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In this episode of Quiet Confessions, Chelsea hits record in the middle of burnout. No polished advice, no metaphors, just truth. From traumaversary season and the chaos of summer parenting to adding a new puppy into an already overstimulated household, this is a moment of real-time exhaustion and radical honesty.

If your house feels loud, your patience is paper-thin, and you're wondering if you’re the only one barely hanging on, this episode is a gentle reminder: you’re not failing, you’re fried, and sometimes surviving is the win.

🔊 Soundbites:

• “I don’t have a lesson. I just needed to say this out loud while I’m in it.”
• “I’m not failing. I’m fried. There’s a difference.”
• “My tank is empty. My patience is see-through. But I’m still here.”
• “It’s not a lack of gratitude. It’s a lack of capacity.”
• “Cereal for dinner is self-care. So is hiding in the bathroom.”
• “Some days, surviving is the accomplishment.”
• “You have permission to not have it together. Signed, Chelsea.”

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Burnout doesn’t always come with a breakdown—it often shows up in the daily noise, overstimulation, and constant demands.
  
• Traumaversaries are real: the body remembers trauma before the brain does.
  
• Parenting during summer break—especially with neurodivergent kids—can feel like a sensory obstacle course.
  
• Adding a puppy (especially while parenting and managing trauma) is both joyful and overwhelming.
  
• Burnout in parents often includes guilt, shame, brain fog, and emotional fatigue—not laziness.
  
• “Lowering the bar” can be a form of self-care and survival.
  
• There’s value in simply naming the hard things—even without fixing them.

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Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection
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