Regulating Emotions Through The Polyvagal Approach: A Conversation With Autism Mom Coach Lisa Candera

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Bailey Proctor, an autism mom who has made it her mission to find joy in the parenting journey. Listen in as she shares her story of transitioning from darkness to finding joy by prioritizing her mental, emotional, and physical health. Bailey's advice for other autism caregivers and her insights on acceptance is just what you need to hear.

Don't miss our heartwarming and insightful exploration of how community and intuition can empower autism caregivers. Together, we'll discuss the importance of inclusion and self-compassion in the world and the power of self-belief and resilience when parenting a child with autism. Finally, we'll delve into the importance of prioritizing relationships, understanding the need for self-care, and the impact of spreading compassion to create a more inclusive and supportive world for those with special needs.

 Chapter Summaries;

(0:00:02) - Finding Joy as an Autism Caregiver

(0:08:22) - Prioritizing Self-Care as a Parent

(0:11:17) - Navigating Early Intervention and Community Support

(0:15:56) - Prioritizing Self-Care and Joy in Caregiving

(0:27:14) - Empowering Autism Caregivers Through Community Connection

(0:35:36) - Inclusion and Self-Compassion in the World

(0:42:36) - Prioritizing Partnership and Finding Community

(0:50:24) - Sprinkling Compassion Confetti

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Let’s Connect

Follow Bailey Proctor on;

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joy_seeker_with_purpose/

Follow us on;

• Website: https://www.compassionconfetti.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassionconfettipodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086080147270

Welcome to Compassion Confetti for Autism Moms, where we bring you an inspiring conversation with Jamie Lin Brown, an intentional autism mama dedicated to helping other caregivers. Jamie created the Intentional Autism Retreat, a supportive space for moms to take a break and receive the resources they need to care for themselves and their families. The fourth virtual retreat for autism caregivers is happening on April 28-30, featuring twelve speakers covering various topics related to autism motherhood.

In this episode, Jamie emphasizes the healing power of connection and community for autism caregivers and encourages everyone to seek out local autism chapters to connect with others. Join us for this uplifting conversation on the importance of self-care and community for autism caregivers, and mark your calendars for the upcoming Intentional Autism Retreat.

Chapter Summaries;

[0:00:51] Interview with Jamie Lin Brown: Living Intentionally as an Autism Caregiver

[0:02:50] Intentional Living and Supporting Autism Caregivers

[0:04:54] Building a Community of Support for Autism Caregivers

[0:13:42] "Intentional Autism Retreat: A Virtual Experience for Caregivers"

[0:17:31] A Sprinkle of Guest Speakers Who Will Attend the Retreat

[0:18:10] Caregiver Burnout, Meltdowns, Picky Eating, and Gestalt Language Processing

[0:22:39] Conversation on Creating a Safe and Comfortable Space for Autism Moms

[0:25:12] Conversation on Self-Care for Autism Moms

[0:26:51] Last Words: Why Community Building is Important to Jamie and the Retreat 

Let’s Connect

Follow Jamie Lin Brown on;

• Intentional Autism Mama Retreat Sign-Up: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6406a0d6a895b2c22ad1d750
• Virtual Retreat Scholarship: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/62234cdf29823f5cb6abd46c
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamielinbrown/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachjamielinbrown/
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jamielinbrown

Follow us on;

• Website: https://www.compassionconfetti.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassionconfetti/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086080147270

Join host Colette as she sits down with Marcia Burton, a Center for Mindful Self-Compassion trainer offering 8-week MSC classes since 2016. Marcia has an extensive background in meditation, mindfulness, and self-compassion while bringing a combination of gentleness, compassion, humor, and playfulness to her work.

Together, Colette and Marcia delve into the topic of self-compassion and how it can benefit us all, especially women who are often taught to prioritize taking care of others before themselves. They discuss Marcia's personal journey with self-compassion and share tips for cultivating it in our own lives.

If you've ever struggled with showing compassion to yourself, or are simply interested in learning more about the transformative power of self-compassion, then this episode is for you! So sit back, relax, and join us on this journey towards inner peace and balance with mindful self-compassion.

