In this episode of Rough Edges, I am joined by Renee Firth, a mental health advocate and founder of ASD Mum Club, an online community dedicated to supporting mothers raising autistic children.

Renee shares her personal mental health journey including experiencing PTSD, anxiety, and depression after a traumatic car accident and how she rebuilt her life by developing practical tools to manage and protect her mental well-being.

We get to discuss the importance of stepping back and reassessing life during overwhelming seasons and why prioritizing mental health is a strategic decision rather than a sign of weakness.

Renee opens up about her experience as a mother to an autistic child, the mental and emotional toll caregiving can take, and how easily mothers can neglect themselves while trying to meet their child’s needs.

The conversation also explores the heart behind ASD Mum Club on why Renee created a calm, supportive space specifically for mothers, and how it helps them move from burnout and overwhelm to feeling more in control of their mental health.

Renee also addresses common misconceptions about parenting autistic children, emphasizing that mothers deeply love their children and are not wishing for a different life, but rather need support to navigate the challenges.

In this episode, we cover:

● Renee’s mental health journey and recovery after PTSD

● The realities of parenting an autistic child

● How caregiving impacts a mother’s mental health

● The inspiration and mission behind ASD Mum Club

● Common misconceptions about autism and parenting autistic children

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

● Connect with Renee Firth on INSTAGRAM!

● Find out more about the ASD Mum Club HERE on their website

● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠if anything in today’s episode resonated with you!

● Connect with us on Instagram! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on YouTube! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

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● Want to be a guest on our show? Send us an email at rough.edges.podcast@gmail.com

Hello everyone! Welcome to another episode of Rough Edges. In this episode, I sit down with stress-management expert and author Lolita Guarin to explore what it truly means to live a life rooted in peace, presence, and self-alignment.

Lolita shares how traveling across the world shaped her understanding of happiness, and why so many people who “have everything” still feel overwhelmed and unfulfilled. We talk about the emotional and physical impact of long-term stress, the importance of reclaiming rest, and learning to be instead of constantly doing. Lolita also breaks down her C.A.L.M. method, a practical approach to managing stress and creating sustainable well-being in everyday life.

In this episode we talk about:

● Lolita Guarin and her work as a stress management expert and author

● Why people with “everything” can still be stressed and unhappy

● The way constant stress affects health over time

● Tips for managing stress like taking small breaks during the day (Pomodoro-style but flexible)

● Generational conditioning especially for women being taught to constantly give, care, produce, and never rest

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

● Connect with Lolita on ⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠!

●Learn more about Lolita’s CALM process ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠!

● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠if anything in today’s episode resonated with you!

● Connect with us on Instagram! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on YouTube! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on Facebook! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

● Follow us on TikTok! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Want to be a guest on our show? Send us an email at rough.edges.podcast@gmail.com

Welcome back to part 2 of our episode topic. In this episode I continue my conversation with Jesse Mercury, host of the Major Pain Podcast on chronic illness, mental health, and the stigma surrounding men's emotional expression. Jesse shares his experience navigating an undiagnosed chronic illness throughout his thirties, the emotional and physical challenges that came with it, and the eventual gratitude he developed in learning to manage his condition.

He speaks openly about anger, fear, depression, and the importance of developing coping tools and support systems. The conversation shifts toward men’s mental health and the societal pressure placed on men to remain stoic and suppress emotional needs. Jesse reflects on how harmful messaging including being told to “tough it out” or being dismissed by doctors impacts the journey of seeking help. He emphasizes the importance of therapy, self-advocacy, and redefining strength as vulnerability and honesty.

In this episode we talk about:

● Living with chronic illness: losing years (the “lost 30s”) and learning to play catch-up

● Stigma around men expressing emotions and the damage of “tough it out” messaging

● Importance of therapy (finding a therapist who understands chronic illness; CBT tools)

● Gratitude that emerged from surviving/learning to manage illness

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

● Connect with Jesse Mercury on ⁠INSTAGRAM⁠!

● Find out more about Jesse’s Creative website ⁠HERE⁠!

● Leave a review ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠if anything in today’s episode resonated with you!

● Connect with us on Instagram! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on YouTube! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Connect with us on Facebook! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rough.edges.podcast)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

● Follow us on TikTok! (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@roughedgeswithsarah⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

● Want to be a guest on our show? Send us an email at rough.edges.podcast@gmail.com