Brain Trash: Psychiatry from DSM to Dumpster Fire
Welcome to Brain Trash, where we rip off the sugar-coated filter and talk about the raw, messy, and frustrating realities of psychiatry. Hosted by psychiatric nurse practitioners who know the system inside and out, this podcast is for clinicians tired of textbook psychiatry BS and everyday people trying to make sense of their mental health. 💊 Overdiagnosis. Self-diagnosis. Medications that help. Medications that ruin lives. The DSM. The WTFs of mental health. If you’ve ever side-eyed a diagnosis, questioned your meds, or felt like the system was failing you—you're not alone. No gatekeeping. No corporate-sanitized psychiatry. Just honest, unfiltered conversations about neurodivergence, trauma, the cracks in the system, and what we need to do differently. 🔥 If you’ve ever felt dismissed by a mental health provider or questioned the way we do this—hit subscribe. Let’s rethink psychiatry together. 🎙️ Listen now & join the conversation: 🌍 Podcast: https://braintrash.buzzsprout.com/ 🧠 Mental health care: https://www.paperflowerpsychiatry.com/ 📚 Education for providers & patients: https://www.paperflowerinstitute.com/ 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paperflowerpsychiatry 🎥 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@paperflowerinstitute ♪ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.mariaingalla
Episodes
In this episode of Brain Trash, Maria and Tabitha unpack how hormones hijack mental health, especially for people with ADHD navigating birth control, perimenopause, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
They explore how hormonal shifts affect dopamine, medication response, mood regulation, and executive function, why ADHD symptoms often worsen during hormonal transitions, and how testosterone, estr...
In this episode of Brain Trash, Maria and Tabitha unpack the hormonal chaos of pregnancy and postpartum through a neurodivergent lens. They explore what happens to neurotransmitters during pregnancy, why postpartum can feel like a neurochemical ambush, and how ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence intersect with hormonal shifts.
The episode also addresses medication management during pregnancy, the emotional...
Your hormones aren’t just background noise — they’re out here running monthly side quests that impact mood, focus, energy, and mental health.
In this episode, Maria and Tabitha dig into how the menstrual cycle actually works, why hormonal education is so inaccessible, and why neurodivergent folks often feel hormonal shifts more intensely.
From “why do I feel feral today?” to “is this ADHD or estrogen?”, this is...
Are psychedelics the future of psychiatry—or just another wave of hype? In this episode, Maria and Tabitha sit down with John Greeley to break down what the research really says about psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine. We cover safety, harm reduction, cultural concerns, and what clinicians and patients alike need to know.
✨ Learn about:
- The science behind psychedelics and the brain
- Why harm re...
Ketamine has been called a breakthrough treatment for depression, PTSD, and anxiety. But behind the hype lies a complex reality. In this episode of Brain Trash, Maria Ingalla, Tabitha Arey, and John Greeley take on the promises and pitfalls of ketamine therapy—exploring its science, ethical dilemmas, and why integration is essential.
This conversation is a must-listen for clinicians, patients, and anyone curio...
Buying cannabis shouldn’t feel like gambling with your mental health—but often it does. From high-THC strains that increase risk of negative outcomes to poorly regulated CBD products for kids, cannabis is far from simple.
In this episode of Brain Trash, Maria and Tabitha talk with John Greeley about cannabis, psychiatry, and why informed choices matter.
"I Want To Rip My Skin Off": Sensory Hell and Sex
What does sex feel like when sensory input is overwhelming or painful? In this episode of Brain Trash, we explore the intense (and often unspoken) connection between sensory processing and intimacy for autistic and neurodivergent individuals.
We talk about touch aversion, masturbation as self-discovery, aftercare, scripting your needs, and why hookup c...
The Safe Word is “Consent”: The Psychology of Autism and Sex
What do kink, structure, and sensory regulation have in common? For many autistic individuals, BDSM isn’t just about pleasure—it’s about safety, identity, and healing.
In this episode of Brain Trash, Maria and Tabitha explore:
- Why autistic folks are often drawn to kink communities
- The comfort of clear roles, rules, and rituals
- How consent and power e...
