Chronic Illness Moms | Feel Better, Stress Relief, Fatigue, Inflammation, Brain Fog, Healthy Habits, Neurodivergent

221. 3 Things to Stop Doing Tonight for Less Stress and Better Sleep

Hey friend, 
Do you lie in bed replaying today’s hard moments?
Does your brain start running tomorrow the second your body lies down?
Do you fall asleep cataloging the ways you weren’t enough as a mom?
I’m Ashley — a mom living with chronic illness, raising neurodivergent kids. Chronic Illness Moms is a podcast for moms with chronic illness or chronic symptoms who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits that actually work inside a full, demanding life.
This is the series finale, and it’s a different kind of episode. Instead of adding another practice to your night, we’re naming three quiet patterns that are stacking your fatigue: the Replay, the Rehearsal, and the Review. I walk you through what each one is, why the Review is the most expensive of the three (especially for moms of faith), and how to choose one to drop tonight.
Links mentioned:
Coaching → https://ashleybraden.com/coaching
Facebook Community → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms
Related Episodes:
218. Tired When You Didn't Do Much? How Emotional Stress Drains You
214. Why You’re Sleeping But Still Exhausted
Connect:
Email → hello@ashleybraden.com
YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube
Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms
Next steps:
1. Join the Facebook group to connect with other moms
2. Follow the podcast so you don't miss the rest of this series
3. Learn more about coaching if you want deeper support

220. Frustrated With Mom Burnout? Try This Nervous System Reset So You Can Finally Feel Better

Hey friend, 
Do you go straight from one hard moment into the next without ever catching up?
Do you feel like you're always one step behind your own day?
Have you wondered why “self-care” never sticks in a life this full?
I'm Ashley — a mom living with chronic illness in a neurodivergent family. If you're dealing with constant fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and broken sleep while trying to keep up with your kids, you're not alone. Chronic Illness Moms is a podcast for moms with chronic illness or chronic symptoms who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits that actually work inside a full, demanding life.
You don't need to find time for self-care. You need to stop giving away the time you already have. In this episode I unpack why your nervous system needs a bridge between moments, why most moms collapse those bridges by scrolling or pre-stressing the next thing, and a 90-second practice you can drop into a doorway you already walk through every day.
Links mentioned:
Coaching → https://ashleybraden.com/coaching
Facebook Community → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms
Podcast → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessmoms
Related Episodes:
210. Simple Ways to Create Emotional Safety at Home for Your Neurodivergent Child
207. Processing Grief, Stress, and Emotional Burnout as a Mom with Neurodivergent Kids
Connect:
Email → hello@ashleybraden.com
YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube
Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms
Next steps:
1. Join the Facebook group to connect with other moms
2. Follow the podcast so you don't miss the rest of this series
3. Learn more about coaching if you want deeper support

219. Feeling Overwhelmed by Your Child's Emotions? This is Why

Hey friend, 
Do your child's big emotions show up in your body before you even speak?
Do you feel tense, racing, or drained after a meltdown?
Have you wondered why co-regulation is so exhausting?
I'm Ashley — a mom living with chronic illness, raising neurodivergent kids. Chronic Illness Moms is a podcast for moms with chronic illness or chronic symptoms who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits that actually work inside a full, demanding life.
Your nervous system is wired to mirror the emotions around it — which means your child's stress often lands in your body before it lands in your thoughts. In this episode I explain what co-regulation actually is from the inside, why it costs more for chronic illness moms, and a 30-second move to use the next time big feelings land in your chest.
Links mentioned:
Coaching → https://ashleybraden.com/coaching
Facebook Community → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms
Podcast → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessmoms
Related Episodes:
210. Simple Ways to Create Emotional Safety at Home for Your Neurodivergent Child
207. Processing Grief, Stress, and Emotional Burnout as a Mom with Neurodivergent Kids
Connect:
Email → hello@ashleybraden.com
YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube
Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms
Next steps:
1. Join the Facebook group to connect with other moms
2. Follow the podcast so you don't miss the rest of this series
3. Learn more about coaching if you want deeper support

