This week on Rated Mom Confessions, Dena shares a story of rebuilding that will stay with you.

Dena opens up about overcoming addiction, redefining herself through motherhood, and building a life rooted in family, purpose, and second chances. From career shifts to becoming a successful loan officer, Dena reflects on what it really takes to rebuild — and how motherhood became both her anchor and her catalyst.

With heartfelt moments and rapid-fire questions, this episode offers a raw and relatable look into growth, grace, and the complexity of Mom life and a woman who built her life from the ground up after addiction.

Powerful Quotes From the Episode

"Sometimes my blind spot is being too trusting of people."

"The hardest season of my life was when I struggled with addiction in my late teen years."

"That taught me growth, perseverance, and perspective on how precious life is."

"The main thing I teach my kids is to be kind and respectful to others."

"The biggest thing I'm working on is that 'no' is a sentence and not people-pleasing as much."

"My why is definitely my family. That's what gets me up every day."

"I love that I'm starting to catch myself doing things—it's almost like I'm getting some therapy from the podcast, which is awesome."

Self-isolation is a common coping mechanism for many women — but when does it help, and when does it quietly turn into emotional withdrawal?

In this episode of Rated Mom, Heather, Dena, and Jessica talk honestly about why women self-isolate, how overwhelm and overstimulation trigger it, and how to recognize when alone time stops being restorative and starts becoming harmful.

We share personal experiences, unpack the shame and self-judgment that often follow isolation, and talk about the pressure women feel to "perform" socially even when they're depleted. You'll hear how to reframe solitude as intentional self-care, how to set boundaries without guilt, and how to reconnect with others in small, realistic ways.

This conversation isn't about fixing yourself or forcing connection. It's about awareness, compassion, and learning how to create space without disappearing.

If you've ever wondered, "What's wrong with me?" — you're not alone. And you're not broken.

Timestamps:

00:00 Why this topic resonates with so many women
01:05 What self-isolation actually looks like
01:27 Healthy solitude vs emotional withdrawal
03:15 Overwhelm, overstimulation, and shutting down
04:22 Shame, judgment, and self-awareness
06:03 Recognizing patterns and triggers
07:54 The pressure to perform socially
11:05 Why staying busy doesn't mean you're okay
13:42 Reframing self-isolation as self-care
15:21 How to isolate intentionally (without disappearing)
17:30 Communicating your needs to partners
20:22 How to support someone who self-isolates
23:16 When self-isolation becomes depression
27:11 Tools that help break the cycle
30:03 Small steps back to connection
31:42 Final thoughts: it's safe to be seen

If this conversation resonated with you, follow Rated Mom and save this episode so you can come back to it when you need it. Sharing it with another woman who might feel seen by this episode makes a bigger impact than you know.

Powerful Moments from the Episode

Heather:
"Sometimes disappearing feels easier than explaining how overwhelmed you are."

Dena:
"I thought something was wrong with me — like, why do I do this?"

Dena:
"When I'm doing everything but nothing well, that's when I shut down."

Connect with Rated Mom:
🌐 Website: https://www.ratedmom.com
🔗 Links: https://linktr.ee/ratedmom

Follow the hosts:
• Dena: https://www.facebook.com/share/1YYxWExz9R/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Heather: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DSnFyt4Gk/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Jessica: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D1f3e9iKD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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🎙️ Produced and edited by resilientvoicemedia.com