Season 4 of The Ariza Inspire Podcast is all about stories. Stories of people's mental health journeys and the lessons they learned along the way. This week, I sat down with Kristen Harootunian to discuss her mental health journey.

Author | Speaker | Holistic Coach: Brooke is dedicated to the intersection of overall wellness and ancestral wisdom. By integrating Earth-based healing, such as herbalism and nature immersion, with evidence-based modalities like somatic and cognitive behavioral therapies, Brooke facilitates a deep, restorative connection between the self and the natural world.

Follow Brooke online:

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Visit my free Therapy Resource Guide online for information and links mentioned in this episode as well as support docs and resources to aide you on your mental health journey.

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If you enjoy these conversations, you’ll find deeper support on the Ariza Inspire Co website—from the Resilience Workshop to Emotional First Aid for Crisis Moments, plus workbooks and self-paced resources to help you understand your emotions, regulate your nervous system, and grow through challenges.

Resilience Workshop: https://www.arizainspire.com/resilience-workshop

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Thanks for downloading this episode of The Ariza Inspire Podcast, the podcast that breaks down barriers to mental health care with clear, compassionate guidance. Whether you’re brand new to therapy or returning after time away, this season walks you through the entire process step by step. Hosted by Samantha, a mental health professional, each episode combines expert insights with real-world tips to help you take the first step toward emotional wellness.

Subscribe now and start your journey with confidence, because taking care of your mental health should be accessible, empowering, and stigma-free.

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Let's stay connected! Make sure you follow me online for more mental health content, support, ideas, and information.

Website: https://arizainspire.com

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Hosted by: Samantha Ariza (https://arizainspire.com)

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Disclaimer:

This podcast and its content cannot be used to diagnose and/or treat mental health conditions and are not meant to replace medical, clinical, or professional advice, diagnosis, or intervention. Downloading, subscribing to, and/or listening to this podcast, or using the educational materials through Ariza Inspire Co., does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Ariza Counseling LLC or Samantha Ariza, LPC.

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©2026 Samantha Ariza

Special Guest: Brooke Marie Bridges.

Colin looked like he had it all. He was a popular three-sport varsity athlete, always trying to improve his social status by partying or not trying too hard in school. He needed to be the “cool” kid. But behind that mask, he was struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and substance use. Feeling stuck, he made a plan to end his life, but sought help instead. He shares his story so others know it is okay to not be okay, and there is always hope. He is a college student and will be graduating in May. He’s a former college athlete and is pursuing a career in sports psychology. Colin is a mental health advocate and shares his story so that others will feel more comfortable sharing theirs, encourages people to chase their dreams, and to keep on fighting

Follow Colin on Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/colinquinn__/

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You can now watch this podcast in video on YouTube! Like, subscribe, and share to spread the word!

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Visit my free Therapy Resource Guide online for information and links mentioned in this episode as well as support docs and resources to aide you on your mental health journey.

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If you love these conversations, you’ll find even deeper support on the Ariza Inspire Co website. From the Resilience Workshop, a hands-on training to help you rebuild strength and adaptability after life’s challenges, to Emotional First Aid for Crisis Moments, a trauma-informed video lesson that teaches real-time tools for calming overwhelm. You’ll also find workbooks, guides, and self-paced resources designed to help you understand your emotions, regulate your nervous system, and grow through what you go through.

Resilience Workshop: https://www.arizainspire.com/resilience-workshop

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Thanks for downloading this episode of The Ariza Inspire Podcast, the podcast that breaks down barriers to mental health care with clear, compassionate guidance. Whether you're brand new to therapy or returning after time away, this season walks you through the entire process step-by-step. Hosted by Samantha, a mental health professional, each episode combines expert insights with real-world tips to help you take the first step toward emotional wellness.

Subscribe now and start your journey with confidence. Because taking care of your mental health should be accessible, empowering, and stigma-free.

===============

Let's stay connected! Make sure you follow me online for more mental health content, support, idea, and information.

Website: https://arizainspire.com

===============

Hosted by: Samantha Ariza (https://arizainspire.com)

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Disclaimer:

This podcast and its content cannot be used to diagnose and/or treat mental health conditions and are not meant to be a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Downloading, subscribing, and/or listening to this podcast and using the educational materials through Ariza Inspire Co. does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Ariza Counseling LLC or Samantha Ariza, LPC.

