The Food Shrinks open up about their personal journeys with self-compassion—from eye rolls and resistance to finding voices that finally felt true. They explore how trauma, neurodivergence, addiction, and childhood conditioning make self-compassion feel foreign, even threatening. With humor, honesty, and lived experience, they share how they’ve begun to chip away at old patterns of self-hate and embrace compassion as a lifelong practice, not a magical fix. This episode is real talk for real people who are tired of shaming themselves into change and are ready to try something gentler.

🧠 Key Topics Covered:

• Why self-compassion feels so uncomfortable (and sometimes impossible) at first
• How neurodivergence and ADHD impact the ability to receive compassion
• The difference between self-pity, self-permission, and true compassion
• The myth of "spiritual bypassing" and the danger of pretending to be okay
• How to develop your own compassionate inner voice that actually sounds like you
• Using somatic tools and nervous system regulation as a bridge to self-kindness
• Faith, spirituality, and the higher self as sources of compassionate guidance
• How modeling compassion for others often helps us practice it for ourselves
• When receiving love feels like too much—and why that’s okay
• Tiny ways to start practicing, even when it feels awkward or fake

💡 Favorite Quotes:

“No one has ever shamed themselves into wellness—but that didn’t stop me from trying.”

“You can’t just throw affirmations at yourself like spaghetti and hope they stick.”

“Whatever voice you're listening to—if it's not loving, it's not your higher self.”

“Self-compassion isn't the finish line. It's the practice that lets you stay in the race.”

💬 Call to Action:

Love this episode? Want more on self-compassion, trauma healing, or navigating recovery as a neurodivergent person?

📧 Write to us at AskTheShrinks@foodshrinks.com with your thoughts and questions!

And hey, besties, if this show gave you something, will you do us a little favor?

💖 Subscribe, rate, review, and share. We read every comment, and your support means the world.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode, the Shrinks dive into one of the most relatable recovery challenges: the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Whether it’s flossing your teeth, sticking to a food plan, or showing up for yourself with compassion, the struggle is real—and it’s not about laziness or failure. It’s about nervous system responses, shame scripts, feelings phobia, and learning to be with our shadows. Join Molly C, Clarissa, and Molly P as they explore ambivalence, ego death, and what it means to change from the inside out, without shame.

What We Talk About:

• Why “knowing better” doesn’t always lead to “doing better”
• The myth of compliance and what the data actually says
• Personal stories of avoidance, resistance, and showing up anyway
• Ambivalence as a source of wisdom and transformation
• Nervous system dysregulation and safety as the missing link
• How shadow work, compassion, and ego humility fuel real change
• Type 2 fun, Iceland waterfall revelations, and hiking metaphors that hit deep
• Learning to celebrate what is working, not just what isn’t

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Compliance data on glaucoma and pediatric prescriptions
• Sweet Sobriety community insights
• Our mantra of the day: “I am loved and accepted exactly as I am.”

Listener Homework:
If this episode stirred something in you, try this:

• Name one thing you know you “should” do—but don’t.
• Now list three compassionate reasons why that might be hard.
• Bonus: What are you already doing that supports your well-being?

Call to Action:
✨ Liked this episode? Help us spread the word!
🎧 Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform
🌟 Rate & review if you’re feelin’ generous
📤 Share it with a friend who needs to know they’re not alone

💌 Got a question or topic idea? Email us at: asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this raw and reflective episode, Molly C, Clarissa, and Molly P dive into the messy, beautiful work of staying with the hard stuff, especially when it would feel easier to bolt. Inspired by Molly C’s bougie pup Danny and his enforced recovery rest, the team explores the emotional equivalent of “week four”: the moment when things feel better, but the healing isn’t finished, and the temptation to return to old habits is loudest.

💡 Topics We Explore:

• Why the hardest part of healing often comes right before the miracle
• Recovery drop-offs and the fear of facing distress
• Faith, impulsivity, and why divine timing is maddening (and necessary)
• Learning to tolerate emotional pain without numbing
• The spiritual act of doing it anyway—even when it’s not pretty
• Practicing patience and staying present, one breath or brick at a time
• Why community and connection are non-negotiable in recovery

💬 Favorite Hot Takes:

• “You don’t have to do it pretty. You just have to do it.”
• “The goal of distress tolerance isn’t to feel better. It’s to not feel worse.”
• “Maybe you’re not seeing the whole quilt—and maybe that’s okay.”
• “Feeling sad and not numbing it? That’s a miracle.”

🛠️ Practical Wisdom:

• Daily grounding for emotional overwhelm
• Using decision balance sheets in recovery
• Letting go of judgment to increase distress tolerance
• How to be someone’s Day 42 companion

💌 Mentioned in This Episode:

• The Love Letter, Molly C’s weekly newsletter
• Sweet Sobriety and the Foundations Program
• Recovery slogans that still hit (hello, “Don’t quit before the miracle”)

💖 Closing Reminder:
You are part of the quilt, even when it doesn’t make sense. Keep showing up. The miracle might be one breath away.

📬 Questions or feedback?
Email us anytime at asktheshrinks@foodshrinks.com

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Subscribe, rate us 5 stars, share with your people, and stay for the magic.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.