Why did I say that? What if this happens? Did I make the right decision?

Overthinking can make us feel like we’re solving a problem, preparing for what might happen, or gaining control. But often, the more we think, the more anxious and stuck we become.

In this episode, Lauren breaks down the different ways overthinking can show up — from replaying past conversations and mistakes to worrying about worst-case scenarios, perfectionism, and analysis paralysis.

She also shares practical strategies for getting out of the loop, including how to recognize when reflection has turned into rumination, challenge worst-case thinking, schedule dedicated “worry time,” sit with uncertainty, and identify when there’s actually something you can do right now.

Because sometimes the answer isn’t to think about it one more time. It’s to recognize the loop, decide what’s within your control, and take the next step.

If you’ve ever wished you could just turn your brain off for a little while, this one’s for you.

Can changing what you eat actually change how you feel?

Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, and bestselling author Dr. Uma Naidoo joins Dr. Eleni Boosalis for a practical conversation about how the foods we eat can influence anxiety, mood, and overall mental well-being.

This time, the focus is on what you can actually do.

Dr. Naidoo explores protein and changing nutritional needs as we age, electrolytes and supplements, creatine and collagen, coffee and caffeine, sugar and inflammation, and some of the supposedly “healthy” foods that may contain far more added sugar than we realize.

They also talk about foods that may help support anxiety and mental health, including fiber-rich vegetables, omega-3s, fermented foods, spices, and other simple additions to your everyday diet.

Most importantly, eating for better mental health doesn’t have to mean completely overhauling your life. Dr. Naidoo shares realistic ways to start small, make better choices when time is limited, and gradually build healthier habits.

In this episode:

• What women should know about protein and nutrition as they age

• Electrolytes, creatine, collagen, and supplements

• Food, menopause, muscle mass, and healthy aging

• Coffee, caffeine, and mental health

• How added sugar may affect inflammation and anxiety

• “Healthy” foods that can contain surprising amounts of sugar

• Foods that may help support anxiety and mood

• Simple ways to eat better when you’re busy

• Why small, sustainable changes matter more than perfection

Learn more about Dr. Uma Naidoo, her books, recipes, and work in nutritional psychiatry:

umanaidoomd.com

Ready to build a healthier relationship with food?

Dr. Eleni Boosalis’ Hypnosis for Weight Management eCourse is designed to help address the thoughts, habits, and patterns that can influence your relationship with food.

delraypsych.com/hypnosisforweightmanagement

This conversation is part of our special series with Dr. Naidoo exploring the connection between food, the gut, the brain, and mental health. Each episode stands on its own, so you can start right here.

Follow Shrinks on Tap for more conversations about mental health, relationships, wellness, and the psychology behind everyday life.

What if anxiety, mood, and mental health aren't only about what's happening in your brain?

In this special episode of Shrinks on Tap, Dr. Eleni Boosalis sits down with Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist and bestselling author Dr. Uma Naidoo to explore the powerful connection between the gut and the brain—and why what we eat may play a meaningful role in how we feel.

Dr. Naidoo breaks down the science behind the gut-brain connection, including the microbiome, serotonin, the vagus nerve, inflammation, and the ways nutrition can support mental well-being.

Together, Eleni and Dr. Naidoo discuss how the gut communicates with the brain, why gut health matters for mental health, and why supporting your mental well-being may involve looking beyond the brain itself.

In this episode:

• How the gut and brain communicate

• The relationship between the microbiome and mental health

• Why serotonin in the gut matters

• The role of the vagus nerve

• How inflammation can affect mental well-being

• Why nutrition can be another tool for supporting mental health

• How quickly dietary changes may begin to make a difference

This is one of two special Shrinks on Tap conversations with Dr. Uma Naidoo. Follow or subscribe to Shrinks on Tap so you don't miss our next conversation, where we turn from the “why” to the “how” and explore practical ways to use food and nutrition to support mental health.

About Dr. Uma Naidoo

Dr. Uma Naidoo is a Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, nutritional biologist, and bestselling author whose work explores the connection between food, the brain, and mental health.

Learn more about Dr. Uma Naidoo:

https://umanaidoomd.com

🎧 Listen or watch Shrinks on Tap on your favorite podcast platform.

Do you ever feel like you're having the same argument over and over again?

Maybe it's about chores, parenting, money, intimacy, or feeling unheard. The topic changes, but the fight always seems to end the same way.