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©2026 Samantha Ariza

Special Guest: Colin Quinn.

Kristen's childhood was marked by significant trauma, including her mother attempting and completing suicide. As she grew older, she struggled with mental illness and substance use disorder as a way to cope with her pain. At one point, she even believed she wouldn't live past 18. However, through numerous treatment efforts, Kristen was able to attend long-term treatment, go to a recovery high school, and eventually become a Penn State graduate, where she earned her BA in Corporate Communications. She was honored to be the commencement speaker at her own graduation. Kristen's childhood was marked by significant trauma, including her mother attempting and completing suicide. As she grew older, she struggled with mental illness and substance use disorder as a way to cope with her pain. At one point, she even believed she wouldn't live past 18. Throughout this process, she has replaced harmful coping mechanisms with positive ones. She has been sharing her story all over the country since 2016 alongside Minding Your Mind, talking about the importance of therapy, a support structure, and how to ask for help.

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You can now watch this podcast in video on YouTube! Like, subscribe, and share to spread the word!

===============

Visit my free Therapy Resource Guide online for information and links mentioned in this episode as well as support docs and resources to aide you on your mental health journey.

===============

If you love these conversations, you’ll find even deeper support on the Ariza Inspire Co website. From the Resilience Workshop, a hands-on training to help you rebuild strength and adaptability after life’s challenges, to Emotional First Aid for Crisis Moments, a trauma-informed video lesson that teaches real-time tools for calming overwhelm. You’ll also find workbooks, guides, and self-paced resources designed to help you understand your emotions, regulate your nervous system, and grow through what you go through.

Resilience Workshop: https://www.arizainspire.com/resilience-workshop

===============

Thanks for downloading this episode of The Ariza Inspire Podcast, the podcast that breaks down barriers to mental health care with clear, compassionate guidance. Whether you're brand new to therapy or returning after time away, this season walks you through the entire process step-by-step. Hosted by Samantha, a mental health professional, each episode combines expert insights with real-world tips to help you take the first step toward emotional wellness.

Subscribe now and start your journey with confidence. Because taking care of your mental health should be accessible, empowering, and stigma-free.

===============

Let's stay connected! Make sure you follow me online for more mental health content, support, idea, and information.

Website: https://arizainspire.com

===============

Hosted by: Samantha Ariza (https://arizainspire.com)

===============

Disclaimer:

This podcast and its content cannot be used to diagnose and/or treat mental health conditions and are not meant to be a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Downloading, subscribing, and/or listening to this podcast and using the educational materials through Ariza Inspire Co. does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Ariza Counseling LLC or Samantha Ariza, LPC.

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©2026 Samantha Ariza

Special Guest: Kristen Harootunian.

The Ariza Inspire Podcast is back for a new season. This time around, Samantha is bringing a different guest on each episode to share their mental health stories and journeys. Join us each Tuesday at noon for a new episode, a new guest with a new story.

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You can now watch this podcast in video on YouTube! Like, subscribe, and share to spread the word!

===============

Visit my free Therapy Resource Guide online for information and links mentioned in this episode as well as support docs and resources to aide you on your mental health journey.

===============

If you love these conversations, you’ll find even deeper support on the Ariza Inspire Co website. From the Resilience Workshop, a hands-on training to help you rebuild strength and adaptability after life’s challenges, to Emotional First Aid for Crisis Moments, a trauma-informed video lesson that teaches real-time tools for calming overwhelm. You’ll also find workbooks, guides, and self-paced resources designed to help you understand your emotions, regulate your nervous system, and grow through what you go through.

Resilience Workshop: https://www.arizainspire.com/resilience-workshop

===============

Thanks for downloading this episode of The Ariza Inspire Podcast, the podcast that breaks down barriers to mental health care with clear, compassionate guidance. Whether you're brand new to therapy or returning after time away, this season walks you through the entire process step-by-step. Hosted by Samantha, a mental health professional, each episode combines expert insights with real-world tips to help you take the first step toward emotional wellness.

Subscribe now and start your journey with confidence. Because taking care of your mental health should be accessible, empowering, and stigma-free.

===============

Let's stay connected! Make sure you follow me online for more mental health content, support, idea, and information.

Website: https://arizainspire.com

===============

Hosted by: Samantha Ariza (https://arizainspire.com)

===============

Disclaimer:

This podcast and its content cannot be used to diagnose and/or treat mental health conditions and are not meant to be a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Downloading, subscribing, and/or listening to this podcast and using the educational materials through Ariza Inspire Co. does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Ariza Counseling LLC or Samantha Ariza, LPC.

