From the outside, you look like you have it together. You are capable, reliable, and the one people count on. But inside, you are overwhelmed, exhausted, and quietly running on empty. This is what neurodivergent burnout can look like, especially for women who have learned to mask and carry more than their nervous system was ever meant to hold. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone, and you are not broken.
Grief Trigger Warning
Sometimes the world feels very heavy.
This is what was on my heart this morning.
Many people, especially highly sensitive and compassionate people, feel deeply affected by suffering in the world. When violence, war, or tragedy appear in the news, it can leave us feeling overwhelmed, heartbroken, or powerless.
Before anything else, I am a mother.
Yes, I am Laura.
You Work From Home — How Do You Have Work Besties?
“You work from home… how do you have work besties?”
That’s what my husband asked me after I got back from a local networking event.
He said it with genuine curiosity, not sarcasm.
And it got me thinking.
There’s this assumption that if you work from home, especially as a therapist or healer, you’re sitting in a room by yourself, slowly spiraling into professional isolation. But for me, the truth is quite the opposite….
Burnout is real, and when you throw motherhood into the mix, it’s a whole new level of chaos. Let me take you on my journey through it. 😅
It all started after grad school, just after I’d bought a house and thought I was doing everything right. I went to my doctor, (who was used to seeing me every few weeks because I was constantly sick. I didn’t realize at the time my body was trying to tell me to rest, take it down a notch. I blamed it on a bad immune system and working with kids.) Anyway, there I was, sitting in my doctor’s office, tears streaming down my face. He asked, “What’s wrong?” and all I could say was, “I don’t know! Everything in my life is good—I just graduated, bought a house, life is great.” He looked at me, nodded, and reached for his prescription pad, saying,”You don’t have to feel this way, I can help.” Desperate, I nodded in agreement.
A family story about precut watermelon reveals an unexpected lesson about burnout, guilt, and why choosing the easier option can sometimes be the healthiest form of self-care.
Being a therapist is an intricate journey, where the tapestry of emotions unfolds in ways that often defy explanation. We dwell with individuals at their most vulnerable, witnessing the ebb and flow of their struggles and triumphs. The narratives shared in the therapy room cut deeper than those in conventional relationships, revealing intimate details that seldom see the light of day. Yet, within this authenticity, a subtle power differential exists – a nuanced dance between presence and disclosure, all orchestrated to benefit the client. 🎭💖
Unfortunately, what keeps us safe as children, like other trauma responses, can hinder us in adulthood. However, I never really stopped to think about how my trauma may show up in my finances- despite a lifelong battle of internal fighting to give myself permission to spend money on things that were for me. So, this is my list of how my finances are impacted by my trauma.
As a therapist who specializes in working with Highly Sensitive People and neurodivergent individuals, and being a sensitive person myself, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Carnival Cruise Lines had made significant adjustments to address sensory sensitivities. It was heartening to see that they had implemented measures to accommodate passengers like me.
"🌲🌿 Embark on a healing journey through this serene forest path. Imagine yourself walking along a peaceful trail surrounded by lush, vibrant greenery. The soothing sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds envelop you. 🐦🍃
In our guided meditation, we'll draw upon the wisdom of this tranquil forest to help you navigate and alleviate pain and ailments. 🌳✨ Join us on a transformative experience, and explore how nature therapy in sunny Florida can support your wellness journey. ☀️🌴
#GuidedMeditation #HealingJourney #PainRelief #NatureTherapy #FloridaTherapy"
The women I know are drowning in the overwhelm of to do lists, work, child care, home management and adapting to the ever-changing needs of the pandemic. We are just able to get it together long enough to come up for a breath of air, before the next wave of the unknown hits pulls us back under.
We all have peaks and valleys. That part is normal.
We all have them. Those seasons of life when things feel heavy, slow, or stuck. Whether it is a dip in finances, a rough patch in a relationship, or just a quiet erosion of the energy and enthusiasm you usually carry, highs and lows are woven into every human experience. And yet, when we find ourselves deep in a valley, it can feel profoundly isolating. Like something has gone fundamentally wrong. Like we have somehow failed at the business of living.
But what if you have not failed at all? What if you are simply experiencing low tide?
It’s important to keep yourself grounded in the midst of the chaos. I wanted to share with you today about how to get centered when you're feeling chaotic.
Empaths absorb the world around them. That is not a metaphor.
If you identify as an empath, a highly sensitive person, or a neurodivergent woman who feels things deeply, you already know that you experience the emotional world differently than most people. You walk into a room and immediately sense the energy. You scroll through social media and feel the weight of what you read long after you put your phone down. You sit across from someone who is struggling and find yourself struggling too, even if you had been perfectly fine five minutes before.
This is not your imagination. This is how your nervous system works
So let me tell you what I have been hearing a lot lately in my practice. Variations of this: "I do not know why I feel so heavy right now. I know nothing is actually wrong in my life. I know I should not feel this anxious or this sad. But here I am."
If that sounds familiar, let's talk about what might actually be going on.
What retrograde season actually does to a sensitive nervous system
First, a quick middle-ground explanation for those of you who are somewhat familiar with astrology but do not consider yourselves experts. A planet in retrograde is not actually moving backward. It is an optical illusion based on the relative movement of Earth and that planet in their orbits. But what astrology teaches, and what many of my clients experience viscerally, is that retrograde periods tend to bring a slowing down, an inward pull, and a stirring up of energy that was already present beneath the surface.