379. Toxic Striving with Paula Freedman-Diamond

Psychologists Off the Clock

Stuck in the never-ending grind but still feel like it’s not enough?

Paula Freedman-Diamond, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist and author of Toxic Striving: Why Hustle and Wellness Cultures are Leaving Us Anxious, Stressed, and Burned Out-- and How to Break Free breaks down how hustle culture and wellness fads can mess with our sense of self-worth and add to our stress.

She talks about how perfectionism and the pressure to constantly achieve can leave us feeling anxious, and why it’s so important to tune into what you need, not what society tells you is right.

Dr. Paula shares ideas like intuitive eating and flexible living, encouraging us to prioritize our own values over external expectations. She also touches on the importance of setting boundaries and using social media mindfully, so it doesn’t drain us. Her hope? To help people-pleasers and over-achievers find more balance, self-compassion, and ease in their lives.

Listen and Learn:

• How the pressures of perfectionism and toxic striving can manifest in every season of life from childhood to adulthood
• The harmful impact of hustle culture and how society glorifies relentless productivity and ties self-worth to achievement
• The fine line between healthy ambition and toxic striving and how burnout, perfectionism, and societal pressures intersect
• How wellness culture ties our worth to shifting health trends and body image, making people feel like they’re constantly chasing unrealistic ideals instead of real wellness
• Blending intuitive eating and ACT helps break free from toxic striving and find balance
• How rigid rules around food, time, and behavior quietly shape our lives
• Shifting from rigid rules to self-compassion can transform habits like sleep, exercise, and eating
• How shame can fuel rigid behaviors, toxic striving, and the liberating power of self-compassion
• Embracing pleasure, rejecting guilt, and recognizing that enjoying life enhances our well-being and the value we bring to others
• How reclaiming your intuition and setting media boundaries can transform your daily life

Resources:

• Toxic Striving: Why Hustle and Wellness Cultures are Leaving Us Anxious, Stressed, and Burned Out-- and How to Break Free
• Paula Freedman-Diamond, Psy.D.
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfuldrpaula/

About Paula Freedman-Diamond:

Paula Freedman-Diamond, Psy.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. She is the owner and clinical director of HumanKind Psychological Services in Chicago, IL and the author of Toxic Striving: Why Hustle and Wellness Cultures are Leaving Us Anxious, Stressed, and Burned Out-- and How to Break Free, and The Addiction Recovery Workbook. Dr. Paula specializes in perfectionism, anxiety, and eating disorders. She enjoys helping high-achievers and people-please rs learn to stop chasing external approval and start living according to the wisdom of their own bodies and minds. Dr. Paula is on a mission to take down the toxic systems that make people feel like they're not good enough, no matter how hard they work. She is especially passionate about making healthcare more welcoming and respectful for all bodies. She provides education and supervision for clinical psychology doctoral students. She is a strong advocate for size inclusivity in health, fitness, and wellness spaces. Dr. Paula has been featured in the New York Times and is a featured expert for Reebok, Bark Technologies, and A Sweat Life. She is on the advisory boards for Medical Students for Size Inclusivity and Fat Torah. You can follow her on Instagram at @mindfuldrpaula.

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