Real Parenting For Sensitive Moms

Have you ever found yourself snapping at your kids and then feeling awful about it afterward? You’re not alone.

In this episode of Real Parenting for the Sensitive Mom, we talk with perinatal mental health therapist and researcher Nicole McNellis about mom rage — what it is, why it happens, and why it doesn’t mean you’re a bad mom.

We explore how overwhelm, resentment, unrealistic expectations, and nervous system overload can build up and spill over, especially for sensitive, deeply caring moms. You’ll also learn simple ways to understand what your anger is trying to tell you and how to respond with more compassion for yourself.

We unpack:

• The build-up → explosion → guilt cycle so many moms experience
• How resentment, overload, and unrealistic expectations fuel rage
• Why highly sensitive, perfectionistic, and people-pleasing moms are especially vulnerable
• The difference between outward explosions and internalized rage
• And what your anger is trying to tell you about your needs, boundaries, and support
• what coping skills work to help you feel better

Contact Nicole McNelis: nicolemacnellis.com and on Instagram @therapistmomcollective

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

What if the overwhelm you’ve always blamed on anxiety or “being too sensitive” is actually ADHD… or both?

In this episode of Real Parenting for the Sensitive Mom, Adrienne Bishop and Leah Andeoni sit down with licensed, trauma-informed therapist Avery Wasmanski to unpack the complex and often confusing overlap between high sensitivity, ADHD, anxiety, and trauma in motherhood.  

With both professional expertise and lived experience as a mom with ADHD, Avery helps us explore why so many women are diagnosed late (or not at all), how ADHD shows up differently in moms, and why executive functioning, emotional regulation, and rejection-sensitive dysphoria can make parenting feel impossibly hard.

Together, we talk about:

• The key differences and overlaps between high sensitivity and ADHD
• Why anxiety and burnout are so common in undiagnosed moms
• Executive functioning struggles vs. sensory overwhelm
• Emotional reactivity, impulse control, and parenting under stress
• Rejection-sensitive dysphoria and how it impacts moms and kids
• The role of trauma in amplifying ADHD symptoms
• Why self-compassion and understanding your brain are essential (not optional)
• Small, realistic steps to feel more empowered and less overwhelmed

If you’re a mom who feels like your brain never shuts off, you’re exhausted from masking, or you’re wondering whether ADHD might be part of your story, this conversation will help you feel seen, validated, and less alone.

Avery's contact information: https://averywasmanskilpctherapy.com/

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

Connection Before Correction - GET YOUR FREE POSITIVE DISCIPLINE CHEAT SHEET HERE!

Parenting a highly sensitive child while being a sensitive parent yourself? We see you. In this episode, Leah and Adrienne dive deep into how Positive Discipline can transform your parenting journey — especially when traditional methods just don’t work.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why sticker charts, timeouts, and yelling backfire with sensitive kids
• What makes highly sensitive kids tick (hint: their nervous systems are wired for depth)
• Real-life examples of how connection calms the chaos
• Tools you can use TODAY to build cooperation without shame

Why Traditional Discipline Fails

• Sensitive kids experience correction as threat
• Their brains flip into fight/flight/freeze — no learning happens
• Punishment = shutdown. Safety = growth.

What Positive Discipline Offers Instead

• Connection before correction
• Teaching through empathy, not control
• Emotional safety that leads to real cooperation

Tools We Talk About:

• Connection First: “You’re upset the tower broke. You were so upset that happened. What can you do to make things better?"
• Curiosity Questions: “What’s your plan for finishing homework?”
• Choices Within Limits: “Do you want to brush your teeth before or after pajamas?”
• Natural & Logical Consequences: “You spilled juice — let’s clean it up together.”
• Encouragement Over Praise: “You must feel proud of how hard you worked.”
• Modeling Repair: “I yelled earlier. I’m sorry. I was overwhelmed.”

“When you choose curiosity over control, you teach connection over fear.”

FREE CHEAT SHEET! GET YOUR FREE POSITIVE DISCIPLINE CHEAT SHEET HERE!

🎧 Listen now and ask yourself: 👉 Which tool do I want to try this week?

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

Leah and I are back this week for podcast. We’re diving into something most people have never heard of: the 8 sensory systems that shape how highly sensitive kids (and their moms!) experience the world (and cause meltdowns). 

