Episode 49: Parenting w/ Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome & Perimenopause
- Sarah Russell
- Feb 10
- 1 min read
Ft: Karen Kossow, disability advocate, neurodivergent parent, and co-founder of Faircare Idaho
What happens when parenting, disability, hormones, and burnout collide — and the systems meant to support you quietly disappear?
In this episode, we explore:
Brain Fog + Burnout = Breaking Point
Sarah gets vulnerable about worsening brain fog and fatigue, opening a larger conversation about perimenopause, disability, and survival under constant strain.
Late Recognition & Reframing Expectations
Karen talks parenting autistic kids, navigating Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and the loss of access of familiar coping mechanisms during perimenopause.
The Reality of Caregiving Without Support:
Why paid family caregiver programs matter, what happens when they’re cut, and how unpaid labor props up broken socioeconomic systems.
Develop Self-Care Rituals:
Learning to read non-verbal body signals, prioritize finite energy, and practice nervous system rest & regulation instead of pushing through.
Key Questions Answered in the Audio:
1. How do I know I’m doing too much?
2. Why are families expected to survive without real systemic support?
3. What practical nervous system grounding tools actually help when you’re already overwhelmed & over-scheduled?
Resources Mentioned:
Karen Kossow’s Substack — Self-Care Support Squad https://karenkossow.substack.com/
Faircare Idaho (family paid caregiving advocacy) https://faircareidaho.substack.com/
Connect With Us
Follow @ndreportpod on your social platform of choice
Comments