The Salad With a Side of Fries podcast is hosted by Jenn Trepeck, discussing wellness and weight loss for real life, clearing up the myths, misinformation, bad science & marketing surrounding our nutrition knowledge and the food industry. Let’s dive into wellness and weight loss for real life, including drinking, eating out, and skipping the grocery store. In honor of mental health action day and mental health awareness month, today’s episode is all about the cornerstones of mental health, including anxiety, the fear of not being good enough, eating disorders, disordered eating, substance abuse, and addictive behaviors. This episode is a demonstration of what it looks like to connect with others about how we’re feeling, what we need and how to be there for others to foster mental health. It’s about giving yourself space and recognizing the underlying feelings beneath addictive behaviors.IN THIS EPISODE:●  [04:00] Films about addiction, mental health, and trauma can help us overcome the shame, blame, and the stigma we experience in our struggle.  ●  [13:00] Fundamentally what underlies all of our coping behaviors.  ●  [15:00] We’re all coping with challenging emotions that we're experiencing on a daily basis in today’s society.  ●  [18:00] What underlying mental health symptoms can look like in today’s society.  ●  [21:00] The difference between going to the gym as an addiction, or as a positive action to make you feel better.  ●  [26:00] It’s okay to not be okay.  ●  [32:00] Why it’s important to assess what is on your plate and make space for yourself.  ●  [37:00] Why do we put so much expectation on what self care is supposed to look like?  ●  [40:00] Taking the time to be intentional and decide how you want to invest your thoughts.  ●  [46:00] Mental Health in action.  KEY TAKEAWAYS:●  Everyone has struggles with mental health, from not feeling good enough in today's society, to diagnosed mental illnesses like bi-polar disorder.  ●  There are a multitude of addictions and behaviors we use to avoid difficult feelings like drugs and alcohol, Netflix and food or gym and fitness addictive behaviors.  ●  To overcome these behaviors, it’s important to create emotional space for yourself and realize the underlying feelings beneath the addictions.  ●  Be in conversation, share openly, and listen because sometimes you don’t have to solve the problem.  QUOTES:  “Mental health is health.  We don’t have true health and wellness if we aren’t mentally, psychologically well.”  Jenn Trepeck“It doesn't always look like substance use disorder, sometimes it looks like toxic work environments.” Jenn TrepeckRESOURCES:Become A Member of Salad with a Side of FriesJenn’s Free Menu PlanA Salad With a Side of FriesA Salad With a Side of Fries InstagramOf Substance Mental Health Action Day