If you’re parenting a highly sensitive child while being sensitive yourself, you know how overwhelming life can feel.

This episode is your roadmap to understanding physical sensitivity and how it influences behavior, emotions, and even meltdowns.

When I found out that there were 8 senses, not just the basic five, I finally understood why I am the way I am. It was incredibly freeing. 

So today, we’re breaking down all eight sensory systems that impact sensitivity:

1. Tactile (Touch)
2. Auditory (Sound)
3. Visual (Sight)
4. Olfactory (Smell)
5. Gustatory (Taste)
6. Vestibular (Balance & Movement)
7. Proprioception (Body Awareness)
8. Interoception (Internal Signals)

What Actually Helps - Sense by Sense

General Principle:

• Accommodate when you can, build tolerance gradually when needed
• Use calming sensory input (especially proprioceptive) to regulate
• Prevent overload rather than manage meltdowns

Tactile Solutions:

• Sensory-friendly clothing
• Let kids cut tags out themselves

Sensory-Friendly Clothing Brands

• Smartknit Kids - seamless socks specifically designed for sensitive kids
• Primary - tagless, soft basics with flat seams
• Target's Cat & Jack line - affordable tagless options with sensory considerations

Noise Management:

• Loop earplugs - discreet noise reduction for kids and adults
• Calmer earbuds by Flare Audio - reduce overwhelming frequencies
• Noise-canceling headphones - Puro Sound or Muted brands for kid

Visual Solutions:

• Dimmer switches
• Sunglasses indoors if needed

Olfactory Solutions:

• Unscented products
• Kitchen exhaust fans

Gustatory Solutions:

• No pressure eating
• Gradual exposure through food chaining

Vestibular Solutions:

• Don't force playground equipment
• Car sickness accommodation

Proprioceptive Input

• Heavy work activities (pushing, carrying, climbing)
• Weighted blankets (brands like Gravity, YnM, SensaCalm)
• Tight hugs (if welcome)
• Chewing gum or crunchy

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

The postpartum period is one of the most transformational times in a woman’s life. She is changing from the inside out - from brain changes to cellular changes and it can be very overwhelming for the sensitive mom.   

During pregnancy and after giving birth, drastic hormonal shifts occur and you are expected to manage all of this with elegance, grace, looking good and enjoying every moment.  That is not the reality for most moms, and these expectations can cause a host of problems during motherhood, including postpartum disorders.

In this episode, we explore how highly sensitive moms uniquely experience the postpartum period. We discuss what the symptoms of postpartum anxiety, depression, and postpartum OCD look like and how to take care of yourself during this tumultuous and beautiful time.   

Recognizing symptoms of a postpartum disorder early is key, and in this episode we talk about how to know what those symptoms are and when to seek professional help. Management of these symptoms, whether on the normal spectrum or a disorder may include therapy—especially cognitive behavioral therapy—medication like SSRIs, and strong support systems. 

We also talk about how lifestyle changes such as better sleep, nutrition, and mindfulness help immensely to keep you emotionally healthy.

We’ll talk about:

• Why sensitivity amplifies emotional and physical challenges
• What to do when symptoms become overwhelming
• How to create a smoother, more supportive postpartum experience

Even if you're past this phase of motherhood, this podcast will be so healing for you as a senstiive mom, because, let's be honest, you never stop being "postpartum" and it may even help you feel like you weren't crazy for feeling the way you felt or having the struggles you had.

What Helps Highly Sensitive Moms Thrive during postpartum and how can you prepare?

• Gentle support systems: Empathetic friends, family, or therapists who validate and listen
• Quiet time and boundaries: Guilt-free space to recharge and protect emotional energy
• Mindfulness and grounding: Practices that soothe the nervous system and reduce overstimulation
• Professional help: Therapy, medication, or support groups tailored to postpartum mental health

If you or a highly sensitive mom you know is pregnant, or you are in your 4th trimester, this episode is for you!

Professional Resources:

Postpartum Support International: postpartum.net

Perinatal Partners Network: perinatalpartnersnetwork.com

Postpartum Stress Center: postpartumstress.com

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

How many of us have struggled to motivate our kids to cooperate? Or just get stuff done?

