Shows
CinemaJamMinijam: Summer in the Sim RecapEpisode Summary:In this special minijam, Sebastian and Pablo do an English recap of their July series, "Summer in the Sim". They analyze four films that explore virtual reality, simulations, and neo-noir, sharing their discoveries, disappointments, and favorite moments. Join them to relive this cinematic journey and find out their final movie ranking. Also, don't miss the announcement for the next cycle in August: "Carnival of Fear"! Main Topics Discussed:Introduction to the "Summer in the Sim" series (00:11): A review of the four sci-fi neo-noir films watched in July.Strange D...2025-07-2831 min
Codependent Doctor53: Breakups & Codependency: Why It's So Hard To Walk AwayBreakups hurt! In this episode, Dr. Downey unpacks why heartbreak can feel like withdrawal, especially for those with codependent tendencies. When your identity is wrapped up in caring for someone else, losing the relationship often means losing your sense of self. From the brain chemistry behind those late-night texts to the quiet signs it’s time to leave a draining relationship, this episode is a deep dive into the real pain of letting go—and how to begin healing for real. You’ll learn why grief is necessary, why rushed advice doesn’t help, and how to reconnect...2025-07-2129 minCodependent Doctor52: The 3-Second Authenticity Pause: How to Stop People Pleasing and Start Listening to YourselfIn this episode of The Codependent Doctor, I introduce the powerful yet simple tool that’s helped me stop people-pleasing on autopilot: the three-second authenticity pause. Through personal stories and practical tips, we explore how this tiny moment of mindfulness can help you reconnect with your body’s wisdom, set boundaries without guilt, and honor your truth—because real self-care starts with choosing yourself.Send me a messageYou can buy my books now on Amazon.🦋 Enough As I Am - A healing workbook for anyone navigating people-pleasing, guilt, or self-abandonment. It’s filled with...2025-07-0726 minCodependent Doctor51: When 'They Did Their Best' Wasn't Enough: Healing From Childhood Emotional Neglect and Parenting ChallengesHave you ever thought, “My parents really tried their best… but I still got hurt”? This episode dives into that exact truth—the emotional complexity of being raised by loving parents who lacked the tools to meet all your needs.Dr. Angela Downey shares her story from both sides:As a child with unmet emotional needsAnd as a mother navigating burnout while trying to give her kids everythingWe explore how:Childhood coping becomes adult codependency“Being the good child” often means losing your voiceThe most liberating truth? Healing doesn’t require your parents’...2025-06-2330 minCodependent Doctor50: Rebuilding Trust in Relationships: What to Do When You've Been HurtHave you ever felt the quiet pressure to “just get over it” after someone broke your trust?Maybe they apologized. Maybe they didn’t. But something inside you still feels unsettled.Trust doesn’t rebuild overnight. It takes consistency, accountability, and the slow return of emotional safety—not just a quick “I’m sorry.”In this episode, we explore:Why trust feels like emotional debt, not a switch you can flipHow codependent patterns make rebuilding trust even harderThe difference between true accountability vs. shame spiralsHow emotional safety is rebuilt through...2025-06-1626 minCodependent DoctorE49: How to Deal With Father's Day When You Had an Emotionally Absent FatherDo Father’s Day celebrations leave you feeling hollow instead of happy? You’re not alone.In this raw, candid conversation, we explore the grief that comes with having a father who was physically present but emotionally absent—a special kind of loss that often goes unspoken.In this episode, you’ll hear about:The lasting impact of emotional neglect on self-worth and relationshipsHow we internalize the absence of emotional warmth as “something is wrong with me”The burden of generational silence and narrow definitions of masculinityA new vision of fatherhood...2025-06-0927 minCodependent Doctor48: Friendship or Relationship? Understanding Emotional Intimacy and CodependencyCodependency doesn't just affect romantic relationships—it can appear in our friendships too, creating anxiety, over-functioning, and emotional entanglement that feels just as intense without the relationship label. Emotional intimacy is emotional intimacy, regardless of whether it's with a friend or partner, and our attachment patterns don't discriminate.