Victoria's Secret Angel's Secret Battle: Sara Sampaio on Trichotillomania, Anxiety & the Pressure to Be Perfect

Victoria's Secret Angel's Secret Battle: Sara Sampaio on Trichotillomania, Anxiety & the Pressure to Be Perfect

Author: Dr Daniel & Tana Amen March 20, 2026 Duration: 13:43
On the runway, everything looks flawless. Behind the scenes, the struggle was real. In this raw and revealing conversation, Sara Sampaio—best known for her work with Victoria's Secret—opens up about her long-standing battle with trichotillomania and anxiety while navigating one of the most image-driven industries in the world.
 
Sara shares what it's like to live with a body-focused repetitive behavior that many people don't understand, how anxiety amplified the pressure of perfection, and why speaking publicly about her mental health became part of her healing journey.
 
In this episode, we explore:
  1. What trichotillomania really is (and why it's often misunderstood)
  2. The hidden mental health toll of the modeling industry
  3. Managing anxiety under constant public scrutiny
  4. Letting go of perfection and embracing vulnerability
  5. Why sharing your struggle can be empowering
 
This is more than a story about beauty standards—it's about courage, self-acceptance, and breaking the silence around mental health. Because sometimes the strongest thing you can do… is be honest.

What if the small, daily decisions you make about food, thought patterns, and lifestyle are actively shaping your biology for better or worse? That’s the central exploration you’ll find within Change Your Brain Every Day, a conversation hosted by Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen. Moving beyond theory, this podcast delivers practical, actionable strategies rooted in clinical experience. Each episode feels like a direct consultation, where the Amens translate complex neuroscience into clear steps anyone can use. You’ll hear them discuss how specific habits influence conditions like anxiety, focus, and low mood, offering a tangible sense of agency over your own mental and physical well-being. The tone is both authoritative and deeply encouraging, stripping away the overwhelm that often accompanies health advice. Rather than promising a single miracle cure, the focus is on sustainable, incremental change-the kind that compounds over weeks and months to create lasting results. Tuning into this podcast is an investment in understanding the direct connection between your daily life and your brain’s health. It’s for anyone who feels stuck in unhelpful cycles or is simply curious about optimizing their mind. The Amens act as guides, providing the tools to not just manage symptoms, but to fundamentally reshape your approach to your own health journey, one day at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Change Your Brain Every Day
Podcast Episodes
A Psychiatrist's Tips for Teaching Children Problem Solving Skills [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:29
As parents, we often care so much about our children's wellbeing that we will do whatever we can to make things easier for them. However, when we step in to fix our children's problem, are we helping them or hurting them…
EMDR: Getting Over Past Trauma for Good [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:13
This in throwback episode, Dr. Amen and Tana Amen first began their relationship, Tana was carrying past trauma from her past experiences. Daniel suggested a unique treatment method for getting over trauma, but Tana wasn…
Mariel Hemingway: Breaking Generational Trauma Before It Breaks You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:59
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Daniel Amen sits down with Mariel Hemingway to explore the deep connection between family emotional history, trauma, mental health, and hormones. During the interview, Dr. Amen shares M…
Taking Antidepressants (SSRIs): Pros & Cons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:55
For some people, the choice to take antidepressants leads to a happier, healthier quality of life. For others, it only makes things worse. Therefore it's crucial to understand the benefits and drawbacks of choosing this…
I Gave My Pain to God — Everything Changed with Christine D'Clairo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:50
In this week's episode, Dr. Amen is joined by music singer and songwriter Christine D'Clairo. Christine opens up about the trauma that shaped her life, the silent battles she faced, and the journey toward healing. From s…
This Is What You're Getting Wrong in Parenting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:28
As parents, we often care so much about our children's wellbeing that we will do whatever we can to make things easier for them. However, when we step in to fix our children's problem, are we helping them or hurting them…
Faith & Brain Health with Pastor Miles McPherson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:47
In this week's mini-episode, Dr. Amen sits down with Pastor Miles McPherson for a live conversation on faith and brain health at the Rock Church in San Diego, CA.