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©2026 Samantha Ariza

Sometimes it’s not one big stressor—it’s hundreds of small ones. This episode explores micro stressors, the subtle, repeated demands that quietly shrink your stress tolerance over time. We break down how chronic low-level stress affects the nervous system, why you may feel “less resilient than you used to,” and what helps rebuild capacity without pushing yourself harder.

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You can now watch this podcast in video on YouTube! Like, subscribe, and share to spread the word!

===============

Visit my free Therapy Resource Guide online for information and links mentioned in this episode as well as support docs and resources to aide you on your mental health journey.

===============

If you love these conversations, you’ll find even deeper support on the Ariza Inspire Co website. From the Resilience Workshop, a hands-on training to help you rebuild strength and adaptability after life’s challenges, to Emotional First Aid for Crisis Moments, a trauma-informed video lesson that teaches real-time tools for calming overwhelm. You’ll also find workbooks, guides, and self-paced resources designed to help you understand your emotions, regulate your nervous system, and grow through what you go through.

Resilience Workshop: https://www.arizainspire.com/resilience-workshop

===============

Thanks for downloading this episode of The Ariza Inspire Podcast, the podcast that breaks down barriers to mental health care with clear, compassionate guidance. Whether you're brand new to therapy or returning after time away, this season walks you through the entire process step-by-step. Hosted by Samantha, a mental health professional, each episode combines expert insights with real-world tips to help you take the first step toward emotional wellness.

Subscribe now and start your journey with confidence. Because taking care of your mental health should be accessible, empowering, and stigma-free.

===============

Let's stay connected! Make sure you follow me online for more mental health content, support, idea, and information.

Website: https://arizainspire.com

===============

Hosted by: Samantha Ariza (https://arizainspire.com)

===============

Disclaimer:

This podcast and its content cannot be used to diagnose and/or treat mental health conditions and are not meant to be a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Downloading, subscribing, and/or listening to this podcast and using the educational materials through Ariza Inspire Co. does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Ariza Counseling LLC or Samantha Ariza, LPC.

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©2026 Samantha Ariza

Links:

• Master Your Worry Workshop — Need something to help manage your worry quickly? This is a focused 30-minute session that walks you through a worry-busting technique.

Burnout isn’t always about your job. In this episode, we break down the difference between emotional burnout and workplace burnout, explaining how emotional labor, chronic invalidation, and unprocessed stress drain the nervous system—even outside of work. You’ll learn how to recognize emotional burnout, why rest alone doesn’t always fix it, and what helps restore emotional capacity and resilience.

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You can now watch this podcast in video on YouTube! Like, subscribe, and share to spread the word!

===============

Visit my free Therapy Resource Guide online for information and links mentioned in this episode, as well as support docs and resources to aid you on your mental health journey.

===============

If you love these conversations, you’ll find even deeper support on the Ariza Inspire Co website. From the Resilience Workshop, a hands-on training to help you rebuild strength and adaptability after life’s challenges, to Emotional First Aid for Crisis Moments, a trauma-informed video lesson that teaches real-time tools for calming overwhelm. You’ll also find workbooks, guides, and self-paced resources designed to help you understand your emotions, regulate your nervous system, and grow through what you go through.

Resilience Workshop: https://www.arizainspire.com/resilience-workshop

===============

Thanks for downloading this episode of The Ariza Inspire Podcast, the podcast that breaks down barriers to mental health care with clear, compassionate guidance. Whether you're brand new to therapy or returning after time away, this season walks you through the entire process step-by-step. Hosted by Samantha, a mental health professional, each episode combines expert insights with real-world tips to help you take the first step toward emotional wellness.

Subscribe now and start your journey with confidence. Because taking care of your mental health should be accessible, empowering, and stigma-free.

===============

Let's stay connected! Make sure you follow me online for more mental health content, support, ideas, and information.

Website: https://arizainspire.com

===============

Hosted by: Samantha Ariza (https://arizainspire.com)

===============

Disclaimer:

This podcast and its content cannot be used to diagnose and/or treat mental health conditions and are not meant to be a replacement for medical, clinical, or professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Downloading, subscribing, and/or listening to this podcast and using the educational materials through Ariza Inspire Co. does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Ariza Counseling LLC or Samantha Ariza, LPC.

