Delusional By Choice
Welcome to Delusional By Choice! 🎙️
I’m Dayanara, your host, sharing the messy, real moments of my life. At 28, I’m a college student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Class of 2025 🎓) working toward my Bachelor’s in Psychology. As I dive into understanding the human mind, I’m using everything I learn to navigate life’s ups and downs.
This podcast is all about embracing “delusion” as a tool: life doesn’t always go according to plan, but we always get to choose how we show up. Each episode is like an open journal—raw, real, and filled with psychological insights to help you grow.
If you’re looking for authentic conversations and practical advice on relationships, mental health, and personal growth, you’re in the right place. Let’s figure out life together! ✨
- Update frequency
- every 9 days
- Average duration
- 20 minutes
- Episodes
- 26
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
Sorry I Ghosted You, It’s Me, Not You
Sorry I ghosted you! Life got a little wild between school, juggling a million things, and just trying to keep my head above water. But guess what? We’re finally catching up, and I’…
Popcorn Thoughts
This episode is dedicated to the thoughts that don’t just visit. They move in, rearrange the furniture, and blast their playlist at full volume. You know the ones. The thoughts that…
Mind on Repeat
If your brain loves reruns of awkward convos or that one thing you said in 2016, welcome home. In this episode, we’re spiraling intentionally into why we ruminate. I’m sharing some …
Feel It, Then Flex Your Gratitude
Dumpster fire on a rollercoaster? Yeah.
 But guess what? Gratitude and being present are ride-or-die tools, and I’m here to remind you (again) because we all need it. Honestly? These…
Memory: A Scrapbook on Shrooms
Let’s be real — sometimes we scroll through old photos and feel a weird mix of envy and cringe. Like “Ugh, I miss her”… until you remember she was spiraling over a situationship, ch…
Addicted to the Bare Minimum
Ever caught feelings from a “wyd” text? Thought the universe was sending signs? Babe… it’s not fate — it’s dopamine in heels, unhinged and unsupervised. This episode is your officia…
Main Characters Have Meltdowns Too
Welcome to your villain origin story—but like, the healing kind. 💋 This episode is your permission slip to burn it all down (metaphorically… mostly) and stop clinging to people, hab…
Cat's Out of the Bag… Just Kidding – Just My Business
In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on some personal stuff I’ve been hesitant to share. The cat’s out of the bag—well, kind of—and I’m diving into the unknown. My career i…
The Beauty of Life’s Plan B
Life doesn’t always stick to the script — and sometimes those unexpected plot twists leave us wondering, What now? In this episode, my guest opens up about how she once pictured the…
What’s Your Brain’s Diet?
Why does change feel so damn hard? It’s not just you—it’s science. In this episode, we’re breaking down why your brain resists change (even when you want it), how the right people …
Permission to Fail Is Permission to Grow
UGH. The pressure to set big goals and do all the things can leave you feeling drained, defeated, and stuck, right? Trust me, I’ve been there. We get caught in the hustle, but here’…
Am I Overreacting Or Are They Testing me
Ever feel like your emotions are running the show? In this episode, we’re talking all about emotional reactivity and boundaries — what they really are, and how to set them without f…
Outsmarting Your Own Impulses
In this episode, we explore how willpower, self-control, and self-discipline can help you stay grounded during life’s toughest moments. Building on Freud’s iceberg model, I break do…
My Life’s in Shambles, But at Least I Have Freud
The end of 2024 hit me hard, leaving me in a dark mental space with a storm of emotions —many of which contradicted each other. Stuck, confused, and searching for clarity, I turned …
Breaking the Rules You’ve Created for Yourself
In this episode, we explore the self-imposed “false rules” that keep us from taking chances and growing. From limiting beliefs about our abilities to fear of failure, these invisibl…
You’re Still Breathing, So Chill
In this episode, we dive into the art of not taking life too seriously. If you’re still breathing, guess what? You’ve still got time to find joy, heal, and ask for what you truly wa…
Navigating Grief This Holiday Season
Grief during the holidays can be especially hard. In this episode, we talk about the emotional challenges of navigating loss during a time meant for joy. Our guest, Quintin, shares …
Tis the Season for Questions
Let’s dive into some thought-provoking questions! The goal? To get your brain buzzing and spark some curiosity. I’ll answer a few, but leave others hanging—because sometimes, the be…
Let Go of the Outcome, Embrace the Process
In this episode, we dive into the stress that creeps in when we believe we can't handle a situation. It's all too easy to get overwhelmed by the pressure of needing to "get it right…
The Era of Doom Scrolling
Discover how to reclaim years of your life, uncover the hidden reasons behind your spending habits (hint: it might be a trauma response), and get surprising tips for saving on Chris…