Raising Serotonin

Seven years of Raising Serotonin.Seven years of honest conversations, growing together, and reminding each other that we’re never alone.For this anniversary episode, I’m reflecting on what’s changed since I started this podcast in 2019, my priorities, my definition of success, and what it means to build a life that actually feels fulfilling.You’re checking the boxes, keeping up with your routines, and working toward your goals. But when you take a step back… does the life you’re building actually feel good to live?Between grad school, my counseling internship, full-time work, and life outside of those responsibilities, I’m learning that thriving looks different in every season. Doing everything on your checklist doesn’t always mean you’re giving yourself what you need.Today, we’re talking about the difference between being productive and feeling fulfilled, the pressure to do everything perfectly, and how to build a life that reflects what matters to YOU.In this episode, I share four tangible activities to help you reconnect with yourself:Do a life audit: Identify what you want more of and less of—and whether your everyday choices reflect that.Create an “I feel alive” list: Notice the moments that help you feel connected, curious, peaceful, or more like yourself.Build routines that leave room for real life: Explore how your habits can support you when your energy, schedule, and responsibilities change.Let your values guide one decision: Choose three values, then take one small action this week that reflects one of them.You don’t have to tackle all four at once. Start with the one that speaks to you. Your worth isn’t attached to your productivity, and you’re allowed to change how you care for yourself as your life evolves.A question to take with you: If nobody else could see your accomplishments, routines, body, or career, would you still be happy with the life you’re creating?Let’s keep the conversation going on Instagram @raisingserotonin. Tell me which activity you’re trying or what you’re realizing you want more of in your life.Whether you’ve been here since 2019 or you’re listening for the first time, thank you for being part of Raising Serotonin. This community started with the hope of helping people feel less alone, and seven years later, that purpose remains.We’re just getting warmed up. Support the show

Medication has been part of my mental health journey for the last 10 years, and today I'm sharing that story with you.In this episode, we're having an honest, judgment-free conversation about SSRIs and SNRIs, what they are, how they work, and why I believe it's time to normalize talking about mental health medication. After asking my Instagram community whether they were currently taking an SSRI or SNRI, I was surprised to see just how many people quietly said yes. It reminded me that so many of us are carrying anxiety or depression behind closed doors while believing we're alone.I'll walk you through my own experience of starting medication at 16 years old, spending years on the highest dosage, and now slowly tapering with the guidance of my healthcare provider after building healthy coping skills, going to therapy, prioritizing movement, nutrition, sleep, and other holistic practices.We'll also break down the basics of SSRIs and SNRIs in simple language, talk about why these medications take time to work, why tapering matters, and why medication should never be viewed as a sign of weakness or failure.*****REMINDER THAT THIS IS FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY. I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL DOCTOR. Most importantly, I want to share why I believe healing isn't about finding one "fix." Whether you're taking medication, considering it, supporting someone who is, or simply curious to learn more, this episode is a reminder that mental health care is never one-size-fits-all. True healing often comes from looking at the whole person, mind, body, relationships, purpose, and daily habits—and giving ourselves permission to seek support without shame.If this episode resonates with you, I'd love for you to share it with someone who may need to hear this message. As always, thank you for spending part of your week with me.You are so loved here.*****REMINDER THAT THIS IS FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY. I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL DOCTOR. Get your Raising Serotonin Merch here! FOLLOW RAISING SEROTONIN ON INSTAGRAM HERE Support the show

What does it really mean to be rich?In a world that constantly tells us to chase more money, bigger milestones, and the next level of success, it's easy to believe that our happiness is waiting on the other side of our next paycheck. But what if we've been measuring wealth all wrong?In this episode of Raising Serotonin, I'm challenging the idea that money is the ultimate definition of success. While financial freedom is important, I believe the richest parts of our lives are often the ones that can't be bought, our relationships, health, purpose, memories, community, and the simple moments that make life meaningful.We'll talk about why comparison steals our joy, how social media shapes our perception of success, and why investing in your "other accounts" can create a life that feels full long before your bank account reaches a certain number.If you've ever found yourself thinking, "I'll be happy when...", this episode is your reminder to pause, take inventory of everything you already have, and recognize just how rich your life truly is.Get your Raising Serotonin Merch here! FOLLOW RAISING SEROTONIN ON INSTAGRAM HERE Support the show

Summer has always been my favorite season, but over the years I've realized how easy it is to put pressure on myself to make it "perfect."In this episode, I'm sharing a reminder that summer doesn't have to be packed with expensive vacations, nonstop plans, or picture-perfect moments to be meaningful. Instead, I'm inviting you to define what this season looks like for you. We talk about creating a summer that aligns with your current season of life, scheduling things that genuinely bring you joy, reconnecting with the simple things you loved as a child, and learning how to be present instead of performative. If you've been feeling the pressure to do more, this episode will encourage you to slow down, focus on what matters most, and create a summer that feels good on your terms. Get your Raising Serotonin Merch here! FOLLOW RAISING SEROTONIN ON INSTAGRAM HERE Support the show

In this episode of Raising Serotonin, I’m diving into a mindset that I keep seeing all over social media lately: “it’s not that deep.” And honestly? I don’t agree.I talk about why I think this mindset can sometimes become a way for people to emotionally check out of their own lives, avoid vulnerability, avoid failure, or stay small when things feel hard. Because the truth is… your life is that deep. Your healing is that deep. Your goals, relationships, growth, purpose, and the way you spend your time all matter.I open up about discomfort, anxiety, grad school, growth, and what it actually means to put yourself out there even when you’re scared.We talk about why meaningful change requires effort, why staying comfortable can keep us stuck, and why becoming the person you want to be is supposed to ask something of you.If you’ve been feeling afraid to take the next step, questioning your path, or minimizing your own dreams because someone else told you it “wasn’t that serious,” this episode is your reminder that your one life matters, and you deserve to fully show up for it. Get your Raising Serotonin Merch here! FOLLOW RAISING SEROTONIN ON INSTAGRAM HERE Support the show

