"Why Healthy Habits Are So Hard: Diet Culture, Mental Health, and Sustainable Wellness"

Binge cycles, burnout, and the truth about 'lifestyle changes' that don’t work for everyone

Do you struggle to stick to a “healthy lifestyle”? Ever start a new diet, workout plan, or morning routine… and feel like a failure when it doesn’t last?You’re not lazy or undisciplined — you’re probably exhausted by a system that doesn’t work for real people with real lives and real trauma.In this episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, we’re breaking down:

Why “just be consistent” is a damaging lie

How diet culture hijacks your nervous system

The link between trauma, anxiety, and disordered eating patterns

And how to build wellness that’s actually sustainable — emotionally and physically

Let’s stop shaming ourselves and start asking: What do I actually need to feel nourished, not punished?

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📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:

⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠⁠

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🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:⁠⁠

strongmindmh.com⁠⁠

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🎵 INTRO MUSIC:

“Good Night” by FASSounds

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DISCLAIMER:

The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠⁠⁠Media Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠.

🎙️ Welcome back to Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk — where we embrace the chaos of being mental health professionals and keep it as real as your last 8 a.m. client.

In this episode, we're diving into the awkward gap between what grad school told us therapy would be like vs. what it's actually like in the room. Spoiler alert: textbooks didn’t prepare us for clients ghosting, crying in parking lots, or watching someone walk through a session in their underwear (yes, that happened).

From the pressure to be the “perfect therapist” to the emotional exhaustion no one warns you about — we’re breaking it all down. If you’re a student, a new therapist, or just nosy about the behind-the-scenes of the therapy world, this one’s for you.

We also share the biggest surprises, unexpected lessons, and what we wish we knew back then — including some much-needed advice: It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about showing up human.

🎧 Listen in, laugh with us, and feel a little more seen in this wonderfully unhinged profession.

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📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:

⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠⁠

—

🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:⁠⁠

strongmindmh.com⁠⁠

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🎵 INTRO MUSIC:

“Good Night” by FASSounds

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DISCLAIMER:

The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠⁠Media Disclaimer⁠⁠.

🎙️ This Mother’s Day, I Just Want to Be Left Alone

Mother’s Day isn’t always brunches, flower deliveries, and heartfelt Instagram captions. Sometimes, it’s wanting nothing more than to not be touched, talked to, or needed for 24 hours—and that’s what we’re talking about in this honest, validating episode.

In this episode, your co-hosts Melisa DeMahy, LMHC and Courtnie Vargas-Rodriguez, LMFT, both therapists and very real humans, dig into the emotional complexity of Mother’s Day—from exhaustion and guilt to quiet rebellion and self-preservation.

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🧠 Segment 1: The Reality Check
We start by breaking down what Mother’s Day really looks like for a lot of people—especially moms who are burned out and still expected to “celebrate” by managing everyone else’s needs. We get honest about why the day often feels like one more emotional task disguised as a holiday.

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🌸 Segment 2: The Guilt and the Grace
We talk about the deep guilt many mothers feel when they don’t want the whole day centered around family togetherness, and why rest is a radical—and completely valid—choice. If you’ve ever questioned your worth as a parent for simply wanting to be left alone, this segment is your permission slip.

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🛋️ Segment 3: What We Really Want
Whether it’s silence, a solo walk, or watching trash TV uninterrupted—this is a tribute to the moms who want less noise and more peace. We unpack how to advocate for what you need (even if it’s unpopular), and how to redefine celebration in a way that actually feels good.

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🎤 Closing
We wrap up with some heartfelt encouragement: Whether Mother’s Day brings you joy, grief, resentment, relief, or all of the above—you are not alone. You don’t need to perform motherhood to be worthy of rest, space, or celebration on your terms.

Perfect for: Moms who are tired, adult children navigating complicated relationships with their mothers, those grieving loss or absence, and anyone who wants to hear therapists speak the unfiltered truth about the pressures of Mother’s Day.

✨ Warning: There’s empathy, humor, and a total lack of toxic positivity.

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📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:
⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠⁠

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🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
⁠⁠strongmindmh.com⁠⁠

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🎵 INTRO MUSIC:
“Good Night” by FASSounds

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DISCLAIMER:

The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠Media Disclaimer⁠.

🎙️ Unpacking the Motherload: Mommy Issues, Reparenting, and Mental Health

Mother’s Day isn’t just flowers and brunch—it can be messy, complicated, beautiful, and painful, all at once. In this raw and relatable episode of Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, your co-hosts Courtnie and Melisa hold space for the truth behind the Hallmark holiday: the complexity of mother relationships, the unspoken pain of the “mother wound,” and the imperfect, ongoing process of healing.

Whether you’re being celebrated, avoiding phone calls, grieving a loss, or wondering why Mother’s Day still triggers something deep—this episode is for you.

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Segment 1: The Mother Wound
We kick things off with a deep dive into the mother wound—what it is, how it shows up, and why so many adult children are just now realizing how deeply it’s shaped their self-worth, attachment styles, and emotional patterns.

We unpack the subtle and not-so-subtle ways these wounds follow us, and how they influence everything from relationships to burnout. With reflection prompts like “What roles were you forced into as a kid?” and “When did you realize your relationship with your mom wasn’t... normal?” This segment invites listeners into both clarity and compassion.

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Segment 2: Unhinged Confessions – Mother’s Day Edition
Because sometimes, you’ve got to laugh to keep from crying.

We share our own confessions about the most unhinged things our moms have ever done.

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Segment 3: Reparenting & Healing
Not all healing means reconciliation. Sometimes it means becoming the parent you needed.

We explore the concept of reparenting: how to build the emotional safety, boundaries, and self-validation you may have never received. We reflect on questions like:

“What’s one thing you now give yourself that your mom couldn’t?”

“How do you celebrate yourself now, as a mother?”

This segment is an empowering reminder that healing can be self-directed, slow, and imperfect—and that’s okay.

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🎤 Closing Thoughts
We wrap the episode with a simple reminder:

"And if Mother’s Day is hard for you — we see you. The healing doesn’t have to be perfect. Just real. And messy. And probably with snacks.”

So if Mother’s Day feels tender, complicated, or bittersweet—we got you.
Thanks for joining us, cry-laughing and healing along the way.

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📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:

⁠https://linktr.ee/strongmindmh⁠

—

🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

⁠strongmindmh.com⁠

—

🎵 INTRO MUSIC:

“Good Night” by FASSounds

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DISCLAIMER:

The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our ⁠Media Disclaimer⁠.

Join therapists Melisa and Courtnie for real, unfiltered conversations about mental health, healing, and the beautifully chaotic mess of everyday life.

This is where honesty meets humor, and no topic is off-limits. From professional insights to personal anecdotes, they’ll remind you that you’re not alone—because healing gets a little easier when we do it together.

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🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:
We talk about starting our practice and business together, expanding it by getting licensed in other states, and sharing stories from our experiences along the way.

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📱 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:
@strongmindmh
https://linktr.ee/strongmindmh

—

🌐 VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
strongmindmh.com

—

🎵 INTRO MUSIC:
“Good Night” by FASSounds

—

DISCLAIMER:

The information provided on this podcast, Collectively Unhinged: Therapy Talk, is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as therapy or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and the hosts or Strong Mind Mental Health, LLC. If you want to read more, check out our Media Disclaimer.