Chapter Summaries;

[0:00:50]: Welcome to Compassion Confetti for Autism Moms with Guest Marcia Burton

[0:02:45]: Exploring the Benefits of Self-Compassion

[0:04:51]: Conversation on Self Compassion: Exploring the Challenges of Offering Compassion to Oneself

[0:07:01]: Discussion on Self-Compassion and Caregiving

[0:10:59]: Self-Compassion Practice: Finding What Feels Natural and Staying There

[0:12:37]: Self-Compassion: A Tactile Approach to Finding Peace and Ease

[0:14:26]: Self-Compassion: Reflecting on the Greatest Lessons Learned

[0:16:31]: Exploring the Three Pillars of Mindfulness, Self-Kindness, and Common Humanity

[0:18:55]: Exploring Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: A Conversation on Acceptance and Kindness

[0:23:01]: Conversation on Mindful Self-Compassion for Autism Caregivers

[0:26:52]: Exploring Mindfulness to Manage Overwhelm and Isolation

[0:28:26]: Self-Compassion and Isolation for Autism Caregivers

[0:34:53]: The Benefits of Self-Compassion: Exploring the Power of Soothing Touch

[0:37:00]: Discussion on the Benefits of Self-Compassionate Touch for Autism Caregivers

[0:38:19]: Conversation on the Neuroscience of Self-Compassion and the Benefits of Soothing Touch

[0:43:34] Collaboration with Siri Chandler on 8-week Online Mindful Self-Compassion Training

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Connect with Marcia Burton;

• Marcia’s Website: https://mindfulselfdiscovery.com/
• 8-week Online Mindful Self-Compassion Training: https://mindfulselfdiscovery.com/8-week-online-mindful-self-compassion-training

Follow us on;

• Website: https://www.compassionconfetti.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassionconfetti/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086080147270

Welcome to Compassion Confetti for Autism Moms, where we discuss autism caregiving challenges and offer strategies for balance and compassion. In this episode, host Colette addresses her absence from the show and shares her struggles with recording an episode about self-kindness. She emphasizes the importance of being truthful with ourselves and tending to our own needs before helping others. Colette assures listeners that she's back and committed to providing resources and tools for autism caregivers.

Join us for an insightful discussion on the importance of self-kindness in caregiving and how to care for yourself while supporting others. Tune in now to gain valuable insights and strategies for finding balance and compassion in your journey. Remember to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review if you find our content helpful.

Chapter Summaries;

[0:00:50] Introduction: Overcoming Procrastination and Self-Talk Challenges

[0:02:28] Share Personal Journey and Plans for Future Content

[0:04:06] Exploring Personal Growth and Overcoming Food Addiction: A Candid Conversation

[0:05:26] Discussion on Overcoming Eating Disorders and Practicing Self-Compassion

[0:08:49] Exploring Self-Compassion and Healing as a Caretaker: A Personal Reflection

[0:10:35] Personal Reflection and Self-Care Practice

[0:14:25] Love Letter: Colette's Self-Love and Gratitude Letter at Tiffany & Co.

[0:16:06] What the audience can look forward to next

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Follow us on;

• Website: https://www.compassionconfetti.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassionconfetti/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086080147270

In this podcast episode, Lisa, The Autism Mom Coach, joins Colette to discuss her framework for navigating meltdowns before, during, and after. She explains how her approach focuses on acceptance rather than resistance and shares specific strategies for each framework stage. 

Lisa emphasizes the importance of self-care for parents and caregivers and shares her advice for replenishing oneself. The episode also covers how listeners can access Lisa's program and consultation services.

Key takeaways:

• The importance of acceptance rather than resistance in navigating meltdowns
• The three steps of before, during, and after the framework
• The significance of reviewing what happened after a meltdown and countering the negativity bias
• The role of self-care in being a responsible and effective parent
• Access to Lisa's program and consultation services through her website and social media.

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Let'sLisa's Connect

Follow Lisa Candera on;

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theautismmomcoach/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theautismmomcoach/
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/LisaCandera

Follow us on;

• Website: https://www.compassionconfetti.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassionconfettipodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086080147270

Join Colette as she discusses the science and evolution behind self-kindness and how it can directly impact our hearts, mind, and body. Learn about the concept of fight or flight and the tend and befriend side of mammals, and how practicing self-compassion can stimulate the production of oxytocin, the feel-good hormone that increases feelings of trust, safety, and compassion. 