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©2026 Samantha Ariza

Links:

• Ariza Inspire Co. — Visit my website for more mental health tools and tips.
• Join the waitlist for my Understanding Emotions 101 Workshop — Join the waitlist for my Understanding Emotions 101 Workshop, coming in March 2026.

Your body isn’t trying to stay perfectly balanced—it’s trying to adapt. In this episode, we explore the difference between homeostasis and allostasis, and why chronic stress, burnout, and fatigue make more sense through an allostatic lens. You’ll learn how the body adjusts to repeated demands, why stress accumulates over time, and how understanding thresholds—not balance—changes how we approach self-care and recovery.

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You can now watch this podcast in video on YouTube! Like, subscribe, and share to spread the word!

===============

Visit my free Therapy Resource Guide online for information and links mentioned in this episode, as well as support docs and resources to aid you on your mental health journey.

===============

If you love these conversations, you’ll find even deeper support on the Ariza Inspire Co website. From the Resilience Workshop, a hands-on training to help you rebuild strength and adaptability after life’s challenges, to Emotional First Aid for Crisis Moments, a trauma-informed video lesson that teaches real-time tools for calming overwhelm. You’ll also find workbooks, guides, and self-paced resources designed to help you understand your emotions, regulate your nervous system, and grow through what you go through.

Resilience Workshop: https://www.arizainspire.com/resilience-workshop

===============

Thanks for downloading this episode of The Ariza Inspire Podcast, the podcast that breaks down barriers to mental health care with clear, compassionate guidance. Whether you're brand new to therapy or returning after time away, this season walks you through the entire process step-by-step. Hosted by Samantha, a mental health professional, each episode combines expert insights with real-world tips to help you take the first step toward emotional wellness.

Subscribe now and start your journey with confidence. Because taking care of your mental health should be accessible, empowering, and stigma-free.

===============

Let's stay connected! Make sure you follow me online for more mental health content, support, ideas, and information.

Website: https://arizainspire.com

===============

Hosted by: Samantha Ariza (https://arizainspire.com)

===============

Disclaimer:

This podcast and its content cannot be used to diagnose and/or treat mental health conditions and are not meant to be a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Downloading, subscribing, and/or listening to this podcast and using the educational materials through Ariza Inspire Co. does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Ariza Counseling LLC or Samantha Ariza, LPC.

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©2026 Samantha Ariza

Why does resentment linger — and why does your mind keep replaying what hurt you? In this episode, we unpack the psychology and neuroscience of resentment and rumination, explaining how unresolved boundaries, unmet needs, and lack of repair keep the brain stuck in repetitive loops. You’ll learn why “letting it go” rarely works, how resentment differs from anger, and what actually helps reduce mental replay and emotional exhaustion.

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You can now watch this podcast in video on YouTube! Like, subscribe, and share to spread the word!

===============

Visit my free Therapy Resource Guide online for information and links mentioned in this episode as well as support docs and resources to aide you on your mental health journey.

===============

If you love these conversations, you’ll find even deeper support on the Ariza Inspire Co website. From the Resilience Workshop, a hands-on training to help you rebuild strength and adaptability after life’s challenges, to Emotional First Aid for Crisis Moments, a trauma-informed video lesson that teaches real-time tools for calming overwhelm. You’ll also find workbooks, guides, and self-paced resources designed to help you understand your emotions, regulate your nervous system, and grow through what you go through.

Resilience Workshop: https://www.arizainspire.com/resilience-workshop

===============

Thanks for downloading this episode of The Ariza Inspire Podcast, the podcast that breaks down barriers to mental health care with clear, compassionate guidance. Whether you're brand new to therapy or returning after time away, this season walks you through the entire process step-by-step. Hosted by Samantha, a mental health professional, each episode combines expert insights with real-world tips to help you take the first step toward emotional wellness.

Subscribe now and start your journey with confidence. Because taking care of your mental health should be accessible, empowering, and stigma-free.

===============

Let's stay connected! Make sure you follow me online for more mental health content, support, idea, and information.

Website: https://arizainspire.com

===============

Hosted by: Samantha Ariza (https://arizainspire.com)

===============

Disclaimer:

This podcast and its content cannot be used to diagnose and/or treat mental health conditions and are not meant to be a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Downloading, subscribing, and/or listening to this podcast and using the educational materials through Ariza Inspire Co. does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Ariza Counseling LLC or Samantha Ariza, LPC.

