EP:181 In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I’m getting more honest and vulnerable than I ever have about my past marriage to Jonathan and what our relationship was really like behind closed doors.

If you’ve ever felt like:

You are the emotional punching bag in your relationship Your partner’s needs always come first You’re doing everything for everyone and it’s still never enough You’re exhausted, resentful, and lying awake thinking, “I can’t believe this is my life” …then you are going to feel very seen in this conversation.

I share:

How I slowly became the caretaker, peacekeeper, and problem-solver for everyone but myself The core moments when I realized, “I don’t matter in this relationship” What it felt like to be constantly walking on eggshells, trying not to upset or disappoint my partner The moment I decided I would no longer be the punching bag How sensory and emotional regulation helped me reclaim my self-worth, set boundaries, and change the dynamic in my home Why 99% of my clients see their partnerships improve when they start doing this work—even when their partner doesn’t join them Why I’m part of the “1%” whose relationship did not survive, and why I still consider that a powerful, self-honoring outcome This isn’t an episode about blaming one person. It’s about seeing the dynamic clearly, understanding how your brain and nervous system are operating, and realizing you do not have to keep abandoning yourself to keep the peace.

If you are:

Staying “for the kids” Minimizing your pain because “it’s not that bad” Silently suffering in a relationship almost no one knows the truth about Scared to change anything, but even more scared to stay exactly where you are I want you to know this: you are not crazy, you are not broken, and you are not “too much.” You are allowed to want more. You are allowed to get support. You are allowed to do it scared.

If this episode makes you think of someone who might be struggling in silence, please share it with them. They may not be ready to talk yet, but they deserve to know they are not alone.

❤️ Ready for support? You do not need your partner’s permission to get help.

👉 Work with my team: [add your link or contact info] 👉 Learn more about our programs: [add link]

🔔 Stay connected 👉 Subscribe to the channel for more episodes on nervous system regulation, parenting, and relationships. 👉 Like this video if it resonated with you—it helps more people find this message. 👉 Comment below: What part of this episode hit home for you the most?

Links & Resources:

📘 Check out more episodes of Thrive Like a Parent - https://drbrookeweinstein.com/thrive-podcast/ 📸 Follow Dr. B on Instagram - https://bit.ly/48VZI5e 🌐 Visit our website for more resources on self-care and well-being - https://drbrookeweinstein.com

#ThriveLikeAParent #BrookeWeinstein #RelationshipDynamics #ToxicRelationships #EmotionalAbuse #PeoplePleasing #NervousSystemRegulation #SelfWorthJourney #WomensMentalHealth #MomLife #MarriageStruggles #DivorceRecovery #HealingJourney #Boundaries #AnxietySupport #DepressionAndRelationships #CycleBreaker #YouAreNotAlone

EP:180 In this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I sit down with my dear friend, mentor, and neighbor Amy Jo Martin — New York Times bestselling author, founder of Renegade Global, and host of the Why Not Now? podcast — for a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, burnout recovery, nervous system regulation, motherhood, and how AI may actually improve our quality of life.

We share the modern way we met — sliding into each other’s DMs during our NICU seasons — and how that moment led to us living on the same street and working together inside her elite community of senior-level women, Renegade.

I share my own Why Not Now? moment — the season when my husband Jonathan was struggling, I was overwhelmed by caregiving and motherhood, and I committed to 10,000 steps a day for three months, a simple decision that transformed my mental health, nervous system, and sense of self.

Amy Jo then shares her defining Why Not Now? moment — breaking every corporate rule by taking an elevator ride to the Phoenix Suns locker room to teach Shaquille O’Neal how to tweet — launching her career in entrepreneurship, leadership, and global brand partnerships, including working with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

From there, we dive deep into:

▶ Burnout recovery & nervous system regulation ▶ The hidden cost of hustle culture ▶ Entrepreneurship, leadership & redefining success ▶ High performance without self-abandonment ▶ AI, mental health & quality of life ▶ Conscious productivity & emotional regulation ▶ Motherhood, identity shifts & life transitions

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH

This episode is for you if:

✔ You’re an entrepreneur, leader, or high achiever feeling burned out ✔ You’re a parent overwhelmed by stress and mental load ✔ You’re questioning hustle culture and craving balance ✔ You’re curious (or uneasy) about AI and the future of work ✔ You want success without sacrificing mental health

This conversation will give you language, clarity, and grounded tools to slow down, regulate your nervous system, and still honor your ambition.

