Naked Insights Podcast - musing all things health, relationships and trauma

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Weaponising Psychology: The Problem with Calling Everyone a Narcissist

“Narcissist” has become one of the most overused (and misunderstood) terms in modern psychology. But what happens when clinical language gets turned into a weapon? In this episode, Adele and Lindsay unpack the growing trend of labelling difficult people as narcissists and why this can do more harm than good. We explore:  🧠 What narcissism actually is and how it differs from everyday difficult behaviour  ⚠️ The risks of over-labelling and pathologising normal relationship conflict  💥 How psychological terms are being used to avoid accountability or oversimplify complex dynamics  🔍 The difference between true narcissistic patterns and unmet needs, attachment wounds, or poor communication  🌱 How to respond to challenging relationships without defaulting to diagnosis This episode isn’t about defending harmful behaviour, it’s about bringing precision, responsibility, and nuance back into psychological conversations. 🎧 Tune in for a grounded, clinically informed look at one of the most misused labels in mental health today.

Season 2 - Episode 1 - The New Chapter - Understanding Mental Health, Trauma and Relationships without the Myths

Welcome back to the podcast. This first episode marks the beginning of a new season, and it feels important to say that this one is a little different. Not louder. Not shinier. But more grounded, more honest, and more clinically anchored. Over the last few years, conversations about mental health have exploded and in many ways that’s a good thing. But alongside that, we’ve also seen a lot of oversimplification, polarisation, and certainty where there should actually be nuance, care, and humility. Psychology, trauma, health, and relationships don’t exist in neat boxes. They’re lived in real bodies, real systems, and real lives, often under pressure, often alongside grief, illness, or complexity that doesn’t resolve quickly. This season is about slowing those conversations down. About stepping away from soundbites and into experience. About asking not just what helps, but for whom, when, and why. I’m really pleased to be joined this season by Dr Lindsay Aikman. Lindsay is a clinical psychologist who has worked across eating disorder services, acute mental health, and hospital settings in the UK. She’s someone who has sat with the sharp end of distress, risk, and long-term recovery and who brings both depth and discernment to these conversations. Together, we’ll be exploring a range of topics across health, trauma, relationships, and psychology AND where we are gently debunking some myths, questioning some assumptions, and talking honestly about what actually supports healing versus what just sounds good on paper or online. In this episode, we explore:  🧠 Why so much mental health advice is oversimplified and sometimes misleading  💥 The myths that keep people stuck in cycles of confusion and frustration  👩‍⚕️ What working on the frontline of psychology actually teaches you about healing  🔍 Why there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to mental health  🌱 What this season will unpack from trauma and attachment to mental health disorders and beyond This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having better conversations. Conversations that respect complexity, honour the nervous system, and recognise that real change often happens quietly, over time.  🎧 Tune in as we challenge assumptions, unpack complexity, and bring a more thoughtful lens to mental health. So if you’re someone who’s curious, thoughtful, and maybe a bit tired of being told there’s a single right way to heal, you’re in the right place. We're really glad you’re here.

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Season Finale - The Courage to Break Your Word (and Keep It to Yourself)

In this deeply personal season finale, Sam shares the raw truth behind stepping back, slowing down, and honouring her own limits. After facing a series of personal losses, she opens up about what it really means to choose yourself - even when it means disappointing others. We explore:  💔 The hidden cost of keeping promises that tip you over the edge  🌱 Why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is break your word to others to keep it with yourself 🧘‍♀️ How grief reshapes identity, purpose, and self-trust 💡 The art of conscious pause - knowing when to rest instead of push ❤️ What endings can teach us about courage, compassion, and renewal This episode is raw, reflective, and profoundly human - a reminder that integrity isn’t about never breaking promises; it’s about knowing which ones to keep. 🎧 Tune in for Sam’s final reflection of Season 1 — a tender closing to a season of growth, honesty, and healing.

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Rescuer or Disappearing Act - Untangling Codependency and Pathological Accommodation

Are you always the one fixing, pleasing, or holding everything together, even when it hurts? In this raw and revealing episode, Adele dives into the hidden psychology of codependency and pathological accommodation - the deep, often unconscious patterns that make us sacrifice our own needs to keep the peace. We explore:  🌀 The difference between healthy empathy and self-erasure  ❤️‍🩹 Why “helping” can sometimes be a trauma response  💣 How childhood survival strategies turn into adult relationship traps  🧠 The inner drivers behind rescuing, over-giving, and emotional burnout  💬 Steps to break free — reclaiming your boundaries, voice, and authentic self This isn’t about blaming yourself, it’s about seeing yourself. Because you can’t heal what you can’t name. 🎧 Tune in for a powerful deep dive into how to stop rescuing, start receiving, and finally learn that you don’t have to disappear to be loved.

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Are You Anxious, Avoidant, Fear Attached or Secure - Why Attachment Shapes Every Relationship

Your attachment style is running the show, whether you realise it or not. In this episode, Adele unpacks the powerful science of attachment theory and how early experiences wire the way you love, fight, and connect. We dive into:  💞 The three core attachment styles - anxious, avoidant, fear attached and secure - and how they play out in adult relationships 🔥 Why opposites attract… and then drive each other crazy 🧠 How trauma and childhood patterns silently shape your emotional reactions ❤️‍🩹 What healing looks like - and how to move toward secure attachment, no matter your history 💬 Practical ways to recognise triggers, communicate better, and build real emotional safety Whether you’re dating, married, or healing from heartbreak, this episode will help you finally understand why your relationships feel the way they do and how to change the script for good. 🎧 Tune in to uncover your attachment blueprint — and start loving from a place of security, not survival.