From Fight/Flight and in Survival to Feeling Like Yourself Again with Tash Forbes

Motherhood can leave many women feeling stuck in survival mode—constantly rushing, reacting, and carrying the invisible mental load of family life. In this heartfelt conversation, breathwork facilitator and mind-body coach Tash Forbes shares how chronic stress, anxiety, and a dysregulated nervous system can keep mums trapped in fight-or-flight without even realising it. Tash explains the powerful connection between breath and the nervous system, why so many women have forgotten what true calm feels like, and how simple breathing practices can help create more presence, patience, and capacity in everyday life. She also opens up about her own journey through postnatal anxiety, burnout, and healing, and how breathwork helped her move from merely surviving to genuinely thriving again.Tash Forbes is obsessed with helping people stress less and live more. As the founder of Breathing Space, she uses breathwork and nervous system coaching to help people create more space within, because life feels a whole lot better when you're not constantly running on empty.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why shallow chest breathing can keep your body stuck in fight-or-flight modeHow belly breathing signals safety to your nervous system and promotes calmThe difference between functional breathwork and transformational breathworkWhy many mums struggle to relax, even when they finally have time to themselvesHow chronic stress and unresolved emotions can be stored in the bodyTash’s personal journey through postnatal anxiety, burnout, and healingThe surprising link between self-worth, anxiety, and nervous system regulationHow breathwork can help you respond rather than react during challenging parenting momentsWhy stillness can feel uncomfortable when your nervous system is wired for busynessSimple ways to weave breath awareness into everyday routinesA practical breathing technique you can start using today to create more calm and clarityHow becoming a more regulated parent can positively impact your children and relationshipsWhy you don’t need to do more to feel better—you may simply need to reconnect with your breathConnect with Tash Forbes:Website: https://breathing-space.com.auA 5-minute reset for when your body is tight and your mind won’t stop. https://breathing-space.kit.com/howtostopanxietyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tashforbes_/ https://www.instagram.com/breathing.space_/Book a breathwork: https://breathing-space.com.au/breathwork/Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or simply craving more calm in your day, this conversation offers practical tools and gentle encouragement to help you reconnect with yourself, one breath at a time.Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 115 Show NotesAnd I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here. Until next time, Thrivers