In this episode of Shrinks on Tap, clinical psychologists Dr. Lauren Fisher and Dr. Eleni Boosalis explore why couples get stuck in repetitive conflict patterns and what those arguments are often really about.

You'll learn:

• Why recurring arguments aren't usually about the issue you're fighting over.
• The communication patterns that keep couples stuck.
• How unmet needs fuel the same conflict again and again.
• Practical ways to communicate more effectively without escalating the conversation.

Whether you're dating, married, or simply want healthier relationships, this episode offers practical insights to help you break the cycle and start having conversations that actually move you forward.

Do you ever reach the end of the day feeling like you've given everything you have to everyone else?

Work. Family. Friends. Relationships. Responsibilities.

Somewhere along the way, your emotional tank runs empty.

In this episode of Shrinks on Tap, clinical psychologists Dr. Lauren Fisher and Dr. Eleni Boosalis introduce a simple but powerful way to think about your emotional energy: imagine starting each day with $100. Every conversation, obligation, and interaction costs you something... but how often do you stop to ask who's helping fill your tank back up?

Together, they explore why emotional exhaustion happens, why some people and situations drain us more than others, and practical strategies for recharging before burnout becomes your normal.

You'll learn how to become more intentional about where your energy goes, recognize the signs that you're running on empty, and build simple habits that help you recover instead of carrying the weight of the entire day with you.

If you've been feeling emotionally drained, overwhelmed, or like there's never enough of you to go around, this conversation will leave you with practical tools and a new perspective on taking care of yourself.

Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling completely drained... while someone else leaves you feeling calm, supported, and energized?

In this episode of Shrinks on Tap, Dr. Lauren Fisher and Dr. Eleni Boosalis explore the psychology behind emotionally draining relationships and why your nervous system responds differently to different people.

Together, they discuss:

• Why some people leave you feeling emotionally exhausted

• How your nervous system constantly picks up on emotional cues

• The role of co-regulation and emotional energy in relationships

• Why certain friendships and interactions affect you so deeply

• How understanding these patterns can help you make healthier relationship choices

If you've ever thought, "Why do I always feel so drained after being around certain people?" this conversation is for you.

Whether you're navigating friendships, family relationships, work dynamics, or simply trying to better understand yourself, this episode offers practical insights that can help you recognize what's happening beneath the surface.

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to follow Shrinks on Tap so you never miss future episodes exploring psychology, relationships, emotional wellness, and the challenges of being human.

Have you ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, irritable, or emotionally drained—but assumed it was just stress, a busy season, or simply part of life?

In this episode of Shrinks on Tap, Dr. Lauren Fisher and Dr. Eleni Boosalis explore the often-overlooked signs of burnout and why so many people experience it without realizing what's really happening.

Burnout doesn't always show up as complete exhaustion. Sometimes it looks like feeling disconnected from the things you once enjoyed, struggling to focus, becoming increasingly irritable, feeling emotionally numb, or carrying the constant weight of everyone else's needs and expectations.

Lauren and Eleni discuss:

• What burnout actually is and how it develops
• The difference between stress and burnout
• Why women are especially vulnerable to burnout
• Common warning signs people tend to dismiss
• How burnout impacts relationships, work, and emotional well-being
• Practical strategies for recognizing and addressing burnout before it becomes overwhelming

If you've ever wondered whether you're simply stressed—or if something deeper may be going on—this conversation offers insight, validation, and actionable tools for moving forward.

Have you ever felt responsible for someone else's happiness?

Do you find yourself constantly trying to fix problems, rescue loved ones, avoid conflict, or manage other people's emotions?

In this episode of Shrinks on Tap, psychologists Dr. Lauren Fisher and Dr. Eleni Boosalis explore codependency, people-pleasing, overfunctioning, and the emotional burden of feeling responsible for everyone around you.

Together, they discuss:

• What codependency really is
• The difference between caring and controlling
• Common signs of overfunctioning in relationships
• How childhood experiences shape these patterns
• Why healthy boundaries are not punishment
• How to support others without carrying their emotional load

If you've ever found yourself thinking, "If they're not okay, I'm not okay," this episode will help you better understand where that pattern comes from and how to begin changing it.

Shrinks on Tap is a psychology podcast hosted by Dr. Lauren Fisher and Dr. Eleni Boosalis, where real conversations about mental health, relationships, self-awareness, trauma, anxiety, boundaries, burnout, and personal growth happen without the clinical jargon.