Mental Note

When does everyday stress, worry, or sadness become something more? In this episode of Mental Note, Ellie Pike talks with psychiatrist Dr. Matt Pierson about the ways mood and anxiety disorders can show up in ways we don't always recognize, and when it may be time to seek help.

They explore the physical symptoms of depression and anxiety—from stomach problems and headaches to chronic fatigue and jaw tension—as well as panic attacks, rumination, emotional numbness, and the hidden signs that can be easy to miss. Dr. Pierson also explains why mental illness is not a personal failure, how genetics and life experiences both shape mental health, what higher levels of care can actually look like, and how newer treatments like TMS and ketamine are changing the field of psychiatry.

Links:

• Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

What if disordered eating is more than a behavior?

What if symptoms are actually stories in disguise and learning to listen to them could change everything?

In this thought-provoking conversation, depth psychologist and Eating in the Light of the Moon author Dr. Anita Johnston explores the deeper meaning behind eating disorders, emotional sensitivity, and the journey toward authentic self-discovery. Through powerful metaphors and insights grounded in both psychology and neuroscience, Dr. Johnston explains why eating disorders often develop as protective coping mechanisms—and why recovery is not about becoming someone new, but reconnecting with who you truly are. Together, Dr. Johnston and host Ellie Pike discuss the tension between belonging and authenticity, the importance of emotional literacy and assertive communication, and how learning to listen to our symptoms with curiosity and compassion can help guide the path toward healing.

Links:

• Website: www.dranitajohnston.com
• Her Book: Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationship with Food Through Myths, Metaphors, and Storytelling
• Light of the Moon Cafe: www.lightofthemooncafe.com
• Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Middle school teacher and content creator Jay Salazar joins for a candid conversation about living with ADHD, anxiety, and eating disorders — and what changed after receiving a late ADHD diagnosis in adulthood. Jay opens up about growing up with rigid, all-or-nothing thinking, relying on spite as motivation, and struggling silently with disordered eating, body image, and overstimulation.

Together, they explore the connection between ADHD and emotional regulation, how therapy became a turning point in his recovery, and why vulnerability matters — especially for men and Latino communities where mental health stigma can run deep. Jay also shares practical strategies for working with a neurodivergent brain, creating supportive classroom culture, and embracing the idea that growth is never linear.

Links:

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejaysalazar
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejaysalazar_
• Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

What does eating disorder recovery really look like? And why is it so often misunderstood? In this episode we sit down with Juju Parzyck, body image coach and the creator behind @fitfatandallthat on Instagram, to explore the realities of non-linear recovery and body image healing.

Juju shares how her eating disorder began as a coping mechanism during adolescence, how therapy and working with a registered dietitian helped separate her inner critic from her authentic self, and what she has gained through recovery. This conversation touches on trauma, grief, relapse risk, intuitive eating, and practical coping strategies—offering an honest and hopeful look at what long-term recovery can feel like.

Links:

• Instagram: @fitfatandallthat
• Website: fitfatandallthat.com
• Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

What does it really mean to support a partner with an eating disorder? Does it require becoming the food police? What about the caregiver's needs?

Psychologist and author, Dr. Dana Harron sits down with us to examine the unique challenges faced by partners and spouses when caring for someone through eating disorder recovery.

Drawing from her practical book, Loving Someone with an Eating Disorder, Dr. Harron shares insights for partners navigating stress, intimacy, shared meals, and uncertainty around readiness for recovery. An essential listen for partners, caregivers, and loved ones seeking realistic, supportive ways to stay connected and care for themselves.

Links:

• Dr. Harron's Book: Loving Someone with an Eating Disorder - New Harbinger Press
• Website: www.monarchwellness.com/dana-harron-psyd
• Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

In this episode of Mental Note Podcast, Ellie Pike sits down with Harper Reed—eating disorder survivor and recovery coach—for an honest conversation about eating disorder recovery, grief, anxiety, and what it really takes to rebuild your life after feeling stuck. Harper shares how years of cycling in and out of treatment eventually gave way to a powerful mindset shift: realizing she had to build a life worth recovering for. Together, they explore identity beyond diagnosis, the challenge of unstructured time, and the small, meaningful steps that help us reconnect to purpose. Whether you're navigating recovery, processing loss, or simply feeling stuck in a rut, this episode offers grounded hope and practical encouragement for moving forward—one manageable step at a time.