218. Tired When You Didn't Do Much? How Emotional Stress Drains You

Hey friend, 
Have you ever ended the day wrecked, even though you didn't do much physically?
Do emotionally intense moments with your kids leave you foggy and drained?
Have you wondered why helping your kids through big feelings takes so much out of you?
I'm Ashley — a mom living with chronic illness, raising neurodivergent kids. If you're a mom dealing with constant fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and broken sleep while trying to keep up with a family full of big feelings and big needs, you're not alone. Chronic Illness Moms is a podcast for moms with chronic illness or chronic symptoms who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits that actually work inside a full, demanding life.
Some of the most draining days aren't physically busy — they're emotionally intense. In this episode I unpack why emotional caregiving is real work for your brain, why chronic illness moms feel it the hardest, and one specific thing you can do tonight to stop the guilt spiral and give your body permission to rest.
Links mentioned:
Coaching → https://ashleybraden.com/coaching
Facebook Community → https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms
Podcast → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessmoms
Related Episodes:
208. Chronic Stress at Home? 4 Small Shifts That Calm Your Nervous System
205. Stuck in Chronic Stress? The Hidden Pattern Keeping Your Nervous System on EdgeConnect:
Email → hello@ashleybraden.com
YouTube → https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube
Facebook Page → https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms
Next steps:
1. Join the Facebook group to connect with other moms
2. Follow the podcast so you don't miss the rest of this series
3. Learn more about coaching if you want deeper support

217. Brain Fog and Decision Fatigue: Why Neurodivergent Moms Feel Mentally Drained

Hey friend, 
Do you ever feel like your brain just stops working halfway through the day?
Are you walking into rooms and forgetting why you went there?
Could mental exhaustion and decision fatigue be contributing to your brain fog?
I’m Ashley — a mom living with chronic illness in a neurodivergent family.
If you’re dealing with constant fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and broken sleep while trying to keep up with your kids, you’re not alone.
This podcast is for chronic illness moms raising neurodivergent kids who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits to finally feel better in their bodies. Each episode shares nervous-system-friendly support to help you calm overwhelm, boost energy, and practice healthy habits that improve your symptoms — even in the middle of a full, demanding life.
Some days your body isn’t necessarily exhausted… but your brain just feels done.
You forget what you walked into the room for.
Simple questions feel harder to answer.
Even small decisions feel overwhelming.
This kind of fatigue is often mental exhaustion, and many moms experience it because of the constant decision-making and mental load they carry throughout the day.
In this episode I talk about:
Why mental exhaustion happens
How decision fatigue contributes to brain fog
Why moms carry such a heavy mental load
Simple ways to reduce daily decisions
Practical strategies that protect your mental energy
I also share simple systems that help reduce decision fatigue, including pre-decided outfits, default meals, and landing zones for everyday items.
If your brain has been feeling foggy or overwhelmed lately, this episode will help you understand why — and what you can start changing.
Resources and Links Mentioned
Chronic Health Coachinghttps://ashleybraden.com/coaching
Magnesium Cream HERE
Lymphatic Cream HERE
Natural Product store: https://payhip.com/hearthwellnaturals
200. Why Meal Plans Fail With Chronic Fatigue — and What Makes Creating Healthy Meals Easier
198.Why Healthy Eating Breaks Down at Dinner When Fatigue Hits (and What to Do Instead)
Connect With Me
Contact: hello@ashleybraden.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms
YouTube: https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube
Next Steps
Join the Facebook group for support from other chronic illness moms
Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes
Book a coaching session if you want help improving sleep, stress, and energy
 

