Alveena | Reflections & Realizations
Reflections & Realizations isn’t just a podcast — it’s a series of introspective conversations I have with myself, and you’re invited to be part of the journey.
I’m Alveena — a Psychology MSc student, writer, and seeker blending mental health, psychology, and Islamic spirituality to unpack life’s challenges and growth.
This podcast was born from years of journaling, therapy, and faith, combining:
🖊️ Unfiltered personal stories and reflections
📚 Psychology insights and research
🤍 Spiritual lessons rooted in Islam
If you’re craving honest, personal conversations about mental health, faith, healing, and self-discovery — this is your space.
No quick fixes. No polished answers. Just me, questioning, processing, and sharing — so you don’t have to feel alone in your own reflections.
Together, we’ll explore:
- Mental health struggles and resilience
- The intersection of faith and psychology
- Healing through self-awareness
- Growth that feels real and personal
Join the conversation. Let’s reflect, realize, and heal — one episode at a time.
Alveena | Reflections & Realizations
The Lies Your Brain Tells You
Your thoughts aren’t always facts. Especially the loud, anxious ones.
Ever spiralled after one text left on read… or convinced yourself something terrible happened just because someone was late?
In this episode of Reflections & Realizations, we explore the hidden mental traps your brain sets — known as cognitive distortions. These are the lies that shape your emotional reality: fortune-telling, catastrophizing, mind-reading… they feel real, but they’re not. Left unchecked, they steal your peace, fuel anxiety, and distort how you see yourself and the world.
I introduce a two-step Realignment Tool, inspired by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), to help you catch those distorted thought loops and choose a new response.
This is about waking up. Interrupting your patterns. And reclaiming the version of you that’s been buried under anxious noise and mental autopilot.
🛠️ The Name It & Challenge It Framework
➤ Step 1: Name It
Catch the distortion and call it out.
Examples:
“I’m definitely going to fail this.” → That’s fortune telling.
“They’re not replying. They must hate me.” → That’s mind-reading.
Naming it helps you see the thought for what it is: not truth, just a mental reflex.
➤ Step 2: Challenge It
Now slow it down. Ask yourself:
What’s the actual evidence?
Am I ignoring other, more likely outcomes?
What would I say to a friend who had this thought?
What does my faith remind me about Allah’s mercy, qadr, and ease?
You can respond with curiosity instead of fear. You can speak back with truth instead of silence.
Because challenging distorted thoughts isn’t about perfection — it’s about freedom.
With love,
Alveena
Reflections & Realizations
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