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©2026 Samantha Ariza

Anxiety isn’t just fear—it’s often a prediction problem. In this episode, we explore how the brain constantly predicts the future and how anxiety emerges when those predictions become biased toward threat. Using modern neuroscience and predictive processing models, we explain why anxiety feels physical, persistent, and convincing. You’ll learn how uncertainty, body signals, and anticipation interact—and what helps retrain the brain when anxiety predictions keep misfiring.

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You can now watch this podcast in video on YouTube! Like, subscribe, and share to spread the word!

===============

Visit my free Therapy Resource Guide online for information and links mentioned in this episode as well as support docs and resources to aide you on your mental health journey.

===============

If you love these conversations, you’ll find even deeper support on the Ariza Inspire Co website. From the Resilience Workshop, a hands-on training to help you rebuild strength and adaptability after life’s challenges, to Emotional First Aid for Crisis Moments, a trauma-informed video lesson that teaches real-time tools for calming overwhelm. You’ll also find workbooks, guides, and self-paced resources designed to help you understand your emotions, regulate your nervous system, and grow through what you go through.

Resilience Workshop: https://www.arizainspire.com/resilience-workshop

===============

Thanks for downloading this episode of The Ariza Inspire Podcast, the podcast that breaks down barriers to mental health care with clear, compassionate guidance. Whether you're brand new to therapy or returning after time away, this season walks you through the entire process step-by-step. Hosted by Samantha, a mental health professional, each episode combines expert insights with real-world tips to help you take the first step toward emotional wellness.

Subscribe now and start your journey with confidence. Because taking care of your mental health should be accessible, empowering, and stigma-free.

===============

Let's stay connected! Make sure you follow me online for more mental health content, support, idea, and information.

Website: https://arizainspire.com

===============

Hosted by: Samantha Ariza (https://arizainspire.com)

===============

Disclaimer:

This podcast and its content cannot be used to diagnose and/or treat mental health conditions and are not meant to be a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Downloading, subscribing, and/or listening to this podcast and using the educational materials through Ariza Inspire Co. does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Ariza Counseling LLC or Samantha Ariza, LPC.

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©2026 Samantha Ariza

If you’ve ever felt numb, disconnected, or unable to cry even when you want to, this episode is for you. We explore emotional blunting, shutdown, and nervous system protection, explaining why the body sometimes turns emotions down to survive stress, trauma, or overwhelm. You’ll learn the difference between emotional blunting and dissociation, how medications and chronic stress can play a role, and what actually helps emotions return safely.

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You can now watch this podcast in video on YouTube! Like, subscribe, and share to spread the word!

===============

Visit my free Therapy Resource Guide online for information and links mentioned in this episode, as well as support docs and resources to aid you on your mental health journey.

===============

If you love these conversations, you’ll find even deeper support on the Ariza Inspire Co website. From the Resilience Workshop, a hands-on training to help you rebuild strength and adaptability after life’s challenges, to Emotional First Aid for Crisis Moments, a trauma-informed video lesson that teaches real-time tools for calming overwhelm. You’ll also find workbooks, guides, and self-paced resources designed to help you understand your emotions, regulate your nervous system, and grow through what you go through.

Understanding Emotions 101: https://www.arizainspire.com/workshops

===============

Thanks for downloading this episode of The Ariza Inspire Podcast, the podcast that breaks down barriers to mental health care with clear, compassionate guidance. Whether you're brand new to therapy or returning after time away, this season walks you through the entire process step-by-step. Hosted by Samantha, a mental health professional, each episode combines expert insights with real-world tips to help you take the first step toward emotional wellness.

Subscribe now and start your journey with confidence. Because taking care of your mental health should be accessible, empowering, and stigma-free.

===============

Let's stay connected! Make sure you follow me online for more mental health content, support, ideas, and information.

Website: https://arizainspire.com

===============

Hosted by: Samantha Ariza (https://arizainspire.com)

===============

Disclaimer:

This podcast and its content cannot be used to diagnose and/or treat mental health conditions and are not meant to be a replacement for medical, clinical, professional advice, diagnosis, or medical intervention. Downloading, subscribing, and/or listening to this podcast and using the educational materials through Ariza Inspire Co. does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Ariza Counseling LLC or Samantha Ariza, LPC.

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©2026 Samantha Ariza