216. Always Tired and Anxious? Magnesium Might Be the Missing Piece

Hey friend, 
Do you feel exhausted but still wired at night?
Are tight muscles, headaches, or sugar cravings showing up more often lately?
Could magnesium depletion from chronic stress be affecting your sleep and energy?
I’m Ashley — a mom living with chronic illness in a neurodivergent family.
If you’re dealing with constant fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and broken sleep while trying to keep up with your kids, you’re not alone.
This podcast is for chronic illness moms raising neurodivergent kids who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits to finally feel better in their bodies. Each episode shares nervous-system-friendly support to help you calm overwhelm, boost energy, and practice healthy habits that improve your symptoms — even in the middle of a full, demanding life.
Many exhausted moms feel tired all day but still struggle to fully relax at night.
If you’ve been feeling wired but tired, dealing with tight muscles, headaches, or poor sleep quality, magnesium may be one piece of the puzzle.
Magnesium plays an important role in calming the nervous system, relaxing muscles, supporting sleep, and helping regulate blood sugar. But chronic stress can gradually deplete magnesium stores, making it harder for the body to fully relax and recover.
In this episode I talk about:
Why magnesium matters for stress and sleep
Signs your body might be low in magnesium
How chronic stress can deplete magnesium
Simple ways to support magnesium levels through food, supplements, and topical magnesium
How magnesium fits into a bigger nervous-system-support routine
If you’ve been feeling tense, exhausted, or stuck in stress mode, this episode will help you understand why — and what small steps might help your body recover.
Resources and Links Mentioned
Chronic Health Coachinghttps://ashleybraden.com/coaching
Magnesium Cream HERE
Lymphatic Cream HERE
Natural Product store: https://payhip.com/hearthwellnaturals
205. Stuck in Chronic Stress? The Hidden Pattern Keeping Your Nervous System on Edge
211. 6 Simple Lymphatic Support Tips for Brain Fog, Fatigue, and Inflammation
Connect With Me
Contact: hello@ashleybraden.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms
YouTube: https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube
Next Steps
Join the Facebook group for support from other chronic illness moms
Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes
Book a coaching session if you want help improving sleep, stress, and energy
 

215. Why Your Energy Swings Cause Fatigue and Brain Fog

Hey friend, 
Do you feel like your energy crashes in the afternoon?
Are you hungry again shortly after eating?
Could unstable blood sugar be contributing to your fatigue and brain fog?
I’m Ashley — a mom living with chronic illness in a neurodivergent family.
If you’re dealing with constant fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and broken sleep while trying to keep up with your kids, you’re not alone.
This podcast is for chronic illness moms raising neurodivergent kids who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits to finally feel better in their bodies. Each episode shares nervous-system-friendly support to help you calm overwhelm, boost energy, and practice healthy habits that improve your symptoms — even in the middle of a full, demanding life.
Have you ever felt like your energy is on a roller coaster throughout the day?
Maybe you start the morning okay… but by mid-morning you’re already hungry again. Then the afternoon hits and suddenly you crash, your brain feels foggy, and sugar or caffeine starts sounding really appealing.
In this episode I talk about how blood sugar swings can affect fatigue, brain fog, stress levels, and even sleep quality.
If your energy has been feeling unpredictable lately, this episode will help you understand why — and what you can start doing about it.
Resources and Links Mentioned
Chronic Health Coachinghttps://ashleybraden.com/coaching
Magnesium Cream HERE
Lymphatic Cream HERE
Natural Product store: https://payhip.com/hearthwellnaturals
214. Why You’re Sleeping But Still Exhausted
211. 6 Simple Lymphatic Support Tips for Brain Fog, Fatigue, and Inflammation
Connect With Me
Contact: hello@ashleybraden.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms
YouTube: https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube
Next Steps
Join the Facebook group for support from other chronic illness moms
Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes
Book a coaching session if you want help improving sleep, stress, and energy

214. Why You’re Sleeping But Still Exhausted

Hey friend, 
Are you sleeping through the night but still waking up exhausted?
Could poor sleep quality be contributing to your brain fog and fatigue?
What if improving deep sleep could help your body finally recover?
I’m Ashley — a mom living with chronic illness in a neurodivergent family.
If you’re dealing with constant fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and broken sleep while trying to keep up with your kids, you’re not alone.
This podcast is for chronic illness moms raising neurodivergent kids who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits to finally feel better in their bodies. Each episode shares nervous-system-friendly support to help you calm overwhelm, boost energy, and practice healthy habits that improve your symptoms — even in the middle of a full, demanding life.
If you’re sleeping eight hours but still waking up exhausted, the problem might not be how long you’re sleeping — it could be sleep quality.
In this episode, I talk about deep sleep, the stage of sleep where your body does its most important healing work.
Deep sleep helps repair tissues, regulate stress hormones, stabilize blood sugar, and clear waste from the brain. Without enough of it, you may experience fatigue, brain fog, irritability, and sugar cravings even after a full night of sleep.
In this episode I explain:
What deep sleep actually is
Why many exhausted moms struggle to get enough restorative sleep
How stress and blood sugar affect sleep quality
Simple ways to support deeper, more restorative sleep
How magnesium can help calm the nervous system and support sleep
If you’ve been feeling like you’re sleeping but never truly resting, this episode will help you understand what might be happening — and what you can do about it.
Resources and Links Mentioned
Chronic Health Coachinghttps://ashleybraden.com/coaching
Magnesium Cream HERE
Lymphatic Cream HERE
Natural Product store: https://payhip.com/hearthwellnaturals
205. Stuck in Chronic Stress? The Hidden Pattern Keeping Your Nervous System on Edge
203. Is Your House Too Chaotic to Be Productive? Try THIS Nervous System-Friendly Approach to Get Things Done
Connect With Me
Contact: hello@ashleybraden.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms
YouTube: https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube
Next Steps
Join the Facebook group for support from other chronic illness moms
Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes
Book a coaching session if you want help improving sleep, stress, and energy

