From Overwhelm to Calm: ADHD Anxiety and Overwhelm Firefighting and Effective Long Term Help with Naomi Pegden

Discover my website, Books, YouTube channel, and more: https://helpanxiety.org/podcast In this episode I'm joined by Naomi Pegden, a craniosacral therapist, clinical massage practitioner and silent counselling practitioner, to talk about anxiety, overwhelm and the nervous system for neurodiverse people. Naomi shares her own experience of a brain that goes blank under pressure, a mistake-filled week that sent her spiralling, and the simple things that help her and her clients come back to the present. We also try some of it out together. Naomi guides us through a breathing exercise with a longer out-breath and an eye exercise to stimulate the vagus nerve, so you can try them yourself wherever you're listening. If you feel like your brain has too many tabs open, or you're hard on yourself when things go wrong, this one is for you. EPISODE REVEALS When pressure hits, the brain can go blank and take a lot of coaxing to come back online. Our bodies stay in fight or flight because the tiger has been replaced by an email or a boss wanting a chat, and that never-ending stress feeds brain fog and memory problems. Evidence of a link between ADHD and hypermobility is emerging. Craniosacral therapy and silent counselling are very gentle ways to help the body let go of what it's holding on to, which helps lots of neurodiverse people. The five senses grounding exercise, box breathing and a longer out-breath all help to tell your brain that you're safe again, so you can break the cycle. Two mistakes in a day does not mean you're not coping. Everyone makes mistakes. Rephrase things in your mind, e.g. I made 2 mistakes, so what, nobody died or got injured, it is not a disaster. BEST MOMENTS "Acting normal, you're hiding what you are, so you're constantly wearing a mask, and that mask will slip, and it gets tiring, and that's that leads to burnout.” "The inner voice is horrendous. The best thing you can do is actually name it. Give it a stupid name." "Silent counselling just puts a little hole in the bottom of the bucket." "Just take a step back and breathe." ABOUT THE GUEST www.nptherapies.co.uk WhatsApp - 078 250 45420 RESOURCES Famisafe Parental control App Link: https://wondersharesoftware.pxf.io/ParentingAUDHD What to Do When Your Child Shuts Down: Real-World Parenting Strategies for Neurodivergent Kids Who Shut Down, Refuse School, or Just Stop communicating with you: https://amzn.eu/d/0fBIfbhR CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister CONTACT ME Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cliff_kilmister08 X (Twitter): https://x.com/KilmisterCliff Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change! This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/