In this solo episode, Cass shares one of the common reasons people struggle to make progress on the things they say that want to achieve. "Competing commitments", sometimes called competing desires or conflicting values, are the (often unconscious) desires that run counter to your stated goal, and cause you to spin your wheels or sabotage your progress.

When you uncover your competing commitments, you're in a position to examine the truth of your assumptions and resolve the inner conflict that's been hindering your progress.

Connect with Cass:



www.crappytohappypod.com

[email protected] 

www.instagram.com/crappytohappypod

www.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod

Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:

www.cassdunn.com/happiness

Cass talks with fellow psychologist, Ariane Beeston about Ariane's experience of severe postpartum depression and psychosis. They discuss the feelings of failure that can prevent new mothers from asking for help, the lack of support available for mums beyond their babys' infancy, and the added shame of being a mental health professional experiencing mental illness.

Ariane speaks candidly about how she was able to fool people into believing she was fine even when she wasn't, what it was like being admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility, and what ultimately helped her to heal and recover.

*original version of this ep had overlapping audio through the last 5 minutes. This has been fixed. Apologies!

Her book, "Because I'm Not Myself, You See" is out now in all bookstores.

Connect with Ariane:

https://www.arianebeeston.com/

Centre for Perinatal Excellence

Connect with Cass:



www.crappytohappypod.com

[email protected] 

www.instagram.com/crappytohappypod

www.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod

Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:

www.cassdunn.com/happiness

In this solo episode, Cass discusses the importance of goal-setting, but understanding why you want the things you want when you're aspiring to achieve or create something in your life. She talks about the trap of attaching your happiness to a goal or outcome, and offers some tips for how you can overcome that.

Cass also discusses the concept of "memetic desire", which is when social trends influence your goals, causing you to aspire to things that aren't aligned with your authentic desires or values, potentially leading to dissatisfaction, negative comparison and feeling behind in life.

If you're thinking about what you want to achieve in the second half of 2024, be sure to give this ep a listen.

Connect with Cass:



www.crappytohappypod.com

[email protected] 

www.instagram.com/crappytohappypod

www.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod

Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:

www.cassdunn.com/happiness

Cass chats with Monique Mitchelson, a clinical psychologist and host of The Neurodivergent Woman podcast, about neurodiversity in women, specifically autism and ADHD. Monique shares that neurodivergence is often under-diagnosed, especially in girls and that many women are doing life in 'hard mode' when they don't have an accurate diagnosis.

Monique shares some of the masking and compensatory strategies that neurodivergent individuals often use to navigate a neurotypical world.

The conversation explores the challenges in receiving a diagnosis and accessing appropriate support. It delves into the social model of disability and the importance of creating an inclusive and accessible society for neurodivergent individuals. The high prevalence of co-occurring mental health conditions and physical health issues is discussed, along with the need for appropriate support and understanding. 

Connect with Monique and check out The Neurodivergent Woman podcast.

Connect with Cass:



www.crappytohappypod.com

[email protected] 

www.instagram.com/crappytohappypod

www.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod

Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:

www.cassdunn.com/happiness

In this solo ep, Cass shares her decision to take an extended break from alcohol after quitting drinking for (almost) two years in 2020 and then taking it up again in 2022.

She highlights all the best things she experienced during two years of being alcohol-free, as a way to remind herself of the benefits to be gained from staying sober, and as motivation to anyone else who might be toying with the idea of giving up their evening glass of wine, but is worried about how they'd cope without it.

Connect with Cass:



www.crappytohappypod.com

[email protected] 

www.instagram.com/crappytohappypod

www.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod

Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:

www.cassdunn.com/happiness

Johann Hari began taking Ozempic in 2023, and subsequently spent 12 months traveling the world talking to experts about every aspect of the obesity crisis and the new weight loss medications which offer a solution to the millions of people who struggle to lose weight on their own.

In his book, "Magic Pill", he details the extraordinary benefits of these new medications, as well as outlining 12 disturbing risks which we, as individuals and as a society need to be aware of because, like it or not, these drugs are here to stay.

Johann discusses with Cass the damaging stigma around obesity, the problem with the 'willpower' argument when it comes to weight-loss, and the real cause of the problem which is a faulty food system. They talk about the body positive movement and the need to reduce weight stigma while also acknowledging health risks of obesity, the need for much stricter controls around access, and the risk of an increase in eating disorders.

