You know that moment when something finally shifts and you start to feel... okay again? In this episode of Spicy Brain, Michelle and Megan explore what it's like to come back online after an emotional shutdown. Whether you call it regulation, recovery, or just getting your sparkle back, this episode is about those little signs that you're re-emerging from burnout.

They talk about the ADHD emotional health ladder and how hard it can be to climb out of survival mode when everything feels heavy. Megan shares how a tiny prompt from her AI assistant snapped her out of a funk, reminding her that regulation doesn’t always start with a big gesture. It starts with noticing. If you’ve ever felt like your brain ghosted you and you’re just waiting for it to return, this episode might be exactly what you need.
Our favorite line from the episode is: The Queen Has Arisen!

00:00 – The ADHD emotional maze
03:00 – What burnout feels like from the inside
06:30 – The “funk ladder” and how we name our emotional state
10:00 – Keila the AI assistant says: “Wiggle your toes”
13:45 – How ADHD brains get stuck in low-power mode
17:20 – Shifting from survival to presence
22:00 – What helps when you feel unmotivated or blank

In a funk? Wiggle your toes and hit play. Then tap follow, share with your fellow spicy brain crew, and leave a review to help others find the show.

ADHD emotions, ADHD burnout, ADHD funk, emotional dysregulation, ADHD emotional regulation, ADHD low motivation, ADHD survival mode