• Friendships lack the clear definitions and expectations that romantic relationships have—there's no "define the relationship" talk or breakup script• Unspoken friendship rules create confusion, especially for those with codependent tendencies who overfunction to maintain connections• Friendship grief is just as valid as romantic heartbreak, though society rarely ack...2025-06-0226 minCodependent Doctor47: Codependency & Mental Health: How People-Pleasing, Guilt, and Burnout Are All ConnectedMental health and codependency intersect in profound ways that affect how we treat ourselves, not just our relationships with others. We explore four key patterns that keep us stuck in cycles of burnout, guilt, and emotional exhaustion while providing practical steps toward healing.We will explore how:• People-pleasing isn't just politeness but a nervous system survival response developed in childhood• Self-abandonment occurs when we consistently put others first regardless of the cost to ourselves• Chronic guilt and shame keep us stuck in patterns of overgiving even when it's harming our wellbeing• Emotional over-responsibility leads to...2025-05-2613 minCodependent Doctor46: Five Truths I Wish Everyone Knew About Maintaining Good Mental HealthIn this bonus episode for Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Angela Downey shares five powerful mindset shifts that challenge how we think about healing and self-care:Healing isn’t linear — Growth often looks messy, not perfect.You can struggle and still be strong — Vulnerability is courage, not weakness.Feeling your feelings isn’t weakness — Emotions are messengers, not problems to fix.Rest is productive — You don’t need to earn your downtime.Boundaries protect your peace — Limits aren’t selfish, they’re essential.This episode is for anyone navigating burnout, people-pleasing, codependency, or just feeling overwhelmed by mental health advice...2025-05-2215 minCodependent Doctor45: Emotional Neglect: The Hidden Wound Behind CodependencyIf you’ve always been “the strong one,” this episode on emotional neglect may explain why relationships still feel hard.Emotional neglect isn’t about what happened, but what didn’t.Your needs were likely invisibleYou learned to be low-maintenance to feel lovedYou felt “too much” for having emotionsThis early conditioning creates:CodependencyPeople-pleasingAttraction to emotionally unavailable partnersAt the root is a quiet belief: “If I had just been better, they would have loved me.”Healing begins when you stop trying to be chosen—and start choosing yourself.Send me a message2025-05-1928 minCodependent Doctor44: High-Functioning But Struggling: The Hidden Signs of Mental BurnoutEver say “it’s not that bad” while feeling overwhelmed or exhausted? This Mental Health Awareness Month bonus episode explores high-functioning distress—when you seem fine on the outside but feel drained inside.Dr. Angela Downey shares personal insights on why codependents, people pleasers, and overachievers often downplay their struggles. She reminds us that functioning isn’t thriving, and you don’t need to hit rock bottom to deserve support.Mental health care should be preventative, not just reactive. Sometimes healing begins with a whisper of honesty and one small act of self-respect.Send me a me...2025-05-1508 minCodependent Doctor43: From Love Bomb to Heartbreak: Understanding Toxic RelationshipsIn this episode, I unpack love bombing—those intense early displays of affection that can feel amazing but often mask emotional manipulation.I share a personal story (yes, I introduced someone to my family after one date!) to show how easy it is to confuse intensity with connection.We explore:What love bombing looks likeWhy it’s so effective (especially for those with unmet emotional needs)Red flags like pressure, overwhelm, and mismatched words vs. actionsHealthy love respects your pace. This episode will help you spot manipulation and protect your heart.Se...2025-05-1229 minCodependent Doctor42: Six Tiny Mindset Shifts That Changed My Mental HealthWe often think healing requires big life changes—but the most powerful mental health shifts often come from small, consistent habits.In this Mental Health Awareness Month bonus episode, I share six mindset shifts that helped me heal from codependency and burnout.Pausing before saying yesSpeaking to myself with more kindnessSetting quiet boundariesEmbracing rest without guiltThese aren’t dramatic changes—they’re small, sustainable practices that help you show up for yourself day by day. Healing starts with one small habit.Send me a messageYou can buy my books now on A...2025-05-0813 minCodependent Doctor41: When they Stop Talking: The Emotional Toll of the Silent