Abundant Wellness With Andrea- From Surviving to Thriving in Mind, Body and Spirit

Episode 121: When Mother's Day Hurts: A Nervous System + Faith Conversation

With Mother's Day just a few weeks away, this is an episode you don't want to miss!
 
The episode addresses why Mother’s Day can feel heavy for parents of children with special needs, emphasizing that love can coexist with grief, exhaustion, and resentment.
 
From a nervous system lens, chronic stress, heightened expectations, sensory and emotional needs, and social comparison can make the day feel like pressure and potential failure, leaving a dysregulated body unable to access joy.
 
In this episode, Andrea discusses mourning the motherhood imagined, lost ease, changed relationships, lack of being seen, and diminished capacity, while providing practical insight into making this a day you don't dread anymore. 
 
 
00:00 Mothers Day Reality
00:39 Expectations And Baggage
01:51 Nervous System Pressure
03:49 Grief On Holidays
06:51 Comparison And Culture
10:36 Invisible Load Seen
13:06 Faith And Lament
15:35 Plan A New Day
18:50 Boundaries And Support
19:47 Reframe And Encourage
 
Join the conversation! In the Thriving Together Community, we have a live group coaching session where we will brainstorm and problem solve the most difficult aspects of this day so you can create a mother's day you don't dread. Join for free HERE 
 

Episode 120:PANS/PANDAS: Homeopathy, Diagnosis Challenges, and What Parents Can Watch For

In this episode,  Andrea interviews naturopathic doctor Dr. Bahr, who uses classical homeopathy to help families recover from PANS/PANDAS (autoimmune neuropsychiatric symptoms triggered by infections such as strep).
 
They discuss how Dr. Bahr’s practice built consistent, structured care so families can be supported during crises and covered when providers are away. Dr. Bahr shares how she moved from skepticism to believing in homeopathy after rapid improvement in her own chronic psychiatric condition, and explains how she shifted into specializing in PANS/PANDAS after recognizing cases in her mental-health practice.
 
They review common signs (episodic flares, OCD/intrusive thoughts, separation anxiety, rage, cognitive decline, urinary frequency/bedwetting, sensory changes) and why diagnosis is often missed, emphasizing provider curiosity, medical training, and listening to the full story, plus guidance for parents to connect with experienced communities and trust informed support.
 
 
00:46 What Is PANS And PANDAS
03:01 Why Homeopathy Works
05:55 Consistency In Care Model
08:11 From Skeptic To Believer
16:58 Host’s Homeopathy Turning Point
18:43 How She Specialized In PANS
22:03 Riding The Wave To Go All In
23:53 Being Truly Understood
25:31 Simplifying the Approach
26:08 Spotting PANS PANDAS Signs
28:09 OCD Tics and School Regression
29:54 Overlaps With ADHD Triggers
30:52 Why Listening Matters
33:59 Homeopathy Beyond Labels
35:41 Diagnosis Still Matters
39:13 Why Doctors Dismiss It
43:26 System Gaps and Curiosity
48:57 Next Steps for Parents
51:42 Slow and Steady Healing
 
This is a MUST LISTEN episode if you think your child might have PANS/PANDAS.
 
To connect with Dr. Bahr and her team of providers, go to Resilience Naturopathic
 
Not sure where to start? Schedule a complementary STRONG START discovery call with Andrea 

Episode 119:Nervous System First: Dr. Tony on the “Perfect Storm” Behind Kids’ Neurodevelopmental Struggles

