Brave and Bloom

58. 5 Ways Being an Empath causes postpartum Anxiety

In this episode of Brave and Bloom, I'm talking about something that isn't discussed nearly enough in motherhood and postpartum healing: being an empath. I share how being highly sensitive to other people's emotions, energy, stress, and needs can often feel exactly like postpartum anxiety. For many mothers, the overwhelm isn't always coming from their own emotions. It's coming from carrying everyone else's too. Being an empath can make motherhood feel overwhelming in ways that look a lot like anxiety. When I deeply feel other people's emotions, stress, energy, and needs, it can be hard to tell what is actually mine. Motherhood amplifies that because now I'm not only carrying my own emotions, but often my baby's emotions too. My sensitivity is not a weakness. It's a gift that needs boundaries. The problem isn't that I feel deeply. The problem is when I don't know how to separate what belongs to me from what belongs to everyone else. When I learn how to create emotional boundaries, my empathy becomes a strength instead of a burden. Healing means learning to support others without losing myself. I don't have to absorb everyone's emotions to love them. I can be compassionate, connected, and supportive while still staying grounded in my own feelings, needs, and identity. Most importantly, I talk about why empathy is not the problem. Your sensitivity is not something that needs to be fixed. The real work is learning how to create healthy boundaries, understand what emotions belong to you, and stop carrying responsibilities that were never yours to hold. If you've ever felt emotionally drained, overwhelmed by other people's feelings, or wondered why motherhood feels so heavy despite doing everything "right," this episode will help you understand yourself on a deeper level and remind you that your empathy may actually be one of your greatest strengths. Have questions? DM me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chassiecox [https://www.instagram.com/chassiecox] Join the newsletter: https://chassiecox.myflodesk.com/ql9giiuhei [https://chassiecox.myflodesk.com/ql9giiuhei] If you found this helpful, please share + leave a review! Sending you so much love! Coach Chassie

57. Intrusive Thoughts are not the Enemy

In this episode of Brave and Bloom, I’m talking about intrusive thoughts and why they are not the enemy, even though they can feel terrifying when you're experiencing them. I share what intrusive thoughts actually are, why they often show up in motherhood, and how so many moms mistakenly believe these thoughts mean something is wrong with them. The truth is that intrusive thoughts are often rooted in protection, not danger. We talk about why thoughts can feel so real, how anxiety attaches emotion to those thoughts, and why so many mothers carry shame and guilt for experiences that are actually far more common than they realize. Intrusive thoughts are not a reflection of who I am. Having intrusive thoughts does not make me a bad mom. They are not predictions, intentions, or desires. They are simply messages from my brain and body trying to keep me alert, aware, and protective of what matters most. The thought feels real because emotion is attached to it. When I connect fear, anxiety, guilt, or shame to an intrusive thought, it starts to feel true. But just because I think something does not mean it will happen. My job is to recognize the thought, question it, and separate fear from reality. Intrusive thoughts often point to a deeper need for support. Many intrusive thoughts are not actually about what I'm thinking. They are signals that I feel overwhelmed, unsupported, exhausted, anxious, or afraid. Instead of judging myself, I can get curious about what my mind and body are trying to tell me. If you've ever felt scared by your thoughts, questioned yourself as a mother, or worried that having intrusive thoughts means you're broken, this episode is a reminder that your thoughts do not define you. You are not a bad mom. You are not dangerous. You are not alone. And what you're experiencing may be your mind and body asking for support, safety, and understanding. Have questions? DM me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chassiecox [https://www.instagram.com/chassiecox] Join the newsletter: https://chassiecox.myflodesk.com/ql9giiuhei [https://chassiecox.myflodesk.com/ql9giiuhei] If you found this helpful, please share + leave a review! Sending you so much love! Coach Chassie