TreatmentIn this episode, I explore the silent treatment—why it’s used, how it hurts, and how to recognize it as emotional withdrawal, not healthy conflict resolution.We cover:How the silent treatment triggers shame, anxiety, and confusionWhy some people use it (control, immaturity, learned behavior)The lasting damage it causes in relationshipsI share personal stories and offer tools to:Set boundariesRecognize your worthReflect on your own conflict patternsSilence shouldn’t be used as a weapon. Healthier communication is possible.Send me a messageYou can buy my boo...2025-05-0527 minCodependent Doctor40: The Everyday Practice of Mental Wellness: Beyond DiagnosisWhat does mental health care look like between therapy sessions and diagnoses?In this Mental Health Awareness Month episode, I explore the daily habits that support emotional well-being—especially for those of us with codependent tendencies.We cover:Why your “lizard brain” still jumps to worst-case scenariosHow asking “what do I need today?” can feel hard but healingSmall practices that build resilience: saying no, resting early, and pausing to breatheMental health isn’t about being “fixed.” It’s about showing up for yourself daily—with compassion, not crisis.Send me a messageYou...2025-05-0110 minCodependent Doctor39: Losing Yourself in a Role: How to Find Your Identity Beyond Your Job Title or Being ‘The Mom’In this episode, I explore what happens when we lose ourselves in the roles we play—doctor, parent, caregiver—and forget who we are beyond them.We cover:How tying self-worth to titles leads to burnout and identity lossSocietal pressure to equate value with productivityMy personal journey of redefining myself outside of being “just a doctor”I share practical ways to reconnect with your true self:Spend time aloneRevisit forgotten joysAsk: Who am I beyond what I do?You are enough—just as you are. It’s time to reclaim your authentic self.Send me...2025-04-2822 minCodependent Doctor38: The Loneliness Of Healing: Why Growth Feels So Isolating At FirstHealing is powerful—but it can also feel lonely. In this episode, I explore the emotional shift that happens when you set boundaries and leave behind people-pleasing.We discuss:Why loneliness is a normal part of growthHow relationships may shift as you changeHow to embrace the quiet instead of fearing itI also share tools to help you:Reconnect with yourselfExplore joy and curiosityFind safe, supportive spacesLoneliness isn’t a setback—it’s where your real self begins to emerge.Send me a messageYou can buy my books no...2025-04-2116 minCodependent Doctor37: Reclaim Your Power: How to Recognize and Release the Victim MindsetIn this episode of The Codependent Doctor, I delve into the complex and often misunderstood concept of "victim mode." As a family doctor and fellow codependent, I understand that many of us have experienced feelings of powerlessness, especially after trauma, burnout, or in the context of codependency. This episode is designed to foster compassion and self-awareness, rather than judgment, as we explore how victim mode manifests in our lives and how we can begin to shift out of it.I start by defining victim mode as a mindset where individuals feel as though life is constantly happening...2025-04-1431 minCodependent Doctor36: Understanding Burnout: Recognizing the Signs and Taking ActionIn this episode of The Codependent Doctor, I dive deep into the topic of burnout, a personal experience that has significantly shaped my life and career. Burnout is more than just feeling tired; it's a profound exhaustion that affects our body, mind, and emotions, often creeping up on us until we hit a breaking point. I share my own struggles with burnout, including moments of emotional outbursts and the toll it took on my health and relationships.We explore the three key dimensions of burnout as defined by psychologist Christina Maslach: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal...2025-04-0726 minCodependent Doctor35: Jealousy and Envy: Shifting Your Mindset for Healthier RelationshipsIn this episode of The Codependent Doctor, I delve into the complex emotions of jealousy and envy—two feelings that many of us grapple with but often struggle to understand. As we explore these emotions, I aim to shed light on how they can impact our self-worth and relationships, particularly in the context of codependency.I begin by discussing the common experience of feeling jealous or envious, whether it’s triggered by a friend’s engagement or someone’s apparent confidence. These emotions, while natural, can lead to feelings of insecurity, bitterness, and even resentment