Andrea, a functional health practitioner and RN, interviews Dr. Tony, a chiropractor focused on nervous system healing, about why neurodevelopmental disorders and related issues are exploding.
Dr. Tony says the root is not genetics but a “perfect storm” of toxic overload (inhaled, ingested, or injected), high maternal stress during pregnancy that wires sympathetic dominance and suppresses vagal development, and birth interventions/trauma (e.g., forceps, vacuum, C-section, inductions) impacting the brainstem, vagus nerve, and motor-sensory systems.
He explains many families come after exhausting conventional routes, and outlines his 3-step process: deep case history (“CSI”), objective nervous system scans/exam, and a personalized plan including pacing and often pausing other interventions so nervous system care can take effect and make therapies like detox, speech, and OT work better.
They also discuss grief, validation, parent nervous system regulation, and where to find his podcast and Instagram.
00:00 Welcome and Intro
01:25 Dr Tony Origin Story
03:31 From Pain to Purpose
04:35 Last Resort Families
09:44 Rebuilding Trust 13:10
Three Step Care Plan
18:25 Pacing and PANS
20:29 Personal Crisis Lessons
23:06 Why Disorders Rising
24:34 Patterns In Sick Kids
25:25 Toxic Overload Upstream
26:50 Maternal Stress Wiring
28:34 Birth Interventions Impact
29:58 Perfect Storm Timeline
31:27 Parent Story And PANDAS
33:14 Grief Without Shame
38:54 Nervous System First
40:00 Movement And Proprioception
42:53 Pause To Optimize Healing
45:10 Where To Find Dr Tony 
 
Not sure where to start? Schedule a Strong Start Discovery Call with Andrea today!

Episode 118: For Those In Despair

If you’ve been sitting in despair, this episode is for you.
We’re having an honest conversation about what despair actually means—and what it doesn’t. It’s not a failure of your faith. It’s not a sign you’re doing something wrong.
In this episode, we explore how spiritual bypassing can keep us stuck, what the Bible really shows us about walking through despair, and why a felt sense of safety is essential for true healing.
You’ll also learn how to invite God into the middle of your mess—and where simple distress tolerance practices can support you when things feel overwhelming.
If you’ve been holding it together on the outside but struggling on the inside, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to navigate it by yourself.
 

Episode 117: What a Dysregulated Nervous System Looks Like in Children

What does a dysregulated nervous system actually look like in kids?
If your child has meltdowns, shuts down, refuses food, or reacts in ways that feel confusing, it’s easy to assume it’s behavioral. But often, it’s neurological.
In this episode, we break down how nervous system dysregulation shows up in children, including the difference between tantrums and meltdowns, common regulation struggles, and how your child’s unique brain wiring impacts behavior.
You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of what’s really going on—and how to respond in ways that support your child’s nervous system, not fight against it.
Because your child isn’t giving you a hard time…their nervous system is having a hard time.
 
If this episode resonated with you and you’re ready to better understand your child’s behavior from a root-cause, nervous-system perspective:
👉 Learn more about working together inside Thriving Together https://www.skool.com/thriving-together/about
👉 Explore my Happy Tummies, Happy Kids program for gut + behavior support https://fitmom.practicebetter.io/#/6840d0254575c6adc26a82fd/bookings?s=6891178b4314c26053fe9762
👉 Follow along on Instagram for daily education and encouragement Https://www.instagram.com/abundantwellnesswithandrea 

Episode 116: Seeing Your Child's Diagnosis Through a Gospel Lens

In this episode, Andrea sits down with her friend Larah to explore what it means to parent through diagnosis, hardship, and uncertainty through a gospel lens rather than fear, shame, or comparison.
 
Together, they unpack the true meaning of the gospel, why toxic positivity and forced gratitude miss the mark, and how hope and grief can coexist.
This conversation gently challenges the belief that children need to be “fixed” to be whole and invites parents to slow down, release anxiety, and see their children as image-bearers deeply loved by God.
A hopeful, grounding conversation for parents navigating the tension between faith, grief, and everyday parenting.
Grab a copy of Larah's most recent book, Letters to Lindsey
Grab a copy of Wrapped in Kindness HERE
 
Need more energy without depleting your system? Grab my favorite electrolytes HERE
Hop into Thriving Together Community for ongoing support, community and training
Want to pursue a functional medicine approach to supporting your child's physiology? Schedule a Strong Start Discovery Call HERE
 

Episode 115:How Nervous System Health Shapes Behavior, Digestion, and Development in Kids with Dr. Kathy Cantwell

Today we have Dr. Kathy Cantwell of Unity Chiropractic in Beaverton Oregon with us. 
Kathy has been in practice for over 30 years with a special focus on the nervous system. 
 
In today's episode, we talk all about :
What a dysregulated nervous system looks like in children
How nervous system focused chiropractic care is different than classical chiropractic care
What diagnoses or behavioral issues benefit most from chiropractic care
How Chiropractic care can aid in all other therapies like OT/PT 
And so much more! 
 
