If you’ve ever felt like you had to push through pain, guilt, or exhaustion just to prove you’re a “good doctor” or a “good mom,” this episode is for you. Dr. Karen Leitner joins me for a raw, relatable conversation about perfectionism, burnout, and the emotional toll of always holding it together. We talk about why women physicians often carry double the guilt, how self-compassion actually leads to better care, and what it looks like to stop pretending everything’s fine. Karen shares her own journey with burnout and undiagnosed ADHD, and I open up about the time I kept working through a serious illness because I felt like I couldn’t let anyone down. If you’re running on empty, this is your reminder: you deserve rest, and you’re not alone.

💻 Links from Karen:

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📆 New 8 week CME Course starts Oct 15: How to Feel Better — For Women Physicians Done Pretending Everything Is Fine 

This episode includes a paid partnership with BetterHelp. Click the link, betterhelp.com/drdowney, to get 10% off your first month.

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🎵 Music: Upbeat Strings by Evan MacDonald