Synapse Integrative Wellness & Counseling LLC

Exactly

Carry forward the lessons, not the burdens...

Your Personal Invitation to a Life-Changing Weekend 🌿

What if one weekend could help you shift your perspective, release the past, and open a new path forward?

Join us in Denver Feb 22-23 for an introduction to Huna—an ancient Hawaiian system of empowerment, energy work, and deep healing.

🌺 Led by Dr. Elena Estanol & Lance Dewbre, you’ll learn how to:
✔ Practice Ho'oponopono (forgiveness & reconciliation)
✔ Unlock your inner power & self-awareness
✔ Apply ancient wisdom to modern life

Limited spots available!

Reserve your place now:
🔗 https://www.synapsewellness.com/huna-introduction

This was our harvest today!!
For a garden that got decimated 3 times including a MINI-TORNADO… it’s teaching us how RESILIENT we can be, and HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO BLOOM AND BEAR FRUIT even after what seems like DEVASTATION.

“Never give up!”

Hi friends!
So I decided to do something CRAZY (for me), which is to start a TikTok account.

After one of my clients said “I was the best kept secret” (and hundreds before having said that), I decided I needed to get over my fear and shyness and start sharing a bit more of my wisdom with people so I can have a greater impact.

So if you want to watch me do something new 😳 and make mistakes, face plant, and hopefully eventually get it…

I’d love to have you follow me, interact or share anything that resonates for you.

This literally feels a little like jumping off an airplane….

Here we GOoooooo!

dr.estanol on TikTok .estanol 99 Followers, 90 Following, 388 Likes - Watch awesome short videos created by dr.estanol

On JOY, GRATITUDE AND THE ELUSIVE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS…

So easily we fall into that Iago trance, that humdrum, sleepwalking state where we get up and do the things we must do, meet our responsibilities and then fall back asleep only to repeat day after day, week after week…

So easily we get discouraged about things not being what we want them to, or people not acting or showing up the way we would like, our bodies falling I’ll or injured, or our businesses not being all that we want them to be. I had been struggling with injuries, illness, and then having my sweet Kitty also struggle with a tooth inflection…

And I realized how easy it is to get discouraged and disconnected from our true expression.

And unless we are extremely conscious to stay AWAKE AND AWARE, this happens for all of us…

UNTIL, one day… out of the blue, without rhyme or reason we are GIVEN A SELFLESS GIFT, perhaps so small and we may miss it… but if we pay attention, it may be enough to WAKE US, SHAKES US AWAKE FROM THE TRANCE…

I had been asking myself the question:
“IS MY SOUL HAPPY?”….
And contemplating on what Happiness truly means..

Then YESTERDAY …
I woke myself (and unfortunately my partner too) laughing, out loud, giggling, and couldn’t stop!
I can’t recall EVER waking up laughing so hard from a deep sleep and a silly dream!

Despite the disrupted sleep, I rushed to yoga and showed up 5 minutes late (yogis out there KNOW this is a BIG no, no)… as I peeked in the class, the room was absolutely packed…

And yet my teacher, despite a slightly disapproving nod, asked two students to move to make space for me in the part of the room I lost like to be in, and I was immediately filled with such a huge sense of GRATITUDE for her and the two students that so willingly moved their mat to make room for me.

I spent the rest of the class reflecting on how GRATEFUL I am to get to be in the class, to practice and move my body, that despite its injuries, aches and pains and imperfections it still allows me to move and do something I love so much.

And it WOKE ME UP to all the little gifts we receive each day from loved ones and strangers alike that we fail to acknowledge.

It attuned me to my partner and all the big and little ways in which he expressed his love and takes care of me. To my friends for their constant support, love, and willingness to meet me where I’m at, and to my family, that despite the distance they all manage to let me know how important I am to them and how much they love me. And to my amazing clients and students who allow me to influence them to improve their lives and who teach me through their struggles and their courage how to be a better human.

And my heart was FILLED WITH TREMENDOUS GRATITUDE for all the people, the opportunities, the experiences, and gifts I am given day in and day out.

It was almost as it the Universe was making sure I got the right answer to my question and help me see how blessed I am with so much abundance.

And I realized that HAPPINESS is a temporary experience that happens when we have amazing moments, but that cultivating GRATITUDE AND JOY can happen everyday, in little moments, in little interactions and that over time as we keep practicing we find that there is more and joy in our lives.

That despite the ups and downs of life, we can find gratitude in little things and experience a sense of joy and connection and that as we do that….

HAPPINESS becomes a by-product… a consequence…

It’s almost as if the more we seek it the more elusive it becomes, but that the moment we stop STRIVING and can RECEIVE, and APPRECIATE what IS here and now…Happiness arrives unannounced through the back door.

