Understanding Limbic Utterances: When Your Child Says Hurtful Things in Meltdowns
In this episode of From Burnout to Balance, family coach Tanya Valentin dives deep into one of the most distressing experiences parents of neurodivergent children face: hearing their child say things like “I hate you,” “I hate myself,” or “I want to die” during meltdowns.These moments can feel shocking, hurtful, or even terrifying. But they’re not personal attacks—they're distress signals from an overwhelmed nervous system.Tanya explains what limbic utterances are, why they happen, and how parents can respond with empathy, understanding, and practical strategies to help their children (and themselves) feel safe.What are limbic utterances?Why kids say shocking, hurtful, or “rude” things in meltdown momentsThe role of the nervous system and Polyvagal TheoryThe limbic system: emotional brain basics The neurodivergent lens: why these responses can be more intenseInsights from Tanya’s work with families in burnout recoveryLaura Hellfeld’s insights on self-care demands and limbic utterancesPractical, compassionate strategies to support your childHow parents can care for their own nervous systemsIf you'd like more resources and support on parenting with a low-demand approach, understanding your child’s nervous system, and creating a compassionate home environment, check out Tanya’s parent membership From Burnout to Balance.✨ Membership LinkLaura Hellfeld – Neurodivergent Nurse & ConsultantLaura’s Substack
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What Actually Helps: 8 Protective Factors for Parents Navigating Burnout
In this tender and validating episode of From Burnout to Balance, host Tanya Valentin shares eight powerful, research-backed protective factors that support parent mental health, especially for those parenting neurodivergent children and teens in burnout.Drawing from lived experience and a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed lens, Tanya explores what helps and why these supports can feel complicated, inaccessible, or even unsafe, particularly for neurodivergent parents who’ve been dismissed, judged, or burned by support systems in the past.Inside this episode, you’ll hear about:Why self-compassion is a radical (and often difficult) practiceHow nervous system regulation starts with noticing, not perfectionThe grief of the community that never came, and the hope of finding a new kindThe healing power of meaning-making, validation, and reparentingWhy we need low-demand parenting for parents, tooThis episode is a soft place to land.A reminder that you're not alone — and you never were.✨ Learn more about Tanya's membership and parent community: From Burnout to Balance
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Creating Safe Spaces For Neurodivergent Lived Experience With Teo Byrne From SENDwise Hub
In this episode, Tanya chats with Teo Byrne from SENDwise Hub. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of navigating neurodiversity as parents. Teo shares her personal journey as a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD parent, emphasising the importance of creating safe spaces for neurodivergent individuals. They explore the significance of self-care for parents, the need for community support, and the delicate balance between providing support and allowing autonomy for children. The discussion highlights the importance of listening to children, understanding their unique experiences, and fostering a sense of belonging within the neurodivergent community.Connect with Teo:SubstackFacebookInstagramJoin the From Burnout to Balance Community
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The Cost of “Just Be Happy”: How the Nervous System Holds Grief, Shame & Connection
What if the well-meaning wish, “I just want my child to be happy”, is quietly fuelling shame, disconnection, and burnout?In this heartfelt episode of From Burnout to Balance, Tanya unpacks how emotional suppression, rooted in generational trauma and cultural expectations, gets stored in the body, passed through parenting, and misunderstood as failure.You’ll explore:Why the nervous system reacts so strongly to your child’s big emotionsHow grief becomes shame, for both parent and childWhat nervous system safety really means (it’s not being calm all the time)Why reparenting yourself is the key to supporting your child’s emotional worldWhat it sounds like to co-regulate instead of controlHow grief, when welcomed, becomes the gateway to deeper trust and connectionThis is not easy work, but it’s sacred work. And you don’t have to do it alone.💞 Learn more about the From Burnout to Balance membership and join the community:Download your FREE Guide to navigating grief
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The 7 Pillars of Parenting Through Autistic Burnout: Lessons from Our Recovery Journey
In this episode, Tanya shares her journey of parenting through burnout, focusing on the challenges faced by neurodivergent children and the lessons learned along the way. She introduces the seven pillars that form the foundation of her work, emphasising the importance of nervous system safety, low-demand parenting, community support, reparenting, practical resources, repairing connections, and soul-level parenting. Tanya encourages parents to explore these pillars as a means of healing and support in their parenting journey.You can join our From Burnout to Balance Community HERE
About From Burnout to Balance - Helping Parents Find Balance on the Burnout Recovery Journey
Welcome to From Burnout to Balance, (previously Parenting Neurodivergent Kids Together) the podcast for parents of neurodivergent kids navigating burnout recovery.
Hosted by family coach Tanya Valentin, this compassionate space offers expert guidance, honest conversations, and practical tools to support both you and your child. Whether you're in the early stages or deep in recovery, you’re not alone. Tune in weekly for heartfelt stories, expert insights, and real-world strategies to move your family from burnout to balance.
Join our From Burnout to Balance Parent Community
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