Light in the Battle: Autism, Single Motherhood and Trauma Recovery

"Why didn't she leave", you ask. "Why does she keep dating the same types of men over and over? When will she learn? "Sounds familiar? Don't we just love that judgment coming from uneducated, well-meaning people who are not familiar with the concept of trauma bonding.Well... It's biology. Childhood trauma and/or narcissistic abuse can create a true addiction in the brain. A trauma bond. This Episode is the logical next step in our Chaos Addiction Mini-Series, after

"Why does this keep happening to me?" "Why do I keep attracting narcissists?" You choose to stop. With 6 ASD-friendly practical tips that Faustina used repeatedly in her journey of taming peace after years of running on adrenaline and cortisol, we can slowly familiarize ourselves with our new life. Whether that's getting out of domestic violence, healing from narcissistic abuse, or winning a custody battle in family court, there's going to be a point where things will stop being a constant threat, a

Through the story of winning a custody battle, despite what felt like years of legal intimidation and harassment, Faustina shows an example of what addiction to chaos looks and feels like. Winning in family court after many years of feeling unseen and misunderstood by a legal system that isn’t trauma-informed, completely stunned her and left her like a deer in the headlights.We discuss the fact that calm can feel threatening, that trauma wires your nervous system to seek more chaos, why peace

Breaking generational trauma for future generations is hard — especially when you’re parenting a neurodivergent child without a roadmap. It's little things you have to notice, to catch, and to do differently - one day at a time.In this episode, we talk about how childhood trauma shows up in your parenting, why your nervous system reacts before your thoughts do, and how small, imperfect moments of awareness can break the cycle. Generational trauma doesn't have to be passed down to your bloodline, you

How do you help your child calm down when you’re not calm yourself?In this episode, Faustina shares small, realistic ways to co-regulate while healing — grounding tips for overstimulation, honest scripts for connection, and a reminder that repair matters more than perfection. This can be particularly difficult for autistic single mothers as there is no other adult to fall back on when we are not regulated.single parenting, autism, trauma recovery, nervous system, co-regulation, single motherhood,

Legal stress and co-parenting conflict activate the nervous system in a deep, physical way. This episode shares grounded ways to stay steady when you can’t stop thinking about court — without denying the reality of what’s at stake.Keywords: co-parenting stress, high conflict co-parent, custody anxiety, trauma-informed parenting, court stress, nervous system regulation, overwhelmed motherhood, parenting resilience, emotional grounding, parenting under stress

Many mothers escape because their nervous system is overwhelmed, not because they lack strength. This episode explores the difference between rest that nourishes us and escape that numbs us — and offers simple, doable ways to create calm in small moments throughout the day.Keywords: rest vs escape, parenting overwhelm, trauma-informed parenting, nervous system regulation, autistic parent, sensory overload, self-regulation, healing from burnout, mindful parenting, overwhelmed motherhood,

Parenting an autistic child can be beautiful, joyful, and deeply loving — and it can also be physically and emotionally overwhelming. Especially when your child’s stimming, movement, or verbal repetition triggers your own sensory overload.This episode is about what it feels like to be stimmed out as a parent — and how to stay present without shutting down or snapping. No shame. No judgment. Just real strategies for protecting your nervous system while still showing up with love.parenting autism,