Mental Mixology

Elex Simon
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

Ever feel like your mental health is a complex mix of emotions? Join Elex Simon for honest, relatable conversations about the ups and downs of mental wellness. We're not afraid to get real, sharing personal stories and expert advice on everything from anxiety and depression to finding your inner peace. Discover hidden resources and alternative solutions alongside traditional therapies; if you're looking for a podcast that understands the messy reality of mental health, tune in every Thursday at 6:00 PM CST.

  1. 11h ago

    EP 99: A Chiropractor’s Guide to Resetting Your Mental Health | Dr. Bethany Geotz with Patterns for Health Chiropractic

    In this episode of Mental Mixology, host Elex sits down with Dr. Bethany Geotz, owner of Patterns for Chiropractic Health in Sedalia, to discuss how chiropractic care extends far beyond treating standard back pain or car accident injuries. Dr. Bethany explains her holistic approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the body's systems to target the root cause of health issues rather than just treating symptoms. She highlights specialized, low-force adjustment techniques used at her practice—including the ArthroStim, Activator, and SOT blocks—which offer a gentler, more comfortable option for patients intimidated by traditional manual adjustments or those recovering from trauma. Listeners will also learn about the Koren Specific Technique (KST), a specialized approach that uses neurological reflexes to identify precise areas of stress in the body and allow adjustments in functional "positions of challenge". Throughout the conversation, Dr. Bethany dives into how realigning the spine and resetting a nervous system stuck in "fight or flight" mode can relieve chronic pain, ease mental load, and even improve internal organ function, such as addressing referred pain from the gallbladder. Wrapping up, she shares her foundational pillars for overall well-being—hydration, nutrition, movement, and prayer—along with practical steps for starting a personal healing journey. To learn more or connect with Dr. Bethany, visit her Patterns for Chiropractic Health Facebook Page or find her listed on the Mental Mixology Missouri resources tab. (www.mentalmixology.org) If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis or going through a difficult time, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential, 24/7 support.

  2. Aug 6

    EP 98: The Power of “Good Enough” - Challenging Perfectionism

    In Episode 98 of Mental Mixology, Elex dives deep into the complex, double-edged world of perfectionism. While standard self-help advice often writes off perfectionism as purely negative, Elex reframes it as the exact engine that drives high achievers to excel, avoid stagnation, and show up reliably for the people in their lives. Opening with a relatable story about over-analyzing a heart-shaped cake made for a friend's bachelorette trip, this episode unpacks how high standards can fuel our achievements while simultaneously keeping us up at 2:00 AM overthinking past emails and conversations. Elex explores the childhood roots of high standards, starting with "Oldest Child Syndrome"—the unique burden of setting the family precedent without an older sibling's blueprint or sounding board. She shares how growing up in judged environments like dance competitions and pageants, along with parental dynamics focused on independence and work ethic, wired her brain to associate worth with output. The episode dives into clinical psychology, referencing Paul Hewitt and Gordon Flett’s 1991 multidimensional model to break down self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism—especially the fear of letting people down or losing respect in professional spaces. Finally, the episode highlights the crucial distinction between Perfectionistic Strivings (the healthy drive to evolve and master skills) and Perfectionistic Concerns (the hyper-fixation on zero errors and moving goalposts). Elex breaks down the double-edged sword of reliability, growth, and efficiency, challenging listeners to recognize that task paralysis is often just perfectionism in disguise. Ultimately, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: imperfection is the fastest path to growth, messy action beats standing still, and your personal worth is never tied to your output.

  3. Jul 30

    EP 97: Rewiring for Rest - The Power of Microcurrent Neurofeedback | Christina Durrill with Divine Interruptions

    Have you ever felt like your mind simply will not stop racing? In this episode of Mental Mixology, host Elex sits down with Christina, the owner of KC Divine Interruptions in Odessa, Missouri, to dive into a game-changing technology that helps reboot a dysregulated nervous system: Microcurrent Neurofeedback. Elex shares her personal experience going from constant anxiety attacks and restless nights to experiencing real, peaceful mental clarity after just two sessions. Christina breaks down how neuroplasticity, non-invasive EEG signals, and holistic care can help gently nudge our brains out of stress-induced ruts without having to relive past trauma. In This Episode, We Cover: Elex shares her personal breakthrough moving from high anxiety and constant brain chatter to experiencing a truly silent mind. Christina explains what Microcurrent Neurofeedback actually is, and how reading brainwaves while sending tiny, imperceptible frequencies allows the brain to reorganize itself. Christina shares her background spending 18 years in Labor and Delivery nursing, along with degrees in Psychology, Biology, and Biblical Studies, which led her to launch Divine Interruptions. We discuss healing trauma without re-traumatization and why microcurrent neurofeedback works directly on the nervous system so clients do not have to relive past painful experiences to heal. Christina shares remarkable client stories of reduced migraines, restored motor control, lower anxiety, and breaking subconscious cravings ranging from caffeine to prescription dependencies. We demystify what a session looks like, highlighting that sessions are completely painless, non-invasive, and take only 6 to 15 minutes of active impulses. Finally, we explore the intersection of neuroscience, biology, and faith to support the whole person. Episode Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro: Elex on dealing with anxiety, racing thoughts, and discovering Divine Interruptions03:12 - What is Microcurrent Neurofeedback and how does it work on the brain?06:43 - Christina’s background: 18 years in Labor and Delivery and finding a new calling12:37 - How your brain gets stuck in stress patterns and how to break them24:06 - Demystifying the treatment: Is it painful? What does a session feel like?37:56 - Bypassing talk therapy: Releasing trauma stored in the physical body41:44 - Real client transformations: Migraines, CP motor improvement, and menopause support45:00 - Addressing prescription dependency and breaking the cycle of pain48:07 - Financial accessibility: Offering a sliding scale for care49:31 - The intersection of neuroscience, biology, and faith1:01:00 - How neurofeedback helps Veterans and individuals living with severe PTSD1:03:00 - Closing thoughts and crisis resources Key Takeaway: "You can't always think your way out of a dysregulated nervous system. Your brain is running on old patterns, and microcurrent neurofeedback simply gives your brain permission to hit restart and remember its natural neuroplasticity." — Christina Divine Interruptions Website: https://www.divineinterruptionskc.com/Mental Mixology Website: https://www.mentalmixology.org (Find Christina listed under our local Central Missouri resources) Follow Divine Interruptions on Facebook and Instagram for weekly wellness tips, neuroscience education, and spiritual encouragement. Mental Health Support: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

  4. Jul 23

    EP 96: Bouncing Back From a Bad Day

    Have you ever woken up to a morning where it felt like everything that could go wrong did? In this episode, host Elex shares a chaotic real-life morning story involving a broken picture frame, stepping barefoot in cat vomit, and managing a panic attack right before an important work presentation. Drawing from insights shared by life coach Kim Maybury of Lilac Farms Life Coaching, Elex breaks down the psychology behind bad days and offers practical, actionable tools to flip your mindset, reset your nervous system, and regain control when life feels overwhelming. Key Takeaways The Brain as a Search Engine: When you tell yourself "today is going to be a bad day," your brain actively searches for evidence to prove you right. Mind Your Prompts: Just like AI tools, your brain relies heavily on the prompts you feed it. Shift the Question: When bad moments stack up, transition from asking "Why is this happening to me?" to "What is this telling me?". Grace Over Perfection: Focus on meeting your basic needs during survival weeks and separate a single bad situation from a bad day or bad life. 9 Tools to Reclaim Your Day 1. The Circuit Breaker: Perform a physical action—like showering, washing your face, or putting on fresh PJs—to signal to your brain that the stressful moment is officially over. 2. Flip the Prompt: Counter negative defaults by asking yourself positive questions, such as "What's the best that could happen?". 3. Micro-Wins & Rewards: Stack small victories (e.g., making your bed or folding laundry) and give yourself something small to look forward to. 4. Protect Your Input: Avoid doom-scrolling, bad news, or sad music when you're feeling down. Curate your environment and feed with positive energy instead. 5. The Grievance Timer: Set a strict 5-to-10-minute timer to vent, cry, or feel your emotions completely before intentionally moving forward. 6. The 5-5-5 Perspective Check: Ask yourself if the situation causing you stress will matter in 5 minutes, 5 days, 5 weeks, or 5 months. 7. Somatic Grounding: Calibrate your nervous system using the 5-4-3-2-1 sensory awareness technique or box breathing (inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4). 8. The Friend Test: Offer yourself the same grace, empathy, and constructive advice you would give a best friend in the same situation. 9. Dump and Distance Technique: Write out all your unfiltered frustrations on paper to externalize them and trick your brain into feeling like they are handled. Resources: Life Coach Guest Mentioned: Kim Maybury (Lilac Farms Life Coaching) Mental Health Hub: Visit mentalmixology.org for national and local Mid-Missouri resources. Crisis Line: Call or text 988 for immediate mental health support. Enjoyed the episode? Please leave a rating and review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube! Be kind to yourself, be kind to one another, and tune in next week for more!

  5. Jul 9

    EP 95: The Cost of Caring - Empathy Fatigue

    In this week's episode of Mental Mixology, host Elex dives deep into the realities of navigating the world as a highly empathetic individual. While empathy is the essential human glue that forms profound connections and magnifies shared joy, being overly empathic can often feel like a disservice that leaves you mentally, emotionally, and physically depleted. Elex vulnerably shares her personal experiences with emotional burnout, the deep-seated loneliness that empaths often carry, and how an open heart can leave you vulnerable to master manipulators and people-pleasing cycles. This episode serves as an essential guide for anyone who feels the weight of the world, offering validation and a path toward finding harmony between caring for others and preserving yourself.

  6. Jul 2

    EP 94: Tech-Forward Healing - Filtering the Noise | Emily Weinberg, Founder of Skipit

    Welcome to Episode 94 of Mental Mixology! In this episode, host Elex sits down with tech founder Emily Weinberg to discuss the profound connection between the media we consume and how we feel. While many of us rely on comfort shows and movies to unwind , we often encounter unexpected triggers that can negatively impact our mental health before we even realize it. Emily shares how her own experiences led her to develop Skip It, an innovative software designed to give viewers control over their digital environments and foster true emotional accessibility in media. Growing up with parents in the film industry, Emily always viewed television and film as tools for processing emotions and building connections. However, after surviving an abusive relationship and developing PTSD, she realized how re-traumatizing it can be to unexpectedly encounter graphic scenes of domestic abuse or sexual assault. The impact of media on vulnerable audiences is a heavily documented issue; Emily highlights a jarring 2019 study revealing a 28.9% increase in US youth suicide rates following the release of the show 13 Reasons Why. Rather than advocating for censorship, Emily created Skip It to enable individuals to watch the stories they love without compromising their mental well-being. Launching initially as a browser extension for $1.99, Skip It operates as a customizable overlay on popular streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu. Users can adjust highly granular settings to choose which triggers they wish to avoid and specify how much notice they want before a scene occurs. When a triggering scene approaches, a pop-up allows the viewer to read a content description, skip the scene entirely, and receive a plot summary so they never lose track of the story. Looking ahead, Emily plans to expand Skip It into a smart TV app, launch an iOS mobile version, and ultimately secure direct licensing partnerships with the streaming platforms themselves. Beyond her tech venture, Emily has been a long-time advocate for mental wellness, having founded Sophrosyne Mental Health during her high school years to provide understandable, science-backed resources for teenagers. Today, Skip It carries that same community-driven mission forward through efforts like the Safe Access Initiative, which provides software free or at a discount to clothing brand Here For You to host campus ambassador events and foster a supportive village of mental health advocates. Elex and Emily close the episode by emphasizing the importance of introducing healthy coping mechanisms, grounding tools, and open mental health discussions at an early age to better support future generations. Resources Skip It Website: skipit.techJoin the Skip It Waitlist & Discord: Accessible via skipit.techEmily’s Email: Emily@skipit.techSophrosyne Mental Health: https://www.sophrosynementalhealth.com/types-of-medications Here For You Clothing Brand: (Mental health brand donating 10% to suicide prevention)https://hereforyouclothing.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq36LzMIEA0iQ2zp0PtDXuTAgjSSsqU7Xm2xUOQzGxj8paklv8i Happiness Project Clothing Company: https://happinessproject.com/?tw_source=google&tw_adid=775497729803&tw_campaign=22430404976&tw_kwdid=kwd-267330020&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22430404976&gbraid=0AAAAAB_4m49W-1NjJ-mbcMsS66jnE9h5o&gclid=CjwKCAjwmJjSBhB-EiwAkZgxiyQcY3U-NIoSP33y4o62inrj1tOT8nAHfxFCcuA_6IqvS_CoUjxq2xoCXtgQAvD_BwE Crisis Support: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988.Mental Mixology National Resource Library: https://www.mentalmixology.org/mental-health-resources/

  7. Jun 25

    EP 93: Men's Mental Health - The Multi Million Dollar Mask

    Welcome to a very special episode dedicated to all the men out there. It is June, which means it is Men's Health Awareness Month—and we cannot have a real conversation about men’s health without prioritizing men’s mental health. Inspired by a suggestion from one of our male listeners, this episode pulls back the curtain on the silent struggles, societal expectations, and hidden masks that even the most successful men carry. From "arrival fallacies" to hyperindependence, we are diving deep into the true nitty-gritty psychology of what is going on beneath the surface. Episode Take Away: The Multi-Million Dollar Mask: True success isn't measured by a bank account, a job title, or a Lamborghini. Elex shares a powerful story from a corporate convention about a multimillionaire CEO who admitted to using alcohol as a mask to hide deep-seated insecurities and self-doubt. The Arrival Fallacy & Imposter Syndrome: Many men tell themselves, "Once I reach this point or make this much money, my problems will disappear". In reality, achieving those goals often leaves men feeling empty and panicked when the underlying self-doubt remains. Hyper-independence as a Trauma Response: Society frequently praises men for being "lone wolves". However, psychologically, hyperindependence is often a trauma response to childhood emotional neglect, wiring the brain to believe "I'm the only one who can protect me". Redacting Vulnerability: When men do choose to open up, jumping straight into "fix-it" or solution mode is a fast way to make them retreat. True support means practicing active listening without immediately trying to solve their problems. Side-by-Side Communication: While women often connect face-to-face, men biologically and psychologically tend to bond side-by-side (e.g., watching a game, working, or doing a hobby together). Suicide Rates: Statistics show that men die by suicide at significantly higher rates than women, highlighting how frequently men suffer entirely in silence. Alcohol as a Shield: Roughly 1 in 5 men struggle with substance or alcohol use disorder, frequently utilizing it as a crutch to cope with emotional distress or anxiety. Scientific Stress Relief: Actively sharing your burdens and speaking honestly with someone else is scientifically proven to lower stress levels in the body. Mental Health Resources: If you or a man in your life is navigating a difficult season, feeling burnt out, or looking for someone to talk to, please utilize these trusted platforms: Mental Mixology Resource Hub: Head over to mentalmixology.org and click our national resource tab for specialized, accessible categories catering to mental and emotional well-being. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: If you are in immediate distress or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24/7. Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor at any hour of the day. Alternative Outlets: Remember that reclaiming your mental health is a process of trial and error. Don't count out alternative outlets like online therapy, life coaching, entering the gym, finding a new hobby, or practicing yoga. Be kind to yourselves, and be kind to others. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend or a man in your life who might need to hear it today. Connect with us: Website: mentalmixology.org Listen Next Week: New episodes drop every week!

  8. Jun 18

    EP 92: Affirmations that Actually Work - And Why Others Fail

    In this episode, Elex dives deep into the transformative power of daily affirmations and positive self-talk . Sharing a vulnerable, real-time look at a tough week in her staffing agency, she explains how she shifts her mindset from a "negative Nancy" to her own inner coach . Learn the history, the science, and the practical way to build realistic, impactful affirmations that reshape your brain . Episode Key Takeaways: Realism vs. Pessimism: Being a realist means seeing things exactly as they are . Pessimism assumes things will stay terrible . Re-evaluating pessimism to become a realist is vastly better for your long-term mental health . The "Inner Coach" Mindset: You can look directly at a bad situation and choose to talk to yourself like a supportive coach rather than an angry internet commenter . Since we are adults, we have to be our own coaches and keep ourselves accountable . Affirmations Aren't Magic: An affirmation is simply conscious self-talk . You are likely already doing daily affirmations—they just might be negative ones (like calling yourself a "dummy" when you mess up) . Consistency Reshapes the Brain: Reshaping a negative mindset takes time . Think of it like paving a new path over worn down grass; it takes conscious effort over an extended period before your brain automatically gravitates toward the positive path . Avoid Toxic Positivity: Your brain is a lie detector . If you tell yourself far-fetched lies (like "I am completely fearless"), your brain will reject it . Use "bridge phrases" that allow you to work on getting 1% better every day . The 19th Century (The Father of Affirmations): French pharmacist Émile Coué noticed patients healed faster when given sugar pills alongside a repeated phrase . He had them chant 20 times a day: "Every day and every way, I am getting better and better." The 1980s (The Mirror Work Explosion): Author Louise Hay popularized "mirror work"—looking at yourself in the mirror and practicing positive self-talk . This pop-culture explosion famously inspired the classic SNL skit ("I'm good enough, I'm smart enough...") .

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Ever feel like your mental health is a complex mix of emotions? Join Elex Simon for honest, relatable conversations about the ups and downs of mental wellness. We're not afraid to get real, sharing personal stories and expert advice on everything from anxiety and depression to finding your inner peace. Discover hidden resources and alternative solutions alongside traditional therapies; if you're looking for a podcast that understands the messy reality of mental health, tune in every Thursday at 6:00 PM CST.

Information

  • Creator
    Elex Simon
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Elex Simon
  • Show Website
    Mental Mixology

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