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Follow Brooke on Instagram: @brookeweinst

Explore programs & resources: www.drbrookeweinstein.com

Connect with Amy Jo Martin: amyjomartin.com

Listen to the Why Not Now? Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RbTVORGOUVIcw1ftMajwu?si=c8915a9a0d684b61

SUBSCRIBE + SUPPORT

👉 Subscribe to Thrive Like a Parent for weekly conversations on parenting, nervous system regulation, mental health, entrepreneurship, and conscious leadership. 👉 Like, comment, and share this episode with someone who needs this conversation today.

Episode Sponsor: I’m thrilled to introduce Mindful Mamas — a maternal mental wellness app built by moms, for moms. From fertility and pregnancy to motherhood at every stage, Mindful Mamas offers guided meditations, sleep support, mood tracking, and a supportive community. Enjoy your first month FREE by visiting www.mindfulmamasclub.com/thrivelikeaparent. Because no mom should have to do this alone.

#ThriveLikeAParent #AmyJoMartin #WhyNotNow #RenegadeWomen #WomenInLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #BurnoutRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #MentalHealthForMoms #HighAchievers #MindfulProductivity #AIAndHumans #FutureOfWork #ConsciousLeadership #WorkingMoms #ParentingPodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #EntrepreneurPodcast

On this episode of Thrive Like a Parent, I sit down with Dr. Jon Stevens, a triple board–certified psychiatrist (adult, child, and obesity medicine) who I personally trust so much that I refer my own clients to him. We have a very real, very honest conversation about something parents are terrified to talk about: psychiatric medication for kids.

Instead of jumping straight to meds, Dr. Stevens walks us through why accurate, thorough diagnosis is the real starting point—and how rushed 10–15 minute evaluations, urgent care visits, and online “checklist” diagnoses can lead to mislabeling kids, overmedicating, and missing what’s really going on in the brain.

We dive into:

• Why he doesn’t lead with medication, even as a medication expert
• The difference between “drugs” and “medication” and why language matters for scared parents
• How symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar can overlap—and why this makes diagnosis so tricky
• The dangers of the “honeymoon period” with meds (when things feel great at first, then slowly fall apart) and why that can be a red flag
• Why so many kids end up on a “Franken-list” of 4–6 medications that often makes things worse
• How parents’ own history with ADHD or mental health can quietly shape their fears and decisions
• When it’s too soon to medicate, what “early intervention” really looks like, and why age 4 vs 14 is a very different treatment story
• The critical role of teachers, pediatricians, and specialists—and why short pediatric visits can’t carry the full mental health load
• Why meds should be a tool, not a magic fix, and how they fit alongside nervous system education, behavior support, movement, sleep, nutrition, and environment
• Newer and lesser-understood diagnoses like PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) and ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food
• Intake Disorder)—and why they’re often flavors or specifiers of a bigger picture, not life sentences
• How over-diagnosis and “diagnostic bloat” can leave parents feeling like their child is broken, instead of simply different and needing support.

Throughout the episode, I share why I shifted my work to focus on teaching parents their own nervous system first, so they can better understand and support their child’s. We talk about moving away from blame, fear, and labels—and toward personalized, compassionate, brain-based care that actually fits your child and your family.

If you’ve ever thought: “I don’t want to drug my kid.” “I’m scared of meds, but my child is really struggling.” “Do we really need a diagnosis for everything?”

…this conversation will give you language, context, and grounded next steps—not more fear.

If this episode resonated with you:

Share it with a parent, teacher, or caregiver who’s wrestling with questions about ADHD, anxiety, or medication. Subscribe to Thrive Like a Parent so you don’t miss future episodes where we keep unpacking the nervous system, behavior, and real-life parenting tools.

Want more support learning your own nervous system so you can better support your child’s? Visit my website or join my parent community/program (where I teach this work in depth and walk you through it step by step). Your child isn’t “broken.” Your nervous system isn’t “too much.” You’re allowed to ask questions, slow down, and choose what truly aligns with your family.

Episode Sponsor: I’m thrilled to introduce Mindful Mamas — a maternal mental wellness app built by moms, for moms. From fertility and pregnancy to motherhood at every stage, Mindful Mamas offers guided meditations, sleep support, mood tracking, and a supportive community. Enjoy your first month FREE by visiting www.mindfulmamasclub.com/thrivelikeaparent. Because no mom should have to do this alone.

#ThriveLikeAParent #BrookeWeinstein #ChildPsychiatry #PediatricMentalHealth #ADHDKids #AnxiousKids #NeurodivergentKids #ParentEducation #ConsciousParenting