Welcome to Untapped Confidence, formerly the Untapped Potential Podcast. In this episode, I share why the podcast has a new name and how it reflects the deeper purpose of this space.

We also explore an important question from my free support group - "Why does eating sugar increase the urge to pick your skin?+

Here’s what you’ll learn:
• How sugar impacts dopamine, stress, and emotional regulation
• Why sugar cravings and skin picking urges are biologically connected
• What the research says about sugar’s addictive nature
• Three realistic ways to reduce sugar’s impact without going cold turkey
• How to enjoy sweets more mindfully without falling into picking spirals

This is a grounded, practical conversation that helps you take more control without creating food anxiety.

🌟Click here to join the free support group via the 7-Day Healing Loop Challenge

If you've ever felt stuck, misaligned, or quietly overwhelmed by a life that looks good on paper but feels off inside, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, we explore what it really takes to come home to yourself.

Through the lens of Adam Hudson’s raw, personal story, we unpack the deeper patterns behind burnout, disconnection, and fear of being seen so you can start rewriting your own.

Inside this episode:

• Why rebuilding self-trust is the foundation for real change
• How to stop avoiding your truth and start hearing it
• What the inner rebel is trying to tell you, and how to let it guide you
• Why empowerment isn’t about perfection, but radical self-acceptance
• The hidden cost of success when it’s built on suppression
• How to know when it’s time to walk away from something that no longer fits
• What to do when healing feels messy, nonlinear, or slow

Whether you’re navigating loss, a big transition, or a quiet inner reckoning, this episode will give you insight, language, and hope for what comes next.

Press play and reconnect with the version of you that’s been waiting to rise.

🌟Connect with Adam on Facebook or Instagram

What if your intrusive thoughts weren’t something wrong with you—but actually a protective mechanism rooted in past experiences?

In this heartfelt episode, Raffaela Marie dives deep into the nature of intrusive thoughts, exploring how they connect to chronic skin picking and other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs).
Drawing from her personal healing journey and research, Raffaela sheds light on why intrusive thoughts develop, how they often stem from trauma, and why self-acceptance and community are essential for lasting healing.

You’ll learn:

• What intrusive thoughts really are - and what they’re not
• Why these thoughts often emerge from a place of protection, not pathology
• How intrusive thoughts fuel compulsive behaviors like skin picking
• Practical, holistic strategies for managing intrusive thoughts with compassion

If you've ever felt ashamed, afraid, or stuck because of the thoughts in your mind, this episode offers hope, understanding, and a realistic path forward.

🌟Come join is in STRENGTH The Roadmap to Healing from Chronic Skin Picking

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Intro
• 00:29 – Client Success Story
• 01:58 – Introduction to Intrusive Thoughts
• 02:54 – Understanding Intrusive Thoughts
• 05:16 – The Purpose of Intrusive Thoughts
• 06:36 – Personal Experiences and Coping Mechanisms
• 15:24 – Healing and Self-Acceptance
• 21:38 – Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Do you feel like chronic skin picking is more of a compulsion or like OCD rather than a behavioural addiction?

In this episode, Raffaela Marie dives into the nuanced relationship between chronic skin picking and compulsive behaviours, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Drawing from personal experiences and psychological insights, she explores how skin picking can function as a compulsive behaviour tied to control, intrusive thoughts, and emotional overwhelm.

You’ll gain clarity on:

• How OCD shows up in skin picking patterns
• The role of control, perfectionism, and anxiety
• Why shame-free understanding is key to healing
• How to relate more compassionately to your urges

This is a must-listen for anyone questioning the root of their behavior or seeking a more informed, supportive path to recovery. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with OCD or simply suspect there’s more beneath the surface, this episode brings depth, validation, and direction.

🌟Join us in the FREE 7 Day Healing Loop Challenge!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast
• 01:21 – Understanding Chronic Skin Picking as an Addiction
• 02:58 – Exploring Chronic Skin Picking as OCD
• 07:45 – The Role of Control in OCD
• 19:42 – Personal Experiences with OCD and Intrusive Thoughts
• 28:29 – Healing and Moving Forward
• 30:15 – Conclusion and Call to Action

What if your heightened skin picking urges early in the year aren’t just random but rooted in deeper emotional patterns and unrealistic expectations?

In this episode, we explore why skin picking often intensifies during the first few months of the year. Through heartfelt personal reflections and powerful listener stories, we unpack the pressure of New Year’s resolutions, post-holiday fatigue, and rising responsibilities that can all become hidden triggers.