213. 4 Mindset Shifts to Break the Push-Crash Cycle with Chronic Illness

Hey friend, 
Do you ever push yourself to get everything done, only to crash afterward?
Have you noticed that trying to “catch up” on a good day sometimes leaves you exhausted for days?
What if shifting the way you think about caring for your body could help you break the push-crash cycle?
I’m Ashley — a mom living with chronic illness in a neurodivergent family. If you’re dealing with constant fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and broken sleep while trying to keep up with your kids, you’re not alone.
This podcast is for chronic illness moms raising neurodivergent kids who want stress relief, better sleep, and simple, realistic habits to finally feel better in their bodies. Each episode shares nervous-system-friendly support to help you calm overwhelm, boost energy, and practice healthy habits that improve your symptoms — even in the middle of a full, demanding life.
Many moms living with chronic illness get stuck in the push-crash cycle.
On the days you feel a little better, you push yourself to catch up on everything. But the next day your body crashes — leaving you more exhausted than before.
In this episode, I talk about why this pattern happens and how a few simple mindset shifts can help you move from constantly pushing your body to nurturing your body at a sustainable pace.
We’ll walk through four mindset shifts that can help protect your energy, support your nervous system, and break the cycle of overdoing it and paying for it later.
This conversation connects with several of the Power 9 habits, including Rest, Stress, Emotions, and Spiritual health.
Resources and Links Mentioned
Chronic Health Coachinghttps://ashleybraden.com/coaching
Magnesium Cream HERE
Lymphatic Cream HERE
Natural Product store: https://payhip.com/hearthwellnaturals
196. Why Emotional Stress Turns Into Pain and Inflammation and How to Feel Better
192. 3 Fast Stress Relief Tips to Support Your Nervous System When Parenting a Neurodivergent Child
Connect With Me
Contact: hello@ashleybraden.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms
YouTube: https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube
Next Steps:
Join the Facebook group for support and community
Book a 1:1 Chronic Health Coaching session

212. Why Venting Feels Good But Trains Your Brain for More Stress

Hey friend, 
Have you ever noticed that venting about stress sometimes leaves you feeling more exhausted instead of better?
Could your brain be getting stuck in a stress loop that’s making fatigue and brain fog worse?
What if one small mindset shift could help your nervous system move out of survival mode and toward calm?
In this episode, I’m talking about something many of us do without even realizing it—complaining.
When life feels overwhelming and our bodies already feel exhausted, venting can seem like a natural release. But the truth is, the more our brain rehearses frustration, the better it gets at spotting problems.
That pattern can quietly keep our nervous system stuck in stress mode.
In this episode, I explain the simple brain science behind why this happens and how small shifts in attention can help your brain move toward calm instead of staying stuck in overwhelm.
If you’ve been dealing with fatigue, brain fog, emotional overwhelm, or feeling constantly on edge, this episode will help you understand what your brain is doing and how to gently retrain it.
We also talk about how practicing gratitude supports several of the Power 9 habits, including Stress, Emotions, and Spiritual health.
Sometimes healing doesn’t start with something big.
Sometimes it starts with a small shift in what your brain learns to notice.
Resources and Links Mentioned
Chronic Health Coachinghttps://ashleybraden.com/coaching
Magnesium Cream HERE
Lymphatic Cream HERE
Natural Product store: https://payhip.com/hearthwellnaturals
203. Is Your House Too Chaotic to Be Productive? Try THIS Nervous System-Friendly Approach to Get Things Done
195. Brain Fog and Fatigue? How Simplifying Decisions Helps Boost Energy
Connect With Me
Contact: hello@ashleybraden.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnessmoms
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chronichealthmoms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessmoms
YouTube: https://bit.ly/chronicillnessyoutube
Next Steps:
Join the Facebook group for support and community
Book a 1:1 Chronic Health Coaching session