The updated version of Wrapped in Kindness is now available again on Amazon! Grab your copy here 
 
Don't forget- one of the easiest ways to support your nervous system is to ensure you are properly hydrated AND electrolyte balanced. Grab 15% off my favorite electrolytes here 
 
Looking for more support? Then its time to find your community! Join the Thriving Together community here

Episode 114: Rethinking Mental Health Through the Lens of the Nervous System with Guest Amy Waters, LPC

Rethinking Mental Health Through the Nervous System Lens
When we hear mental illness, we often imagine something extreme or permanent. But what if many mental health struggles are actually signs of a nervous system operating beyond capacity?
In this episode, Andrea is joined by licensed mental health therapist Amy Waters to explore mental health through a nervous system lens — moving beyond labels to understand dysregulation, unmet needs, family survival mode, and why punishment-based approaches often make symptoms worse over time.
This conversation is especially for parents who sensed something was “off” long before a diagnosis was ever given.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
Why many mental health diagnoses reflect nervous system overload, not personal failure
Early signs of dysregulation parents are often told to ignore
The unmet needs therapists commonly see beneath challenging behavior
How punishment and compliance-based strategies can increase dysregulation
The powerful interaction between a parent’s nervous system and a child’s
What happens when entire families are stuck in survival mode — even with good intentions.
You can find more about Amy on her Instagram Page 
 
Don't forget- one of the easiest ways to support your nervous system is to ensure you are properly hydrated AND electrolyte balanced. Grab 15% off my favorite electrolytes here 
 
Ready to tackle this from a functional lens? Schedule a Strong Start Discovery Call HERE
 
Looking for more support? Then its time to find your community! Join the Thriving Together community here

Episode 112: The Exhaustion No One Talks About

What It Costs to Parent a Sensitive Nervous System
There’s a kind of exhaustion that doesn’t come from doing too much — it comes from being on all the time.
In this episode, we name the hidden cost of parenting a child with a sensitive or neurodivergent nervous system. Not just physical tiredness, but the constant emotional vigilance, real-time regulation, and nervous system load that never makes it onto a to-do list.
You’ll hear why:
This exhaustion isn’t weakness — it’s your nervous system working overtime
Parenting sensitive kids carries cognitive, emotional, and physiological costs
Parents often live in low-grade fight-or-flight with elevated stress hormones
Traditional parenting advice and systems weren’t built for nervous-system differences
Grief and deep love can coexist — and naming that grief matters
Rest alone isn’t enough when your nervous system never feels safe
This episode offers a compassionate reframe:You’re not failing at parenting.You’re parenting in a world that doesn’t understand nervous systems.
We’ll also talk about what actually helps — without adding more to your plate — and why support for families like yours isn’t a luxury, it’s a biological need.
You’re not exhausted because you’re doing it wrong.You’re exhausted because you’re doing something incredibly demanding — often without enough support.
If you’re looking for a space where this load is understood, you’re invited into Thriving Together — a place for parents who need safety, not performance.
 
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Episode 113: Why Traditional Parenting Fails Neurodivergent Kids

“If it worked, it would have worked by now.”
Many parents quietly think, We’ve tried everything.Charts. Rewards. Consequences. Punishments.
And when none of it works, the blame often falls on you.
In this episode, we explore why traditional parenting tools often fail neurodivergent or sensitive nervous systems — and why that failure is not a parenting problem.
You’ll learn:
The assumptions behind charts and punishments — and why they break down under stress
Why behavior is driven by the nervous system, not willful defiance
How rewards and consequences can create shame instead of skills
Why compliance is not the same as regulation
We’ll reframe what kids actually need:Felt safety before expectations.Co-regulation before independence.Skills taught outside of dysregulation.
Key truth:You didn’t fail. These tools were never designed for your child’s brain.
✨ Regulation first. Skills second. Behavior follows.
Invitation:If you’re exhausted and questioning yourself, you’re not alone. Inside Thriving Together, we teach nervous-system-smart parenting and support parents instead of judging them.
There is another way — and it works with the brain, not against it.
 
Schedule a Strong Start Discovery Call to address your neurodivergent child's physiologic needs.
 
Don't forget to nourish your self with good, clean electrolytes! Grab 15% off my favorite HERE