168. Dr. Julia Britz: An honest conversation about OCD, self-harming, psych meds, and more.
Release Date: 07/02/2025
Quick tip tuesday... Stop trying to talk your way out of anxiety.
the tara bixby podcast
Today’s quick tip isn’t about what to do — it’s about what not to do. If you’ve ever tried using affirmations or talking yourself out of anxiety when anxious, you’ve probably noticed it doesn’t really work. Here’s why... when your nervous system is in fight-or-flight mode, your amygdala takes your thinking brain offline — it’s like taking a phone off the hook (remember those days). Your thoughts can’t get through. Instead of trying to think your way out of anxiety, learn how to feel your way out. That’s what I’m teaching you in today’s episode. If this was helpful,...
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179. Erica Lugo: The hidden mental health impact of perimenopause.
the tara bixby podcast
At 35, Erica Lugo’s world went dark — depression, OCD, and suicidal thoughts took over, and she kept being dismissed by doctors. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Erica shares how she connected the dots between her mental health and her hormones, and how HRT completely shifted her life. This episode is full of hope for anyone who’s been dismissed, overprescribed, or feels like they’ve “tried everything.” Women aren’t talking about this enough — Share this episode with all the women in your life. Episode show notes... Hang out with me on Instagram... Sponsor......
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178. I was about to publish an episode… then my inner knowing said NOPE.
the tara bixby podcast
Hey friends — today’s episode wasn’t the one I had planned. I had a fertility and prenatal nutrition interview ready to go, but when I sat down to edit it, something felt off. It didn’t align with where I’m at or what I want this podcast to be right now (disclosure: It was recorded a year ago). And since I’ve been working hard to actually trust my intuition, I listened. So today’s episode is all about that — learning to tune into your inner knowing, trust it, and make decisions that feel aligned, even when it’s uncomfortable. I’m also sharing a raw late-night reflection...
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Quick tip tuesday... A neuroscientist’s go-to trick for calming anxiety.
the tara bixby podcast
If you’ve ever tried to think your way out of anxiety only to end up more stuck in worry and rumination, this tip is for you. In this quick tip tuesday, Dr. Russell Kennedy — doctor, neuroscientist, and one of the world’s most respected voices on anxiety — shares his go-to strategy for getting out of your head and back into your body when anxious. It’s simple, practical, and something you can start practicing today to calm your nervous system and find relief fast. He’s also a past podcast guest, so if you love today’s tip, be sure to listen to episode 33, where he shares a new...
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177. Rethinking anxiety: what it is (and what it isn’t).
the tara bixby podcast
Hey friends, it’s just you and me today! No guest, no script — just me, sitting on the floor with my mic, following a nudge I couldn’t ignore. I’m diving into a topic I’m so fired up about... what anxiety really is (and what it isn’t). There’s a ton of noise out there about anxiety, but I want to cut through the confusion and share my perspective with you (one that I truly believe will finally help you find freedom from your anxiety). If you're ready, hit play, and I'll see you inside. ✨ Tired of feeling anxious? Craving more calm and joy? I’d love to help you find...
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Quick tip tuesday... How to use visualization to reduce anxiety.
the tara bixby podcast
Hey friends. If you’re tired of feeling anxious and want a quick, practical way to calm your nervous system, this tip is for you. Today, I’m breaking down how to use visualization to reduce anxiety and shift your nervous system out of a sympathetic state of “fight-or-flight.” 📱This tip’s too good to keep to yourself — text this episode to a friend who needs to hear it. ✨ Tired of feeling anxious? Craving more calm and joy? I’d love to help you find freedom from your anxiety. I’m currently offering 1:1 coaching—just email and I’ll send you more info.
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176. Bryana Kappadakunnel: Break generational cycles and become the parent you needed.
the tara bixby podcast
Hey, my friends! Parenting can feel like a mirror—reflecting not just our child’s behavior, but our own wounds, patterns, and triggers. What if the biggest shifts didn’t start with our kids, but with us? Today, I’m chatting with Bryana Kappadakunnel, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, mother, and author of Parent Yourself First. For over a decade, Bryana has helped parents uncover the root of their child’s struggles while healing their own nervous system and family patterns. We dive into conscious parenting—why change starts within ourselves, how our past shapes our...
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Quick tip tuesday... How to get off the blood sugar roller coaster that's making you anxious.
the tara bixby podcast
Hey friends. 👋 Today, we’re talking about something you might not realize is fueling your anxiety... blood sugar. When your morning starts with cereal, bagels, or pastries, your blood sugar spikes and then crashes—sending your nervous system into fight-or-flight. That crash triggers stress hormones, which can leave you feeling anxious, irritable, or on edge. The good news? You can hop off the blood sugar roller coaster. In this quick tip episode, I share 3 simple tips to help stabilize your blood sugar so you can feel calmer and less anxious throughout the day. I’ll also give a bonus...
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175. Dr. Cathy Wield: Over 100 ECTs, 33 meds, and a doctor’s fight to break free from psychiatry.
the tara bixby podcast
Today’s guest is the very reason I fight so hard for a better mental health narrative. Dr. Cathy Wield shares her extraordinary mental health journey — from years of hospitalizations, 100+ ECT treatments, and 33 medications, to the retraumatization she endured and the moments she felt the system failed her. She opens up about her suicidal thoughts, what it took to relearn how to sit with her emotions, and how she ultimately broke free from the shackles of psychiatry. This is a raw, eye-opening conversation and a must-listen for anyone navigating the mental health system. ✨ If this...
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174. Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring: The truth about psychiatric medications no one tells you.
the tara bixby podcast
Hey, friend. Today, I’m hanging out with Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, a psychiatrist and former pharmaceutical researcher who now dedicates his career to helping people safely taper off psychiatric medications. He’s one of the few voices in medicine willing to speak out — and what he shares may just change the way you think about mental health treatment forever. In today’s conversation, we’re talking about... What psychiatrists are actually taught about mental health in medical school How drug companies influence the mental health narrative Why medications continue to be prescribed...
info_outlineDr. Julia Britz is a licensed naturopathic doctor who specializes in helping people who are struggling with mental health issues such as OCD, eating disorders, and psychiatric medication tapering. She utilizes natural and integrative modalities including targeted amino acid therapy, peptide therapy, micronutrient therapy, bioresonance, botanical medicine, and epigenetic analysis.
As a “hopeless case” who got better, her passion for helping others is real. Dismissed by doctors, Julia was told over and over that there was nothing else she could try beyond pharmacotherapy, and so she was inspired to create my OCD diary, a site dedicated to documenting the daily life of OCD and related disorders. Through this project and holistic therapies, she found new levels of wellness.
In today’s episode, we talk about...
- Julia's past mental health struggles
- Her self-harming history
- What she did to find freedom from OCD
- What inspired her to get into naturopathic medicine
- Her thoughts on the root causes of OCD
- Her thoughts on how western medicine approaches mental health
- What she wished more people knew about psych meds
- Her experience with benzodiazepines
- One thing you need to practice to heal faster
- Her thoughts about safely tapering off psych meds
...and so much more.
✨ If this podcast has ever made you feel seen, less alone, or added any value to your life, would you do me a quick favor? Leaving a review only takes a minute, but it truly helps more women like you find these conversations. It’s one of the biggest ways you can support me and the show. So if you’re here, if you’ve been listening, if this podcast has impacted you in any way, please take a quick second to scroll down and tap those 5 stars. You can even write a little review telling me how the show has helped you. I’d be forever grateful.
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