Ann Robinson, LCSW (she/her)

Ann joined Momma on August 12, 2024 for a live Q&A via Twitch and YouTube to talk about Being Overwhelmed & Overworked vs Balanced & Peaceful

About Ann

Ann Robinson (she/her), is a therapist and social worker licensed in Colorado and Indiana. As a therapist, she loves working with folxs who are determined to make sense of their lives, relationships, and patterns that feel disruptive or impactful in their lives. People who are in some kind of transition (work, life, love) are right up her alley. Personally, she's an LGBTQ+ ally, was born and raised in Philadelphia, is a long-time binge-watcher of TV shows, and lives for matchmaking clients and friends with other people that they'll love and who will love them. She believes while what we talk about in therapy can be really serious, there is always room for some silliness. 

Socials / Links for Guest Connection

• Website: https://www.tworiverstherapycolorado.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tworiverstherapycolorado

References / Things Mentioned During the Stream

• Show Recommendation: Tales of the Grim Sleeper

• NXIVM Cult

• Love Has Won Cult

• Book Recommendations:

  • Atomic Habits by James Clear

  • Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab

• Podcast Recommendation: Precarious

• Favorite Poem: The Journey by Mary Oliver

• Eisenhower Matrix

Episode Summary

If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in to-do lists, stuck in survival mode, or unsure how to set boundaries without guilt, this episode is for you!

Key Takeaways

• Finding balance means living a life aligned with your values.

• Overwhelm can manifest in various ways, including feeling scattered or shut down.

• Basic needs like sleep, hydration, and nutrition are foundational for managing stress.

• A brain dump can help clear mental clutter and prioritize tasks.

• Opposite action can disrupt negative patterns and promote healthier responses.

• Self-care practices are vital for long-term emotional health. 

• It's important to assess our capacity during transitions.

• Community and connection are vital for mental health resilience.

• Cognitive flexibility allows us to adapt our social needs.

• Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining peace and well-being.

This episode of Even Tacos Fall Apart explores challenges of being overwhelmed and overworked, and how to transition to a life of balance and peace. MommaFoxFire is joined by Ann Robinson, who shares her expertise as a therapist working with individuals navigating transitions and life’s complexities.

Ann begins by reflecting on her journey into mental health, tracing her passion back to personal experiences of loss during childhood, which sparked her desire to support others. She emphasizes the importance of finding balance by aligning actions with personal values, noting that societal pressures often push individuals to overextend themselves. Ann highlights the cultural stigmas surrounding saying no, particularly for women, and stresses the need to normalize boundary setting as a part of achieving balance.

Ann defines a balanced life as one lived in alignment with core values and explains that imbalance often stems from prioritizing external expectations over personal needs. Signs of being overwhelmed can include constant busyness without productivity, feeling untethered, and emotional exhaustion. She differentiates these states from diagnosable conditions like anxiety or ADHD by assessing whether they are temporary (states) or persistent (traits) and whether they disrupt multiple domains of life.

To combat overwhelm, Ann advocates addressing basic needs like adequate sleep, hydration, and nutrition, as these create a foundation for managing life’s demands. For immediate relief, she suggests practical techniques like a “brain dump” to clear mental clutter or sharing worries with a trusted person who simply listens without problem-solving. Longer-term strategies include practicing “opposite action” to challenge unhelpful behaviors and “checking the facts” to avoid misinterpreting situations.

Ann also discusses the psychological and physical benefits of activities like walking, tapping, or chewing gum, which can help regulate the nervous system. High-output activities, such as jumping or pushing against a wall, can release pent-up energy when stress levels are high.

Periods of life transitions, such as starting a new job or experiencing family changes, are discussed as key contributors to feelings of overwhelm. Ann emphasizes the need to adjust commitments and routines during these times to manage resources effectively. She also highlights the role of social connection in maintaining mental well-being, noting that relationships foster resilience and provide essential support.

Ann shares her personal strategies for maintaining balance, such as recognizing “no new friends” periods during busy times and meal prepping to reduce stress. She encourages listeners to identify small, manageable actions that align with their current needs.

Ann’s parting advice centers on the importance of rejecting the misconception that people should navigate challenges alone, underscoring the value of community and collective problem-solving.

This episode provides actionable tools and resources, including recommendations for boundary-setting techniques. Ann’s insights provide a compassionate and practical approach to reclaiming peace in the midst of life’s demands.