Listen to the Episode Here
Or, listen on your favorite app: iTunes (Apple Podcasts) | Spotify | Pocketcasts
Episode Summary
Why is it so hard to relax… even when everything is finally done?
You finish work. The dishes are clean. The kids are asleep. The house is quiet. Yet your shoulders are still tight, your jaw is clenched, and your mind is already scanning for the next thing that needs your attention.
In this insightful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with clinical psychologist and nervous system expert Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge to unpack why so many high-performing women feel trapped in survival mode, even when there’s no immediate crisis.
Together, they explore how years of chronic stress, caregiving, perfectionism, trauma, and constantly being “the one who holds everything together” can leave the nervous system stuck in a state of protection. The result? Irritability, anxiety, poor sleep, overwhelm, brain fog, and the feeling that you can never truly switch off.
Dr. Roseann explains the difference between everyday stress and nervous system dysregulation, why being highly productive doesn’t necessarily mean you’re regulated, and how your “stress cup” gradually fills until even small challenges feel overwhelming.
Most importantly, she shares practical, science-backed techniques that help retrain the nervous system to recognize safety again, from diaphragmatic breathing and somatic exercises to micro-moments of regulation throughout the day.
If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t seem to relax, even when life is technically under control, this conversation will help you understand what’s happening inside your body and how to begin creating more calm, resilience, and joy.
Roseann Capanna-Hodge
Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is a licensed clinical psychologist, mental health educator, author, and expert in nervous system regulation. With more than three decades of clinical experience, she specializes in helping children and adults overcome anxiety, ADHD, trauma, OCD, emotional dysregulation, and chronic stress using evidence-based neuroscience and holistic approaches. She is the author of The Dysregulated Kid and founder of DrRoseann.com.
IN THIS EPISODE
- Why high-performing women often live in chronic survival mode
- The difference between stress and true nervous system dysregulation
- How perfectionism, trauma, and caregiving overload your “stress cup”
- Why your body struggles to relax, even when life feels under control
- Simple nervous system resets you can practice throughout the day
- How micro-moments of regulation build long-term resilience
- Why awareness alone isn’t enough to create lasting change
- The “Love Pause” technique for reducing reactivity and improving relationships
QUOTES
“Just because you’re high-performing doesn’t mean your nervous system is regulated.”
“You can’t heal when you don’t feel safe.”
“We’re leaving our kids emotional wealth, not just financial wealth.”
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now
The Dysregulated Kid by Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge
Dr. Roseann Instagram
Dr. Roseann Youtube
Dr. Roseann Facebook
RELATED EPISODES
760: The Mindset Shift That Helps You Stop Feeling Stuck with Dr. Rachel Goldman
754: How to Find Joy When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan with Amberly Lago
Free Download: Easy, Practical Tips to Get More Energy!
Download the free Energy-Boosting Cheat Sheet now to learn how to unlock abundant health and energy that lasts—in only seconds every day!



No comments yet.