This episode feels incredibly personal to me because I’m reflecting on the end of my first practicum experience inside a college counseling center,  four months that challenged me, stretched me, humbled me, and changed me in ways I didn’t expect.I went into this experience wanting to be great immediately. I set impossibly high expectations for myself, thinking I needed to know everything, help everyone, and somehow “prove” that I belonged in this field. But what I learned instead was something much deeper: growth doesn’t happen all at once. Healing doesn’t happen overnight. And neither does becoming the person you’re meant to be.In this episode, I open up about the mindset shifts that completely changed the way I view growth, pressure, expectations, and even my own healing journey. I talk about the phrase my supervisor repeated to me constantly, “slow is fast”, and how I finally understand what that actually means.I also share why learning to reassess the bar we set for ourselves matters so much, especially when we’re navigating new seasons of life, change, uncertainty, or personal growth. This conversation isn’t just about counseling or becoming a therapist, it’s about being human. It’s about learning how to give yourself grace while still striving to grow.If you’ve been feeling behind, overwhelmed, frustrated with your progress, or questioning whether you’re doing enough… this episode is for you.Because maybe growth isn’t about becoming perfect faster.Maybe it’s about learning how to trust the process while you become.Get your Raising Serotonin Merch here! FOLLOW RAISING SEROTONIN ON INSTAGRAM HERE Support the show

In this episode, I’m getting real with you and sharing a moment where I felt self-doubt creep in… and how I worked through it.After taking a short break from the podcast to focus on school, work, and practicum, I’m back and reflecting on a recent experience that reminded me of something I truly believe in,  the 1% better mentality.I share:What happened during a group I led for student-athletes and why it challenged meThe pressure I put on myself to “have it all figured out”What it looked like to sit in those feelings… and then move through themThe importance of giving yourself permission to be human while you’re still learningThis episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from showing up, learning, and taking small steps forward.I also walk you through two mindset shifts I’m actively working on:Naming what you feel without becoming itLetting go of unrealistic expectations and learning to meet yourself where you areIf you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re not doing enough… this is your reminder that you are.Sometimes the growth is quiet.Sometimes it’s uncomfortable.But every step forward counts.And that’s what 1% better really means.Get your Raising Serotonin Merch here! FOLLOW RAISING SEROTONIN ON INSTAGRAM HERE Support the show

If I’m being honest… I didn’t realize how much I needed this check-in until I started talking it out.With the first day of spring here, I found myself reflecting on the last few months and asking a simple question: how am I actually doing right now? Not how I thought I’d be doing back in January. Not what I said I’d change. But what my real, everyday life looks like today.In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at what sparked this reflection for me, something as simple as a weekly whiteboard question during my practicum that’s been getting people to pause, think, and be present. And it made me realize… how often are we actually doing that in our own lives?I talk about what it means to live mindfully (without overcomplicating it), how easy it is to fall into autopilot, and why this time of year is the perfect opportunity to reset without pressure or guilt. Because the truth is, you still have time to shift, grow, and realign with what actually makes you feel good.This is your reminder that change is constant, growth isn’t linear, and you don’t have to have it all figured out to start showing up differently.In this episode, I dive into:Why March is the perfect time for a real-life resetThe difference between living intentionally vs. on autopilotSimple ways I check in with myself each seasonLetting go of what isn’t working (without judgment)Why inner work takes time—but is always worth itMy hope for you is that this new season feels refreshing, honest, and aligned. And if something needs to shift… let it.You’re not behind. You’re right on timeGet your Raising Serotonin Merch here! FOLLOW RAISING SEROTONIN ON INSTAGRAM HERE Support the show

In this episode of Raising Serotonin, I open up about the pressure I’ve been putting on myself to do more, be more, and question whether I’m actually doing “enough.” Sharing vulnerably from my practicum experience, I talk through the overthinking spiral, the inner critic that loves to show up uninvited, and what it looks like to catch myself before I let that negative voice take over. This conversation is a reminder, for me and for you, that growth isn’t about perfection, it’s about trying. And if you’re choosing to show up, stretch yourself, and do the work (even imperfectly), you’re already doing more than most.Get your Raising Serotonin Merch here! FOLLOW RAISING SEROTONIN ON INSTAGRAM HERE Support the show

In this episode of Raising Serotonin, I’m opening up about emotional spirals, the kind that feel overwhelming, heavy, and hard to pull yourself out of. I share some of my own experiences with spiraling and what I’ve learned through therapy, self-reflection, and giving myself a little more compassion along the way, I talk about the importance of slowing down long enough to acknowledge what I’m actually feeling instead of judging it or trying to push it away. So often, my spirals weren’t really about the surface issue, they were about deeper triggers that needed attention, care, and understanding. Learning to gently ask myself, “What’s really going on here?” has been a powerful shift.In this conversation, I walk through some of the tools that have helped me, naming my emotions instead of shaming them, recognizing my triggers, using affirmations that feel grounding (not forced), and allowing myself to talk things through with people I trust. I’ve learned that healing isn’t about never spiraling again, it’s about knowing how to meet yourself with grace when you do.If you’ve ever felt caught in your thoughts or overwhelmed by your emotions, I hope this episode reminds you that you’re not broken. You’re human. Your feelings make sense. And you are worthy of love, patience, and support, especially from yourself.We’re not trying to eliminate emotions here. We’re learning how to hold them with care.Get your Raising Serotonin Merch here! FOLLOW RAISING SEROTONIN ON INSTAGRAM HERE Support the show