Hi, I’m Chantelle - a former Paediatric Occupational Therapist, recovering overachiever, and someone who’s learnt (the hard way) that you can’t out-perform your own nervous system.

I was diagnosed with epilepsy at 19 years old and, by chance, discovered that a highly predictable routine made a huge difference to my health. That experience quietly shaped everything that came next.

When I completed my Masters in Psychology and Occupational Therapy, I became fascinated by the nervous system - how stress, safety, and behaviour all intertwine. What I didn’t realise then was how deeply modern life works against those same principles.

We live in a world designed to keep us dysregulated. Endless notifications, constant noise, and the pressure to optimise every part of life (even rest) keep our bodies in a state of low grade threat. And when we can’t keep up, we blame ourselves instead of the system.

This was magnified during my time in healthcare. Relentless demands and a culture that glorifies exhaustion making chronic stress look like commitment. What we call burnout is often just a body that’s been running on survival mode for too long.

In 2023, my mum became seriously ill with sepsis and a pulmonary embolism, and I took eight months off to care for her. Despite the constant worry, I’d never felt better in myself. My chronic sinus issues cleared, and for the first time in years, I felt like me.

That’s when it clicked: I’d been living in a system that keeps people constantly overstimulated and under-rested - a world that calls dysregulation “drive.” Once I supported my body first, my mind followed and I was finally able to focus on what I really wanted from the life, and have the energy to finally follow through.

The Regulation Effect is the result: an evidence-based rebellion against burnout, built on the belief that we don’t need more discipline. We need more safety.

Disclaimer: I hold an MSc in Psychology and Occupational Therapy and a Postgraduate Diploma in Sensory Integration. What I share here is based on personal experience and research - not medical advice. Please speak with your healthcare team for individual support.