WELCOME TO THE SECOND SEASON OF BRAIN TRASH!
Autism and Sex: Myths, Consent, and Neurodivergent Intimacy
This episode of Brain Trash takes a bold step into a rarely discussed space: the intersection of autism and sex. Hosts Maria Ingalla and Tabitha explore the myths, misunderstandings, and unique challenges autistic people face in navigating intimacy, consent, and sensory overwhelm.
🔥 In this episode:
- Debun...
Why Autistic Brains Struggle with Sleep | Brain Trash Podcast
In this episode of Brain Trash, Maria Ingalla and Tabitha Arey unpack the science and lived experiences behind sleep struggles in autistic individuals. From melatonin dysregulation and altered sleep architecture to sensory processing and behavioral cycles—this episode digs into why sleep is so often misunderstood in neurodivergent care.
Whether you’r...
In this episode of Brain Trash, hosts Maria Ingalla and Tabitha Arey take a brutally honest look at what psychiatric diagnosis actually means in 2025. From rushed 15-minute appointments to diagnosis codes written for insurance companies—not care—this episode unpacks the messy, outdated system we're all stuck in.
We dive into:
- How ICD-10 and DSM coding shapes your treatment
- The dangers of misdiagnosis (e...
RFK's proposed Autism Registry isn’t about public health—it’s about power.
This week on Brain Trash, we dive into the controversial Autism Registry plan and what it means for neurodivergent communities. We discuss how data collection can be weaponized, why environmental blame narratives are harmful, and how this policy might impact access to services.
We’re calling it what it is: a dangerous precedent.
Hear...
Is it clumsiness — or is it dyspraxia?
In this episode of Brain Trash, Maria Ingalla and Tabitha Arey break down what developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia) actually looks like — and why so many neurodivergent people are going undiagnosed.
We talk about:
- Why dyspraxia is way more than just being “bad at sports”
- What dyspraxia means for motor skills, daily living, and mental health
- The real impact on ...
In this conversation, Maria Ingalla and Tabitha discuss the implications of a new executive order related to child abuse prevention, focusing on the controversial topic of gender ideology and its perceived threat to children. They explore the realities of child abuse, the impact of trauma, and the importance of support for trans youth. The discussion highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare provide...
Summary
Psychiatric meds but make it a high school yearbook superlative. 🏆 In this episode of Brain Trash, Maria and Tabitha dive into the chaotic world of mental health medications—who’s the MVP, who’s most likely to ruin your sex life, and who’s the overachiever you can’t live without. From SSRIs and benzodiazepines to ADHD meds, we’re breaking down what they do, their side effects, and the real conver...
Episode Summary:
Mental health is under fire—again. In this episode, Maria and Tabitha break down the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ executive order and its dangerous implications for people with autism, ADHD, and mental health conditions. From medication access to Big Pharma’s grip on treatment options, we’re exposing the misinformation fueling public fear and the real consequences of misguided health pol...
Summary
In this episode, Maria and Tabitha explore the intricate connections between neurodivergence and connective tissue disorders, particularly focusing on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and POTS. They discuss the prevalence of these conditions in women, the role of collagen in bodily functions, and the challenges faced by patients in the healthcare system, including gaslighting and misunderstandings in treatm...
Autism has long been boxed into a narrow stereotype—white, male, socially awkward, obsessed with trains. But what about the autistic people who don’t fit that mold? The girl who made it to adulthood without a diagnosis because she was “just shy”? The high-achieving professional who burns out repeatedly but is told they’re just anxious? The Black kid who gets labeled as “defiant” instead of supported? The adul...
Is TikTok actually helping people understand neurodivergence, or is it just fueling a wave of self-diagnoses? In this no-BS, unfiltered first episode of Brain Trash, we’re tackling the big debate about social media and self-diagnosis.
We’re Maria Ingalla and Tabitha Arey, psychiatric nurse practitioners who are super tired of the outdated approach to mental health. We’re here to dive into:
- The real reason ...
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