In this episode of Real Parenting for the Sensitive Mom, Leah and Adrienne explore how understanding your child’s temperament can transform the way you motivate them. Drawing from Kathleen Edelman’s book A Grown-Up’s Guide to Your Kids’ Wiring, they break down the four temperaments—Sanguine, Choleric, Phlegmatic, and Melancholic—and how each one responds to different types of encouragement, expectations, and communication.

Parenting is 80% trying to get your kids to do things—and it’s hard. But when you understand how your child is wired, everything changes. Leah and Adrienne share personal stories, practical tips, and mindset shifts that help you stop pushing your wiring onto your kids and start parenting the child you actually have.

Key Takeaways

• Motivation becomes easier when you stop expecting your child to act like you.
• Each temperament thrives under different conditions—fun, control, connection, or clarity.
• Adjusting your language and expectations can unlock cooperation and confidence.
• Understanding your own temperament helps you navigate parent-child dynamics more gracefully.
• The best parenting happens when we honor who our kids truly are—not who we wish they were.

Resources Mentioned

• A Grown-Up’s Guide to Your Kids’ Wiring by Kathleen Edelman
• Temperament quiz for kids (available in the book)

Don’t forget to rate and review Real Parenting!

🌐 Connect With Us ⁠@adriennebishopcoaching | ⁠@leahandreoni

✨ Get's Adrienne's FREE guide - 5 Ways to Stay Calm When Your Kids are Driving you Crazy! - https://www.adriennebishopcoaching.com/5-ways-to-stay-calm/

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice. 

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

Are you struggling to find time for self care? Does it feel like just one more thing on your to-do list that you're failing at?

In this episode, Adrienne and Leah explore what self-care really looks like for highly sensitive moms. From sensory-friendly environments to emotional wellness and creative outlets, they offer practical, bite-sized strategies to help you feel more grounded, supported, and seen. This isn’t about adding more to your plate—it’s about shifting how you care for yourself in a way that honors your sensitivity.

Key Takeaways

• Self-care is a lifestyle, not a checklist
• Small changes can have a big impact on your nervous system
• Connection and solitude are equally important
• Creativity and movement help release emotional tension
• Sleep hygiene and nourishment are foundational to resilience

🌐 Connect With Us ⁠@adriennebishopcoaching | ⁠@leahandreoni

✨ Get's Adrienne's FREE guide - 5 Ways to Stay Calm When Your Kids are Driving you Crazy! - https://www.adriennebishopcoaching.com/5-ways-to-stay-calm/

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice. 

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.

Do you feel overwhelmed as a mom more than others? Are you anxious about your parenting? Do you feel your kids feelings and want to fix them to feel better? You may be highly sensitive. 

In this episode, Adrienne Bishop and Leah Andreoni explore what it means to be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and why understanding this trait is crucial for moms and their children. Adrienne, a parenting coach and integrative hypnotist, shares her personal journey as a sensitive mom raising three sensitive kids. Leah, a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Therapist and Family Therapist, brings her clinical expertise in supporting sensitive women across the motherhood spectrum. Together, they unpack the D.O.E.S. framework—Deep processing, Overstimulation, Emotional reactivity, and Sensory sensitivity—and how these traits show up in everyday life, from strong reactions to noise and touch to emotional exhaustion and empathy overload.

Key Takeaways:

• HSPs make up 15–20% of the population; it’s a temperament, not a disorder.
• Sensitivity in moms can lead to overstimulation, emotional intensity, and heightened reactions to sleep deprivation, clutter, and social pressure.
• Sensitive kids may show signs like separation anxiety, perfectionism, sensory aversions, and emotional shutdowns that are often misunderstood.
• Recognizing sensitivity helps reduce shame, improves emotional health, and allows parents to respond to root causes rather than just behaviors.
• This podcast offers validation, practical tools, and community for sensitive families navigating parenting with empathy and intention.

Don’t forget to rate and review Real Parenting!

🌐 Connect With Us ⁠@adriennebishopcoaching | ⁠@leahandreoni

✨ Get's Adrienne's FREE guide - 5 Ways to Stay Calm When Your Kids are Driving you Crazy! - https://www.adriennebishopcoaching.com/5-ways-to-stay-calm/

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice. 

We love to hear feedback about the show! Send us a text!

📲 Share this episode with another sensitive parent 🌐 Visit www.adriennebishopcoaching.com or risingsuntherapy.com for more support.

*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not to be used for therapeutic or medical advice.