Johann shares his own internal conflict about taking Ozempic, and some of the factors each individual must weigh up when making the personal decision about whether to take it or not. 

Connect with Johann and buy 'Magic Pill'

www.johannhari.com

Connect with Cass:



www.crappytohappypod.com

[email protected] 

www.instagram.com/crappytohappypod

www.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod

Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:

www.cassdunn.com/happiness

In this solo episode, Cass discusses the fear of making the wrong decision and the desire for certainty. Cass emphasises the importance of taking action as a way of gaining clarity, as well as the importance of getting comfortable with uncertainty. She also explores the role of the body in decision-making and suggests practicing feeling into what feels right or wrong. Cass encourages listeners to trust themselves and know that they will be okay regardless of the decision they make.

Takeaways

• Fear of making the wrong decision often leads to analysis paralysis and indecision.
• Taking action, even if it's not the perfect decision, can provide clarity and feedback.
• Getting comfortable with uncertainty and accepting that there is no guarantee of making the right decision is key.
• Cultivating a sense of safety and trust within oneself is crucial for confident decision-making.
• Listening to the body and practicing feeling into what feels right or wrong can help in decision-making.

Take 60% off the Pause Breathwork 21-Day Embodiment Journey

Connect with Cass:



www.crappytohappypod.com

[email protected] 

www.instagram.com/crappytohappypod

www.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod

Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:

www.cassdunn.com/happiness

This week Cass chats with Samantha Skelly, founder and CEO of Pause Breathwork about the power of the breath to reduce stress and anxiety, heal your body, create clarity in your mind and connect with your intuition. Samantha shares her own story of going from skeptic to devoted student of breathwork, to eventually realising her mission to bring breathwork to a wider community.

She's achieving this via the Pause Breathwork App (available for iOS and Android) and the creation of her 6-month long Breathwork Facilitator training.

Try the Pause Breathwork App FREE for one month using this link.

Find out more about the Pause App and the Pause Breathwork facilitator training at:

www.pausebreathwork.com

Connect with Sam:

www.instagram.com/samanthaskelly

Connect with Cass:



www.crappytohappypod.com

[email protected] 

www.instagram.com/crappytohappypod

www.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod

Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:

www.cassdunn.com/happiness

This week Cass talks with Dr Ann Kelley, licensed psychologist and co-host of the Therapist Uncensored podcast, about the importance of updating our understanding of attachment styles and the limitations of categorising ourselves and others. Ann proposes a more helpful approach of thinking about attachment as a spectrum. She introduces the idea of secure relating (as opposed to secure attachment), which involves understanding our own nervous system and how it impacts our interactions with others. 

Ann introduces the Modern Attachment Regulation Spectrum, helpfully using colours to represent different states of arousal: red for hyperarousal, blue for hypoarousal, and green for secure relating. She shares how our nervous system naturally responds to threats and connection, emphasising the need for self-awareness and compassion in order to create happy, healthy relationships in every area of our lives. She provides practical strategies for warming up or cooling down our nervous system and emphasises the relevance of this in every area of life: friendships, intimate relationships, parenting, work relationships, and the broader community.

Connect with Ann and order your copy of 'Secure Relating':

www.therapistuncensored.com

www.instagram.com/therapist_uncensored_podcast

Connect with Cass:



www.crappytohappypod.com

[email protected] 

www.instagram.com/crappytohappypod

www.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod

Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:

www.cassdunn.com/happiness

Cass responds to a listener who is experiencing body dissatisfaction during pregnancy. She highlights that while this is relatively common, it can be a concern if it contributes to poor maternal mental or physical health. She shares strategies for managing uncomfortable thoughts and feelings about your changing body and the importance of women feeling free to share their experience of any aspect of pregnancy or parenthood without guilt. Importantly, Cass highlights some of the signs of 'Pregorexia' (disordered eating during pregnancy) and notes that professional help may sometimes be indicated. 

Connect with Cass:



www.crappytohappypod.com

[email protected] 

www.instagram.com/crappytohappypod

www.tiktok.com/crappytohappypod

Join the free 7-day Happiness Challenge:

www.cassdunn.com/happiness