That sometimes acknowledging and appreciating what is NOW…is all we need to do.

So I ask you my friend, what are you feeling GRATEFUL OR APPRECIATIVE ABOUT? And how is that supporting you?

SLEEP DEPRIVATION is such a common practice among high achievers with ADHD due to many things actually.
- Co-morbidity of ADHD/NEURODIVERSITY with sleep disorders
- Use of stimulant medication or coffee
- Increased anxiety and hyperactivity that lead to higher levels of cortisol
- Disrupted sleep cycles/schedules
- Addiction to functioning from a flood or dopamine and cortisol to get things done.
- Becoming hyper-focused on projects late at night.

Whatever that is, though you may feel you can still “function” with decreased sleep, overtime this takes a toll in your mental functioning, your emotional health, physical and spiritual well being.

Overtime lack of sleep will actually make your “Kryptonite” ADHD functions worse and will diminish your ADHD Superpowers.

Know you are NOT alone. Sleep struggles are so common. I have struggled and worked on this for years and continue to do so.

Make a commitment to creating better sleep habits.
A few good ones are:
- Create a totally dark room
- Cool down the temperature
- Get a good pillow, mattress and bedding
- Eliminate any “blue” light for at least 1-2 hrs before bed.
- Create a QUIET or sound proof environment OR use a white noise machine
- Use lavender or serenity essential oils
- Turn off phone or put notifications on silent or “do not disturb” (even better, leave your phone in a different room).

I found the reminders below a POWERFUL MOTIVATOR to commit to a better routine.

And if you have become successful in creating a good sleep routine, share your tips below and what has worked for you so others benefit!

Did you know that ADHD can be a Superpower?

Often as adults with ADHD we have received so many negative messages that it’s challenging to see yourself in an empowering light.

Usually this leads to decreased effort, persistence and success.

But what IF you could realize you are a SUPERHERO?

What IF your ADHD bestowed you with some amazing superpowers that you simply need to learn how to Unleash and direct in the right way??

How would your PERCEPTION OF YOURSELF CHANGE?

And your COURAGE to go for the things you want?

Want to find out what is your ADHD SUPERHERO ARCHETYPE?

Just take this fun quiz and post what kind of Superhero you get below!

Which ADHD Superhero are you? Find out what is your Inner ADHD Superhero!

When I was growing up I always felt like an outsider…

You know…

Like having your face pressed against a window of a party you were not invited to attend.

I was picked on and teased by many of my classmates because I was clutsy, shy, I didn’t have witty responses, I was too skinny and talked funny.

Then it was because I talked too much, and was too “out there”, and when I focused on my academics because I was “too smart”.

It was very confusing.

I didn’t know if I was smart, stupid or crazy!!

My teachers loved me bc I asked too many questions and hated me bc I asked too many questions and couldn’t stay in my seat.

I got suspended from school from doing all kinds of impulsive things (like chewing gum, swinging in my chair, and blurting out “truths” people didn’t want to hear.)

The only reason I was able to stay in school was because I was a good learner and student. Mostly bc I was curious and worked my ass off.

Eventually people began to “befriend” me so I could help them study literature, history, English, spelling…

But they were NOT real friends…

It took A LONG TIME to realize that my DIFFERENCE was not due to something being wrong with me, but that my brain simply processes things in DIFFERENT ways.

I was not diagnosed with ADHD until I was in my 3rd year of my PhD, which meant I had gone through my undergrad and 2 other master degrees before I figured out WHY MY BRAIN works so much differently!

Unfortunately through all those years, I accumulated MANY NEGATIVE BELIEFS I’ve had to work through to do the things I do today.

I hear several similar stories from my ADHD COACHING clients.

Things like:
- “I could never do that bc I’m not organized enough”
- Or “I’m not good at school/ math/ spelling”
- “I can’t trust that I am capable of doing something important”
- “Nobody believes I can do something meaningful and finish it.”

And THE BIG ONES:
- I’m not good enough-
- I’m not capable
- I’m not lovable
- I’m not worthy
- I don’t belong
- I can’t

And many others.

It BREAKS MY HEART!

If we could understand that having ADHD is actually an UNDEVELOPED SUPERPOWER and that the world sorely needs the gifts that you bring.

If we can RECODE those negative beliefs so you can see yourself differently and start acting differently, you’ll get incredible results!

If you or someone you know struggles with ADHD, or Executive Function please share. Know you are not alone.
You are amazing and capable or creating incredible breakthroughs.
Feel free to reach out.

Take this quiz and find your unique ADHD SUPERHERO /superpower

And then join us for an incredible and empowering NEURODIVERSITY SUPERPOWERS SUMMIT ON MONDAY 4/13! (link in comments)

Which ADHD Superhero are you? Find out what is your Inner ADHD Superhero!

🌱 📈