This episode offers practical tools and a compassionate mindset shift to help you:

• Recognize and manage seasonal and situational triggers
• Let go of the pressure to “start fresh” perfectly
• Create goals that align with your capacity, not your inner critic
• Prioritize rest and self-kindness as part of your healing journey

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by expectations or stuck in a cycle of picking, this episode offers a supportive roadmap for regaining your balance.

🌟If you'd like more support, come join us in the Free 7 Day Healing Loop Challenge - a holistic and science-based method to finding freedom from skin picking

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Intro
• 00:27 – Listener Testimonial and Podcast Impact
• 01:43 – Current Trends in Chronic Skin Picking
• 06:50 – Understanding and Managing New Year's Resolutions
• 17:38 – Dealing with Increased Responsibilities
• 23:49 – Impact of the Holiday Season
• 27:52 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts

NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) is often recommended to people struggling with dermatillomania, but does it actually work? In this episode, we break down what NAC really is, how it functions in the body, and why it might help reduce chronic skin picking.

We’ll explore:

• What NAC is and how it’s connected to antioxidants and glutathione
• How oxidative stress affects your body (and mind)
• The possible link between NAC and neurotransmitters like dopamine and glutamate
• Real experiences from the community on whether it helped
• What else you can do to support your healing from the inside out

Plus, Raffaela shares simple but powerful lifestyle shifts that support your nervous system and reduce urges - no supplement required.

If you've been curious about NAC or wondering whether it's worth adding to your routine, this episode is a must-listen.

Resources:

🌟FREE 7 Day Healing Loop Challenge

🌟STRENGTH The Roadmap to Healing from Chronic Skin Picking

Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:25 The Healing Loop Challenge
00:59 Today’s Topic: NAC Supplement
04:18 Understanding Antioxidants and Free Radicals
08:25 How NAC Helps with Skin Picking
16:34 Personal Experiences with NAC
17:42 Holistic Healing and Lifestyle Changes
26:31 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Ever feel like freedom from skin picking just isn’t possible?

You’re not alone - and you're not stuck.

In this episode, host Raffaela Marie opens up about the emotional highs and lows of healing from chronic skin picking. With honesty and empathy, she explores what it means to face rough patches, manage expectations, and find moments of comfort even in the hardest times.

You'll walk away with mindset shifts and practical tools to help you stay grounded, feel less alone, and reconnect to your progress.

Healing isn’t linear, but it is possible!

🌟Click here to join us in the FREE 7 Day Healing Loop Challenge!

Show notes:
00:00 – Intro

02:00 – Understanding the Healing Journey

04:10 – Navigating Rough Patches

06:13 – Personal Growth and Shifting Perspectives

08:25 – Embracing Challenges and Emotions

09:27 – The Importance of Relationships

16:17 – Managing Expectations and Self-Compassion

21:34 – Conclusion + Invitation to the Healing Loop

What if the biggest thing getting in the way of healing from chronic skin picking… is your thinking style?

In this episode, we dive into the four thinking archetypes from the Meta Dynamics® profiling tool: Visionary, Architect, Dynamo, and Collaborator - and explore how each one influences your healing journey.

You’ll learn:

• How to figure out your dominant archetype so you can understand your unique healing patterns
• What a “thinking style” actually is and why it matters
• The strengths and blind spots of each archetype
• How your natural way of thinking can both help and hinder progress
• The most common roadblocks each archetype faces
• Simple mindset shifts and growth areas to support lasting change

Whether you tend to overanalyze, avoid structure, take on too much, or people-please your way through challenges… this episode will help you recognise the patterns and start working with your brain instead of against it.

🎧 Listen now and discover the thinking style that’s shaping your healing path and how to use it to your advantage!

🌟Take the quiz to discover your Thinking Archetype here!

Email Raffaela your thoughts/Qs here OR DM her here on Instagram

Time stamps:
00:00 Intro
00:39 Podcast Anniversary and Future Plans
01:58 Today's Topic: Thinking Styles and Healing
02:31 Understanding Thinking Styles
03:49 Meta Dynamics and Thinking Archetypes
08:50 The Visionary Archetype
15:38 The Architect Archetype
25:13 Exploring the Dynamo Archetype
25:33 Characteristics of Dynamos
30:05 Challenges Faced by Dynamos
33:29 Introducing the Collaborator Archetype
33:49 Traits of Collaborators
39:41 Challenges of Collaborators
43:35 Balancing Archetypes for Personal Growth
47:40 Understanding Your Dominant Archetype
48:53 Conclusion and Next Steps