Ep. 45 | In this refreshing and much-needed episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika sits down with her friend and podcast mentor, Teri Holland, to talk about something so many caregivers desperately need but rarely allow themselves: rest. While the conversation may feel a little “off topic” from brain injury at first, it quickly becomes clear that intentional rest is one of the most important survival tools for women carrying the emotional, mental, and physical weight of caregiving.

Teri opens up about her own experience walking beside her husband through PTSD, the fear and hypervigilance that came with loving someone in crisis, and the way that trauma quietly took up space in her own mind and body. She shares how therapy helped her recognize the impact this was having on her, and how her healing journey eventually led to the creation of “Sloth Day”, a full day intentionally set aside for rest, stillness, comfort, and nervous system recovery.

Together, Erika and Teri unpack the guilt many women feel around slowing down, why rest is not laziness, and how taking breaks actually makes us more productive, more present, and more capable of carrying what life asks of us. Teri also explains the three different kinds of rest, why our brains need quiet space to function well, and how even starting with a few hours of intentional rest can make a huge difference.

If you are a TBI wife, caregiver, or woman who feels stretched thin and like there is never enough time to stop, this episode will feel like permission to exhale. It is a gentle but powerful reminder that your body, your brain, and your spirit all need rest too.

Be sure to follow Teri at Success in Mind and purchase your Sloth Day swag!