if left unchecke...2025-03-3124 minCodependent Doctor34: Living Authentically: Embracing Diversity in the LGBTQ CommunityIn this episode of The Codependent Doctor, I delve into the complexities of gender identity and the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in the context of codependency. I begin by emphasizing the importance of acceptance and respect for all individuals, regardless of their differences. I share my unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community and create a safe space for open dialogue.Throughout history, human diversity has existed, yet societal norms have often imposed rigid categories around gender and love. I discuss how these norms can lead to feelings of discomfort and resistance when faced with identities...2025-03-2421 minCodependent Doctor33: Understanding the Connection Between Addiction and Mental Health. Addictions Mini Series Episode 5In this episode of The Codependent Doctor, I delve into the intricate relationship between addiction and mental health, emphasizing that addiction is often a coping mechanism for underlying issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. As we wrap up the fifth and final episode of my miniseries on addictions, I explore various co-occurring mental health conditions that frequently accompany addiction and how they can exacerbate each other.I discuss the importance of dual diagnosis treatment, which addresses both addiction and mental health simultaneously, providing individuals with the best chance for recovery. Throughout the episode, I highlight...2025-03-1727 minCodependent Doctor32: Addiction's Impact on Family: How to Set Boundaries & Heal. Addictions Mini Series Episode 4 In this episode of The Codependent Doctor we delve into the often-overlooked impact of addiction on loved ones who are not the ones struggling with substance use. While previous episodes have focused on the individual battling addiction, today, I want to shine a light on the emotional turmoil faced by partners, family members, and friends who find their lives intertwined with someone else's addiction. I begin by acknowledging the pain, exhaustion, and overwhelming feelings that can arise when you love someone with an addiction. Many listeners may relate to the experience of feeling frustrated, hurt, or emotionally dr...2025-03-1031 minCodependent Doctor31: Exploring Alternative Paths to Addiction Recovery: Beyond 12-Step Programs. Addictions Mini Series Episode 3In this episode of The Codependent Doctor, I, Dr. Angela Downey, delve into the world of alternative addiction recovery programs, moving beyond the traditional 12-step approach that many are familiar with. Having previously explored the nature of addiction and the effectiveness of 12-step programs in our last two episodes, I recognize that recovery is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Today, I aim to highlight various paths to healing that cater to different needs and preferences.I begin by celebrating the courage of those who are willing to explore recovery options, whether they are newcomers or have previously tried...2025-03-0328 minCodependent Doctor30: Understanding 12-Step Programs: A Roadmap to Recovery from Addiction. Addictions Mini Series Episode 2In this episode of The Codependent Doctor, I am excited to present part two of our miniseries on addictions, focusing specifically on the transformative power of 12-step programs. Whether you’re familiar with Alcoholics Anonymous or simply curious about the principles behind these programs, this episode is designed to provide valuable insights for everyone—whether you’re on your own recovery journey, supporting someone else, or just looking to learn more.We begin by exploring the origins of 12-step programs, which date back to the 1930s with the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Sm...2025-02-2427 minCodependent Doctor29: Breaking Free from Addictions: Addictions Mini Series Episode 1This episode is the first of a mini series I have created on addiction. It offers a deep and compassionate exploration of addiction, its roots, and the interconnection with codependency. The discussion highlights various forms of addiction, the impact of trauma, denial, and the importance of self-reflection and support in the recovery process. • Exploring the complexities of addiction and codependency • Addiction manifests in both substance and behavioral forms • Trauma as a significant contributing factor to addiction • The emotional toll and isolation caused by addiction • Recognizing denial in addiction, both personally and among loved ones • Ref...2025-02-1728 min