Links:

• Harper Reed Instagram @harperreed.coaching
• Website: Harper Reed Coaching
• Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Is exercise really as good as antidepressants—or is that headline missing the bigger picture? In this episode of Mental Note, we sit down with registered dietitian and eating disorder specialist Adee Levinstein to unpack the complex relationship between exercise and mental health. Together, we explore why one-size-fits-all fitness advice—like the 10,000 steps myth—often falls short, how diet culture shapes our beliefs about movement, and when exercise can actually become harmful.

This conversation offers an alternative to rigidity and shame-based workout motivation by reframing exercise through the lens of "health-promoting behaviors." What truly supports our health? From joyful movement and nervous system regulation to the often-overlooked importance of rest, we consider a more flexible, compassionate approach. If you've ever wondered whether your relationship with exercise is actually supporting your wellbeing, this episode invites you to rethink what healthy movement really means.

Links:

• Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Relapse Prevention Program - New - www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/treatment/virtual-relapse-prevention-program
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Say It Brave On Campus, Episode 3

What if eating disorders aren't simply individual illnesses, but rational responses to disordered systems? In the third and final episode of our college-focused miniseries, Shannon Kopp speaks with Sophie Szew - mental health justice advocate, master's student at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, and Forbes' 30 under 30 honoree - about how her lived experience opens up a broader conversation concerning schools, healthcare, and the societal forces that shape student mental health.

Sophie reveals her early experiences with learning differences and disordered eating, and how attempts to "fix" these issues hurled her into educational and medical systems that often stratify and harm young people. She masterfully flips the script by reframing eating disorders as responses to disordered societies rather than individual pathologies — challenging us to tap into our own creativity and imagine what it means to build systems that allow all of us to live more vibrant lives.

Links:

• Sophie Szew: amstudies.stanford.edu/people/sophie-szew
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophie_szew/?hl=en
• Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Say It Brave On Campus, Episode 2

In part two of our mini-series, Shannon Kopp sits down with neuroscientist and data analyst, Sam Funderburk, to talk about high-functioning depression, male mental health stigma, and the quiet pressure to keep pushing toward the next milestone.

Sam shares his experience with anxiety, depression, and suicidality during college and graduate school — including how gender norms and emotional aloofness made it easier to hide his struggles in plain sight. Together, they explore the difference between crisis care and prevention, the impact of stepping away from academic pressure to seek treatment, and why prioritizing mental health didn't derail Sam's future — it made it possible.

Links:

• Sam Funderburk: eatingrecoverycenter.com/profile/sam-funderburk
• Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199

Say It Brave On Campus, Episode 1

We chose to honor this year's National Eating Disorders Awareness Week by trying something new - our first ever mini-series. The topic? Real stories from the intersection of college life, mental health, and eating disorders. So, for the next few days you'll see three back-to-back episodes appear in your feeds, each taking a different angle on these pivotal years. You'll also have the chance to meet a new guest host, Shannon Kopp, who has spent years cultivating recovery-focused relationships on campuses around the country.

For the first episode, Shannon talks with UC Davis graduate, Eli Teel, about navigating a mental and physical metamorphosis during college. He shares how academic pressure, gender dysphoria, and the shift to college contributed to the development of an eating disorder — and why coming out about it felt harder than coming out as trans.

Shannon and Eli's conversation brings a personal perspective to the intersections of LGBTQ+ mental health and eating disorders, the role of different treatment levels - residential, IOP and PHP - and why multiple rounds of treatment can feel like failure, but is actually meaningful progress.

Links:

• Eli Teel: eatingrecoverycenter.com/profile/eli-teel
• Mental Note Podcast www.mentalnotepodcast.com
• Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: www.pathlightbh.com
• Eating Recovery Center: www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
• Free Group Support: https://www.pathlightbh.com/support-groups
• Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199