Discover how this practice can help those in the autism community who may have become lost in their outward focus, reset and nurture their ability to give and receive loving care. Tune in to explore the benefits of self-kindness and how it can improve our overall well-being.

Chapter Summaries;

• Compassion Confetti for Autism Moms: Reflections on a 50th Birthday Celebration
• Exploring Self-Kindness: A Conversation on Self-Compassion
• Exploring Self-Compassion: A Guide to Practicing Self-Kindness
• Exploring the Benefits of Self-Compassion and Self-Kindness
• Exploring the Benefits of Oxytocin: A Discussion on Self-Kindness and Compassion
• "The Benefits of Practicing Self-Hugging: A Guide to Releasing Oxytocin and Softening Suffering"
• Exploring the Benefits of Self-Kindness: A Discussion on the Power of Self-Compassion

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Let’s Connect

Follow us on;

• Website: https://www.compassionconfetti.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassionconfetti/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086080147270

Jamie Lin Brown is cultivating an autism community that INTENTIONALLY creates a space of a warm, supportive connection that honors who we are and where we are at. Jamie and I talk about how as an autism community, we may not agree on all things autism, but we all agree that our loved ones on the spectrum are our precious treasures. We are all on a similar playing field with the same heart-centered goal…love and honor ourselves while we love and care for others. Intention is the key word. How do we intend to expend our energy? How do we want to find our rest, joy, or growth? 

Jamie talks about how to shift overwhelm to joy and how comparison and jealousy can just be used as DATA to help you identify something you could begin to prioritize in your journey. Data!!!! Just info…not angst!

How cool is that!

Topics discussed;

[6:48] How to create an intentional space for your dreams separate from your role as caregiver.

[8:50] Co-creating a warm, inviting, and accepting community.

[9:32] We all need community and connection. We are a family on the same playing field.

[10:07] We are not always going to agree on the autism diagnosis, genesis, medication, nutrition, education, etc., but we all agree our children are important precious and worthy

[14:10] Falling into comparison and the shaming in motherhood.

[17:16] Intentionally tuning into triggers and fears to identify where you need support. Fear keeps you trapped, so looking opens space for joy and grace.

[20:19 ]The green-eyed monster can be viewed as data that gives us information about what is important to us. Then we can use this data to structure an intentional plan to create what we want or need.

[27:]18 Exercise on how to identify overwhelm and joy and use this information to flourish

[32:03] We all have dreams. These do not disappear when we become caregivers; how do we honor and nurture this part of ourselves that is separate from the label of caregiver and is the celebration of self?

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!
 

Let’s Connect

Follow Jamie Lin Brown on;

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamielinbrown/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachjamielinbrown/
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jamielinbrown

Follow us on;

• Website: https://www.compassionconfetti.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassionconfetti/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086080147270

Hello, my Lovies!

Happy Holidays!  Just a quick check-in to help you stay grounded as the holiday chaos circles around us.  Here are a few suggestions for seeing the joy and not getting overwhelmed.  And a sample of what 2023 has in store.

Love the show? Follow, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Let’s Connect

Follow us on;

● Website: https://www.compassionconfetti.com/

● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassionconfetti/

● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086080147270

In this episode, Anne Bragg of Autism Supermoms talks about expectations for autism parenting, stereotyping, how she creates moments of peace to maintain a personal emotional balance, etc. While I interviewed her, she was in her car sipping tea, enjoying an intentional moment of peace! Ann is a prolific creator of content for autism parents to use as a resource on her “digital magazine” Autism Supermoms” based predominately on Instagram (autismsupermoms). Her insights are so amazing. She leads with a true pure intention to love and support everyone within the autism community. At one point, she says, “We don’t have to do it all.” Did you hear that? Louder in the back!

As autism caregivers, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALL!!!! Phew. Now I CAN rest (as she lovingly suggests).

Make sure to follow Anne on the GRAM. The resources are diverse, relevant, and informative. With love and warmth, and humor thrown in.

