #NervousSystemRegulation