Finding Balance When Life Won’t Slow Down

In this episode of This Is Your Brain on Mom, we sit down with caregiver advocate and podcast host Mikayla Cluxton for a funny, honest, and deeply relatable conversation about the emotional chaos of caregiving — and the strange little rituals that keep us going (yes… even shoe shopping). We talk about the realities of caregiving burnout, anxiety, and the constant battle between wanting quiet alone time and not actually liking being alone with our thoughts. Mikayla shares how her own emotional regulation journey has shifted—going from avoiding silence to finally finding peace in it. Meanwhile, Barry and Wendy unpack the mental load of being “always on call,” the guilt of saying no, and how hard it is to set boundaries when your loved one insists you’re the only person who can help. We dive into: ✨ The emotional whiplash of caring for someone whose needs and moods change daily✨ The impossibility of balance — and why “spinning plates” is a better metaphor✨ The grief and identity loss tied to no longer driving or being independent✨ Why caregivers need Do Not Do lists just as much as to-do lists✨ Learning how to say no (or at least not right now) without drowning in guilt If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, overstimulated, overcommitted — and still somehow convinced that you should be doing more — this episode is your permission slip to breathe, set boundaries, and choose what you have capacity for today. 🎧 Listen now for real talk, humour, and the reminder that you are not alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices