Unhinged But Mindful

Amy Simms
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Unhinged But Mindful  Unhinged But Mindful is a nervous system podcast for midlife women healing from trauma, anxiety, menopause overwhelm, ADHD, and chronic survival mode. If you’ve done therapy but still feel reactive… If you feel exhausted, stuck, emotionally overwhelmed, or like something just isn’t shifting… You are not broken. Your nervous system doesn’t feel safe. Each week, Amy shares grounded conversations about nervous system regulation, trauma recovery in midlife, emotional regulation skills, building safety in the body, setting boundaries, rebuilding confidence through repetition, and moving out of survival mode. You’ll also hear about her kitchen-based regulation approach - using everyday rituals like cooking to retrain safety, build tolerance, and restore joy. No hustle culture. No toxic positivity. No pretending you’re fine. Just real, steady conversations to help you feel safe enough to be yourself again.

Episodes

  1. Mar 10

    Nervous System Shutdown: Why You Feel Exhausted, Disconnected & Stuck in Survival Mode

    Have you ever felt so exhausted, disconnected, or overwhelmed that even simple things feel impossible? You might not be lazy or unmotivated. Your nervous system may be in shutdown. In this episode of Regulate with Amy, we talk about what nervous system shutdown actually feels like and why so many women end up stuck in survival mode without realizing what’s happening in their bodies. Amy shares her own experience with nervous system collapse after years of trauma and stress, and explains why insight alone doesn’t heal the nervous system. True regulation happens when the body finally begins to feel safe again. If you've ever wondered why therapy helped you understand your past but didn’t fully change how your body reacts, this episode will help you understand the missing piece. In this episode you'll learn: • What nervous system shutdown actually feels like • Why shutdown is a survival response, not laziness • How chronic stress and unsafe environments affect regulation • Why safety — not insight — is the key to healing • Small steps that begin rebuilding nervous system capacity This episode is for women who are tired of living in survival mode and ready to start rebuilding safety in their bodies. Follow along on Instagram: @RegulateWithAmy

    20 min

  2. Feb 24

    I Thought I Was Broken: Survival Mode & Nervous System Regulation for Midlife Women

    For years, I thought I was broken. I couldn’t finish things. I felt exhausted but wired. I snapped at people I loved. I avoided simple tasks. And no matter how much personal development or therapy I did, something still felt off. In this first episode of Regulate with Amy, we’re talking about survival mode — what it actually is, how nervous system dysregulation shows up in midlife women, and why you’re not lazy, dramatic, or failing. If you’ve ever wondered why calm feels uncomfortable, why progress feels inconsistent, or why you can’t “just get it together,” this episode will help you understand what’s really happening in your body. You’re not broken.  You’re dysregulated.  And that can be rebuilt. Follow along on Instagram: @RegulateWithAmy

    15 min

  3. Jan 20

    The Midlife Brain Fog Olympics

    Welcome to Season 2 of From Mess to Progress — where nothing is fixed, everything is messier, and that’s exactly the point. If you’re looking for tidy tips, five-step solutions, or a worksheet to “optimize your mental health,” this season is not that. Season 2 is about real life — the funny, frustrating, what-the-hell-is-happening moments of midlife when ADHD, anxiety, depression, perimenopause, and plain old exhaustion all collide. In this episode, Amy dives headfirst into the Overlap Zone — that confusing space where you can’t tell if your racing heart is a panic attack, a hot flash, low blood sugar, or just existing in the world right now. Through humor, storytelling, listener moments, and a lot of “oh thank God, it’s not just me,” this episode explores: Why brain fog feels worse in midlifeHow ADHD, anxiety, depression, and hormones overlap — and confuse the hell out of usThe myth of perfectly tracking symptoms (and why it usually backfires)Why “helpful” advice often misses the pointAnd why you’re not broken — you’re navigating a perfect stormSeason 2 isn’t about fixing yourself.  It’s about naming the mess, laughing when you can, crying when you need to, and realizing you’re not alone in any of it. If you’ve ever forgotten why you walked into a room, eaten shredded cheese for dinner, doubted whether you took your meds, or Googled “hot flash or panic attack” while standing in Target — this episode is for you. ✨ Mentioned in this episode:  Amy expands on these themes over on the blog, where the stories are longer, messier, and even less filtered. You can find it at https://www.frommesstoprogress.com. 🎧 New episodes weekly.  💬 Listener letters coming soon.  🧠 No fixing. Just feeling. Follow along on Instagram: @RegulateWithAmy

    24 min

  4. 09/26/2025

    Why Worthiness Was Never Something You Had to Earn

    We live in a culture that teaches us worthiness is a finish line. I’ll be enough when I lose the weight. I’ll deserve love when I stop messing up. I’ll finally matter when I hit six figures. Sound familiar? It’s the hamster wheel so many of us are stuck on — hustling, proving, and performing, only to find the goalposts keep moving. In this episode of From Mess to Progress, Amy Simms — Navy veteran, trauma thriver, and confidence coach — calls BS on the lie that your worth has to be earned. With her signature mix of raw honesty, humor, and trauma-informed coaching, Amy unpacks the psychology of shame, attachment, and social comparison, and explains why so many of us confuse “I did something bad” (guilt) with “I am bad” (shame). You’ll hear:  The psychology of conditional love, shame vs. guilt, Maslow’s hierarchy of belonging, and why they shape how we see ourselves.  How perfectionism, people-pleasing, and overachieving are all rooted in the same core wound.  Practical coaching tools like “The Worthiness Pause,” reparenting exercises, and somatic practices to retrain your nervous system.  A guided self-compassion practice to help you feel your worth in your body — not just think it.  Why achievement never satisfies shame, and how to finally step off the hamster wheel.  Journal prompts to help you rewrite your worth story and break the cycle of “I’ll be enough when…” In Book Corner, Amy shares two must-reads: Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection and Kristin Neff’s Self-Compassion — powerful guides for anyone ready to stop hustling for worth and start living like they’re already enough. This is more than motivation. It’s a practical roadmap for reclaiming your inherent worth, one brave step at a time.  Journal Prompts from this episode: 1.Where in my life do I still believe, “I’ll be enough when…”? 2.Whose approval am I chasing, and why? 3.What would I do differently if I already believed I was inherently worthy? 4.Write a letter to your younger self, telling her she didn’t need to earn love. 5.If my worth could never be taken away, how would that change the way I show up in relationships, work, and self-care? 6.What’s one area of my life where I feel I constantly have to “prove myself”? 7.Who first taught me that worth was conditional? How am I still living out their script? 8.What would unconditional love look like in my daily routines? 9.What’s one boundary I could set this week that says, “My worth is not up for negotiation”? 10.If I fully believed in my inherent worth, how would I celebrate myself today — no achievements required? If you’ve ever felt like you’re only as valuable as your productivity, your body, or your achievements, this episode is your reminder: you were worthy the moment you were born — and nothing will ever change that. And stick around until the end for a teaser of next week’s episode, where Amy dives into another confidence killer: apologizing for who you are. Follow along on Instagram: @RegulateWithAmy

    19 min

  5. 09/13/2025

    The Day My Mask Shattered. My Breakdown and Breakthrough.

    In this raw and unfiltered episode, I share the darkest chapter of my life — from addiction, jail, and losing my kids, to the devastating deaths of my mom and best friend. I take you inside the spiral of relapse, grief, and eight months of isolation, and then into the moment everything changed: the day my mask shattered and I finally chose to fight for my life. This is a story of pain, survival, and the messy road back to healing — proof that no matter how far you fall, there’s always a way forward.  Follow along on Instagram: @RegulateWithAmy

    28 min

  6. 08/11/2025

    Owning Your Truth, Even When it Makes Others Uncomfortable

    In this raw, unfiltered episode of From Mess to Progress, Amy dives deep into what it really takes to own your truth — even when it makes other people squirm. From her own powerful story of being silenced at 16, to the psychology and nervous system science behind why speaking up feels so risky, Amy unpacks the patterns that keep us quiet: attachment styles, polyvagal theory, self-determination, cognitive dissonance, learned helplessness, and gaslighting. You’ll hear relatable real-life scenarios, classic research studies, and practical tools to regulate your body, find your voice, and speak your truth with courage. With journal prompts, inspiring case studies, and an empowering call to action, this episode is both a masterclass in confidence and a love letter to every woman who’s ever swallowed her words.  Follow along on Instagram: @RegulateWithAmy

    24 min

  7. 07/26/2025

    Confidence Isn't Born, It's Built

    In this raw and unfiltered episode of From Mess to Progress, Amy Simms dismantles one of the biggest lies we’ve been told: that confidence is something you’re either born with or you’re not. With a mix of personal storytelling, trauma-informed insights, and actionable tools, Amy shares how confidence is built — brick by brick, choice by choice — even when life has knocked you down. From her childhood struggles to finding courage in a school play, to joining the Navy and working her butt off to pass boot camp, Amy opens up about the moments that shaped her sense of self-worth. She also reveals how trauma and addiction shattered her confidence and left her feeling like she couldn’t trust herself or her decisions — and how she’s been rebuilding that trust one step at a time. Through a blend of science and soul, Amy explores: •Why trauma rewires the brain and impacts self-worth •The truth about confidence myths that keep us stuck •Practical daily habits to rebuild self-trust and confidence •The powerful link between micro-bravery, action, and lasting belief in yourself You’ll also hear about her favorite book for this week — The Confidence Code — and get journal prompts and a guided exercise to help you start building real, unshakable confidence today. If you’ve ever felt like you’ll never “be that confident person,” this episode will remind you that you don’t have to wait until you’re ready — you just have to start. Follow along on Instagram: @RegulateWithAmy

    18 min

  8. 07/18/2025

    Why I'm Done Being the Good Girl

    You know the type. The one who smiles through the pain. Who plays by the rules. Who never rocks the boat, keeps the peace, gets the grades, says “I’m sorry” even when it’s not her fault. Who silences her truth to make others comfortable. Yeah… that was me. Until it almost killed me. In this raw and real first episode of From Mess to Progress, I’m laying it all out. No filters. No sugarcoating. Just the honest, gritty truth of what it meant to be the “good girl” growing up in a home full of secrets. I’ll take you back to that quiet little girl—an only child who learned early how to shrink herself, perform for love, and fawn her way into feeling safe. And then I’ll walk you through how that role followed me into adulthood: into toxic relationships, addiction, self-destruction, and rock-bottom moments—including the death of my best friend that shattered what little peace I had left. But this episode isn’t about staying stuck in the story. It’s about choosing to rewrite it. We’ll talk: •How childhood trauma can hardwire us to seek approval instead of authenticity •What the “fawn response” really is (and how it shows up in everyday life) •Why being loud for others but silent for yourself is a trauma pattern in disguise •The moment I realized I had to choose: keep playing nice… or finally speak up If you’ve ever felt like your worth was something you had to earn… If you’ve ever lost yourself in the process of keeping others happy… If you’ve ever been told you were “too much,” “too emotional,” or “too messy”… Then this episode is for you, sister Follow along on Instagram: @RegulateWithAmy

    12 min

  9. Season 1, Episode 1 Trailer

    The Mask is Off: Why I'm Done Pretending and You Should Be Too

    Welcome to From Mess to Progress — the unfiltered podcast for women who are tired of pretending everything’s fine when it’s really falling apart. I’m your host, Amy Simms — Navy vet, trauma survivor, confidence coach, and former good girl turned truth-teller. This trailer is your official permission slip to drop the mask, ditch the people-pleasing, and say the quiet parts out loud. In this quick preview, I’ll share why I created this podcast, the truth behind my own messy middle (think trauma, addiction, living with my mom ‘til 45), and what to expect in future episodes. We’re diving deep into confidence, healing, identity, boundaries, and owning your story — even when it’s uncomfortable. If you’re done shrinking to fit, ready to rise from the wreckage, and craving a space where it’s safe to be messy and magnificent — hit play. This is your sign, bestie. It’s time to rebuild from the inside out. No filters. No fluff. Just progress Follow along on Instagram: @RegulateWithAmy

    2 min

Trailer

About

Unhinged But Mindful  Unhinged But Mindful is a nervous system podcast for midlife women healing from trauma, anxiety, menopause overwhelm, ADHD, and chronic survival mode. If you’ve done therapy but still feel reactive… If you feel exhausted, stuck, emotionally overwhelmed, or like something just isn’t shifting… You are not broken. Your nervous system doesn’t feel safe. Each week, Amy shares grounded conversations about nervous system regulation, trauma recovery in midlife, emotional regulation skills, building safety in the body, setting boundaries, rebuilding confidence through repetition, and moving out of survival mode. You’ll also hear about her kitchen-based regulation approach - using everyday rituals like cooking to retrain safety, build tolerance, and restore joy. No hustle culture. No toxic positivity. No pretending you’re fine. Just real, steady conversations to help you feel safe enough to be yourself again.

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Simms
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Unhinged But Mindful
  • Show Website
    Unhinged But Mindful