56. Is Postpartum Coaching for Me?

In this episode of Brave and Bloom, I’m talking about what actually makes healing work and why true transformation goes so much deeper than just mindset shifts or positive thinking. I open up about what makes my coaching different, how I help clients heal from the inside out, and why nervous system healing and inner child healing are such a huge part of the work I do with mothers struggling with postpartum depression, anxiety, overwhelm, and emotional pain. I explain how so many of the emotions and triggers we experience in motherhood are connected to younger versions of ourselves that never felt emotionally safe, supported, or seen. When those emotions stay stuck in the body, they continue to show up in our relationships, parenting, anxiety, and everyday life until we finally slow down and heal them. Healing has to go deeper than just mindset work. Real healing is not just learning how to think differently. It is healing the body, nervous system, emotions, and the parts of me that were hurt and unsupported for years. Lasting transformation happens when I heal from the inside out, not just at the surface level. Inner child healing helps me understand and support myself differently. A lot of the emotions and triggers I experience today are connected to wounds and emotions that were never processed in the past. Learning how to “remother” myself teaches me how to give myself compassion, safety, and support instead of judgment and shame. Healing myself changes how I show up for my children and relationships. When I learn how to regulate my emotions, process my pain, and care for myself in healthier ways, it changes how I parent, communicate, and love the people around me. My healing creates a different future for both me and my children. This episode is a reminder that healing is possible. You are not broken. You are not too far gone. And you do not have to keep surviving motherhood carrying pain that was never meant to stay stuck inside of you forever. Have questions? DM me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chassiecox [https://www.instagram.com/chassiecox] Join the newsletter: https://chassiecox.myflodesk.com/ql9giiuhei [https://chassiecox.myflodesk.com/ql9giiuhei] If you found this helpful, please share + leave a review! Sending you so much love! Coach Chassie

55. How to Communicate So You Feel Seen, Heard, and Loved

In this episode of Brave and Bloom, I’m talking about the one communication shift that completely changed my marriage and the way I connect in all of my relationships. So many of us are told to “just communicate better,” but when I’m overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, anxious, or struggling internally, it’s not that simple. Most of the time, I’m expressing frustration without actually communicating the deeper emotion underneath it. The problem usually isn’t that I’m communicating, it’s that I’m not communicating the real emotion underneath it. When I say things like “you never help me” or “you don’t care,” that’s usually not the real message. What I’m actually feeling is overwhelmed, alone, unseen, or unsupported. And when I learn how to communicate the deeper emotion underneath the frustration, everything starts to change. People support me better when they can actually understand how I feel. Instead of just reacting emotionally or expecting someone to read my mind, I can communicate in a way that helps them emotionally connect to my experience. When someone understands the feeling underneath my words, it creates compassion, connection, and real support instead of defensiveness. Healthy communication starts with emotional awareness and safety. I can’t express my needs clearly until I understand what’s actually happening inside of me first. When I learn to regulate my emotions, communicate calmly, and create safe conversations, I stop feeling alone in my relationships and start feeling truly seen, heard, and supported. If you’ve been feeling misunderstood, disconnected, resentful, or like your needs aren’t being heard in your relationships, this episode will serve as help for you to start communicating in a way that creates more connection, more support, and more emotional safety. Have questions? DM me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chassiecox [https://www.instagram.com/chassiecox] Join the newsletter: https://chassiecox.myflodesk.com/ql9giiuhei [https://chassiecox.myflodesk.com/ql9giiuhei] If you found this helpful, please share + leave a review! Sending you so much love! Coach Chassie

54. Your First Step to Healing Anxiety and Depression

In this episode of Brave and Bloom, I’m sharing a simple but powerful shift that completely changed one of my client’s perspective and helped her begin healing before she even officially started coaching with me. I talk about how so many of us struggling with postpartum depression, anxiety, or overwhelm stay silent about what we’re really feeling. We hide our thoughts, suppress our emotions, and convince ourselves that if anyone knew the truth, they would judge us, think we’re failing, or see us differently. But healing starts when we stop hiding. Healing begins the moment I stop hiding how I truly feelWhen I finally say out loud what I’m really thinking and feeling, something shifts. The shame, fear, and anxiety lose their power when they’re no longer trapped in silence. Vulnerability is what opens the door to healing. Depression and anxiety want me isolated, but support is what helps me healSo many of us stay quiet because we’re afraid of being judged, misunderstood, or seen as a bad mom. But when I allow safe people to truly see me, I realize I’m not broken, I’m not crazy, and I don’t have to carry this alone. Feeling safe enough to be honest changes everythingThe moment I feel emotionally safe with someone, whether that’s a coach, a friend, or my partner, I can finally start processing what’s really happening underneath the overwhelm. And that safety creates hope, connection, and the ability to move forward. This episode is a reminder that I don’t have to stay silent to be strong. And that being brave enough to say “I’m not okay” may be the exact thing that starts changing everything. Have questions? DM me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chassiecox [https://www.instagram.com/chassiecox] Join the newsletter: https://chassiecox.myflodesk.com/ql9giiuhei [https://chassiecox.myflodesk.com/ql9giiuhei] If you found this helpful, please share + leave a review! Sending you so much love! Coach Chassie