"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

—

🎵 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.

🎙️ 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

—

🌐 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.