2:00 Anne’s social media Autism Supermoms is a digital magazine that has content regarding educational resources, community support, autism news, etc

3:09 Feeling lonely and needing to connect to autism moms who were like me

4:21 Living on high alert-can’t relax and relate to other moms

7:06 Shifting into new territory of experience-mental illness and anxiety

7:51 To escape the environment of sitting in the car sipping tea for 15 minutes to recalibrate (creating space for self-care)

10:51 taking it one day at a time-do, one small act of self-care daily to maintain balance

11:34 Autism parenting never stops…never-ending responsibilities…never an empty nester

13:27 Grief is a direct reflection of love…

15:04 Challenge of invisible disabilities…not about changing your child with autism but giving them their best life

16:51 No “easy” autism

18:43 Rest and Respite- Don’t worry about fixing everything…find a balance

20:10 A bad day doesn’t mean a bad life

21:52 Do not take behaviors personally…having a hard time not giving you a hard time

23:05 After-school restraint collapse is a real thing!

25:10 Listening to and trusting your intuition as an autism parent

27:57 Pressure to know everything “autism.” Our kids are not sick

30:50 Autism stereotypes…are they changing?

36:39 Comparisons…truth and acceptance that we are all different and personal strengths and timelines should be respected

38:22 WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALL

41:50 Where to find Anne

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Let’s Connect

Follow Anne Braggs on;

● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autismsupermoms/?hl=en

● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autismsupermomsmagazine/

Follow us on;

● Website: https://www.compassionconfetti.com/

● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassionconfetti/

● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086080147270

In this episode, I talk all about my healing journey.  I discuss how I went from just surviving to learn how to thrive.  I discuss all of the strategies I practice that help me improve how I meet my own needs with gentle kindness and tender loving support.  Being an autism mom and caregiver involves big emotions and challenging situations.  I try to practice these with loving kindness, soothing tools like meditation and mindfulness, and remembering I have a wild, beautiful, chaotic pile of people out there who know my heart and life.  Autism life is a loud and colorful one!  And we can flourish and celebrate it.

Throw that Compassion Confetti everywhere, my LOVIES!!!!

Time tracks

1:30 The episode is about how you transition from hurting to healing as we learn to manage a life that has autism to color it.

4:34 The story we tell ourselves: What are you focusing on?  Is my story hurting me or helping?  Rescripting the story if needed

7:43 The grind and how it can negatively impact you.  You thrive; everyone thrives

8:09 Grace to not be perfect.  Going to bed with a sense of peace and ease, not anxiety and fear

8:38 Allowing others to help, surrender, and let go to get rest and respite

10:37 Acceptance of our story, child, and ourselves…what can I really give today?  

11:30 Looking for and focusing on the good in the chaos

13:58 Journey from diagnosis to balanced acceptance-pace yourself

15:24 What I wish I would have known to save so much sadness/worry/pain/anxiety  Have faith

18:40 Comparisons:  Focus on you and your child.  Come from a place of love and what works best for you

19:51 Holiday story: Adjust expectations for success and problem-solve to recalibrate and pivot

22:26 Partnerships: the challenges and my insight hindsight being 20/20

25:11 When you are doing it all on your own….supporting and caring and loving yourself

25:56 Understanding self-care:  where do you start when you are used to just caring for everyone else

27:01 Am I in Fight or Flight?  Responding in kind

29:49 How do you manage the big scary emotions and challenging experiences that autism caregivers and moms have

31:26 Catching your inner voice?  Is it loving or critical?  Practice it being more supportive

32:30 The tangible practices to develop self-love/care and support  Meditation/Mindfulness/Loving Kindness

33:05 Meditation/Mindfulness: A fluid practice to experiment with time and types

36:17  Alternative Emotional Healing: somatic healing-emotions trapped in your body- EFT tapping vagal exercises 

38:49 Self-Regulation:  big emotions and situations and how we stay balanced   It’s a practice 

42:09 Common Humanity: how connecting and recognizing people have the same experience makes it hurt less

44:13 REST  learn to REST  YES  I SAID REST  You CAN do it

48:17 Allow messiness and imperfection- 65% good enough parent

49:19 My current practices are for self-compassion and self-care/love/support 

Love the show? Subscribe, Rate, Review, Like, and Share!

Let’s Connect

Follow us on;

● Website: https://www.compassionconfetti.com/01:

● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassionconfetti/

● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086080147270