Naturopathic doctor and fellow sib, Dr. Sara Rapaport, joins Sheena for one of the first conversations directly speaking to what growing up as a sib actually does to our bodies, our nervous systems, and our ability to know what we even want.

Together, they explore:

* Why so many sibs intellectualize their way through therapy — and why understanding everything still doesn’t make you feel better

* What complex developmental trauma means for sibs who grew up in loving families and still feel like something is wrong

* Why “nervous system regulation” doesn’t mean being calm — and what it actually means to start healing

* Why the most frightening and necessary thing for sibs isn’t a breathing exercise — it’s letting someone actually see you.

This conversation will help you understand your own body a little more gently — and maybe finally give yourself permission to have needs.

Watch the podcast episode on our YouTube Channel:

About Dr. Sara Rapaport:

Dr. Sara Rapaport is a Naturopathic doctor, massage therapist, biofeedback practitioner, and NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) practitioner specializing in mind-body medicine and the treatment of complex trauma. She is additionally currently training to become a Somatic Experiencing practitioner. She combines counseling, nutrition, herbal medicine, and physical medicine to support whole person healing and transformation for her patients.

In her personal life, she is an avid adventurer, dancer and mover, and especially loves dancing West Coast Swing. She is currently based in Portland, OR and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio alongside her brother who was diagnosed with Autism at age 3 and Glut-1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT-1 DS) at age 18. Once she was mid-way through medical school, she realized how much of her life she had devoted to being a helper at the expense of her own identity and has since then, been on a path of reclaiming her own authenticity and helping others with developmental trauma come home to themselves.

📩Get in touch with Dr. Sara:

https://www.drsararapaport.com/

Connect with us:

Instagram —

@sibasahuman

@dr.sararapaport

@sheenamidori

Welcome to the very first episode of Sib as a Human, the podcast dedicated to siblings of people with disabilities — not just as caregivers or advocates, but as whole, complex human beings.

In this premiere episode, host Sheena Brevig shares her own journey of growing up as a sib to her younger brother, who has cerebral palsy — and how she slowly uncovered the ways that experience shaped her self-worth, emotional regulation, physical health, and sense of self. From IBS to CPTSD, from people-pleasing to hyper-independence, Sheena opens up about what it took to start truly understanding herself.

She's joined by Kaitlin McNamara, Executive Director of the Sibling Leadership Network (SLN) and a sib herself, who shares her own story as the eldest of four sisters — two of whom identify as women with disabilities — and reflects on parentification, the shock of leaving home, and the long journey toward having honest conversations about caregiving, identity, and resentment.

Together, they also share results from a sibling survey completed by over 100 sibs, revealing just how profoundly this identity shapes people's lives — and how little space has existed to talk about it.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

What it means to be a "sib" — and why that term matters more than "glass child"

Parentification: what it is, how it happens (often without anyone asking), and how it follows sibs into adulthood

The mind-body connection of emotional suppression — from gut issues to TMJ to chronic stress

CPTSD and complex trauma in the sib experience

Intersectionality: how race, culture, gender identity, and other marginalized identities layer onto the sib experience

Survey highlights: 90% of sibs said their identity was profoundly impacted by being a sib; over 90% feel caregiving pressure — and most said that pressure is self-imposed

The "Pandora's box" metaphor — why opening it is scary, and why it's necessary

What it looks like to start celebrating yourself as a sib

📊 Survey Data Highlights

90% of respondents rated their sib identity's impact on their wellbeing as a 4 or 5 out of 5

74.3% selected the highest rating — "profoundly impacted"

Over 90% reported feeling the pressure of caregiving

Almost 90% deal with challenges around emotional expression

Over 80% reported feeling alone or isolated at times

Over 90% said the pressure they feel is internal, not externally imposed

Over 50% find it difficult to ask for help

Top topics sibs want to discuss: resentment, grief and loss, guilt and shame, burnout, future planning anxiety, codependency, family dynamics, and boundaries

👥 Guest

Kaitlin McNamara — Executive Director, Sibling Leadership Network Kaitlin is herself a sib — the eldest of four sisters, two of whom identify as women with disabilities. She has spent years building community and evidence-based support for siblings through the SLN, and brings both personal and professional depth to this conversation.

🔗 Resources & Links

Sibling Leadership Network (SLN): siblingleadership.org

Find local chapters, online communities, and free events for siblings

Follow us on Instagram: @sibAsAHuman

Subscribe on Substack for episodes, articles, and resources

Support this podcast: Donation link

Contact us: sibasahuman@gmail.com

Welcome to Sib as a Human! A new podcast where we explore the messy, beautiful and complex experience of what it’s like being a sibling to someone with disabilities or significant emotional, physical, or behavioral needs.

Brought to you by Sheena Brevig & Sibling Leadership Network

CONNECT WITH US

Substack: https://substack.com/@sibasahuman

Instagram @sibasahuman @sheenamidori @siblingleadershipnetwork

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4MQsZdN_uw