Listener Questions: Real Life, Real Regulation: Heather and Lori

In this first-ever listener question episode of Chitty Chats with Stacy, we’re diving into something so many of us quietly carry:
👉 How do you start taking care of yourself when everyone else is used to you taking care of them?
Heather asks a powerful question about navigating self-care as a midlife mom, partner, and eldest daughter—and what it means to shift long-standing patterns of overgiving.
We also explore:
  •  Why your nervous system feels “stretched” (the rubber band effect) 
  •  How self-care is actually modeling, not selfishness 
  •  What it looks like to reclaim time without guilt
  •  The power of predictability and communication when setting boundaries 
  •  How to begin saying “no” when you’ve never been shown how 
PLUS:
 A second listener question on how to stay grounded when your kids’ emotions feel like a rollercoaster—and what co-regulation actually looks like in real life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
  •  How to recognize when you’re over-functioning 
  •  Why boundaries feel uncomfortable (and why that’s normal) 
  •  Practical ways to “dose” regulation into your daily life 
  •  How to stay steady when others are not 
Key Takeaway:
Taking care of yourself doesn’t take away from others—it allows you to show up safer, steadier, and more present.

Have a question you want answered on the podcast?
📩 Email me: stacy@gobeyou.org

Creators and Guests

Stacy G. Nation, LCSW
Host
Stacy G. Nation, LCSW
Stacy Nation, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and military behavioral health leader who has spent two decades helping adults and children regulate, reconnect, and heal. As an early Phase 2 certified clinician in the Neurosequential Model, Stacy blends neuroscience, trauma-informed practice, and real-world classroom experience to help educators steady themselves before they steady their students.
Listener Questions: Real Life, Real Regulation: Heather and Lori