Brains, Pain & Purpose

A teenager doesn’t have to reach a crisis before receiving support.

In this episode of Brains, Pain & Purpose, Sheena M. Shumpert, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, explores how parents, caregivers, educators, and other trusted adults can recognize when a teen may be struggling—and respond with connection, compassion, and practical support.

We discuss:

You don’t need perfect words to show up for a teenager. Listening, taking their concerns seriously, and staying connected can be a meaningful place to start.

Explore more at https://brainspainpurpose.com

This episode provides general education and does not replace individualized mental health care.

What happens when seeking care starts to feel like proving your pain is real? Sheena explores Black women’s experiences of medical dismissal, racial bias in pain assessment, mental health assumptions, and maternal health disparities. This conversation offers practical appointment language and asks healthcare teams to examine how they listen, assess, document, and follow up. Black women deserve thoughtful care without having to perform credibility. Educational content; not individual medical advice.

Sources & Further Reading

This episode provides general education and does not replace individualized medical or mental health care.

You remember everyone else’s appointments, anticipate their needs, and keep things moving. But where do your own needs fit?

In this episode of Brains, Pain & Purpose, Sheena explores what happens when caring for others becomes a pattern of neglecting yourself. From postponed healthcare and invisible responsibilities to guilt, resentment, and losing touch with your identity, this conversation makes room for the person behind the caregiving.

We talk about:

Whether you’re a parent, healthcare professional, family caregiver, or the person everyone relies on, your needs belong in the plan.

Explore more at brainspainpurpose.com, and follow the podcast for new episodes every Tuesday.

This podcast provides general education and does not replace individualized medical or mental health care.

Some pain stays hidden beneath your clothes—but it can affect every part of your life.

In this personal episode of Brains, Pain & Purpose, I share my experience living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS): the pain, embarrassment, clothing worries, and emotional weight that others may never see.

From a painful flare while marching in the Ole Miss band to the challenges of wearing white as a registered nurse, I reflect on moments when I kept showing up while quietly hurting—with a little humor along the way.

If you live with HS, love someone who does, or want to better understand life with an often-hidden condition, this conversation is for you. You deserve compassion, support, and space to tell your story.

Listen, follow Brains, Pain & Purpose, and share this episode with someone who needs to feel less alone.

Explore more at brainspainpurpose.com.

This episode shares personal experiences and general education. It is not a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care.

Have you ever achieved something you worked hard for, yet still felt like you didn't deserve it?

In this episode of Brains, Pain & Purpose, Sheena explores imposter syndrome, the self-doubt that makes even accomplished people question their abilities. Through personal reflections, she discusses perfectionism, comparison, fear of failure, and the pressure to constantly prove yourself.

Discover why being new doesn't mean being unqualified, why success doesn't always silence self-doubt, and how to embrace your accomplishments without minimizing them.

You don't have to feel confident every second to belong in the room you worked so hard to enter.

In this episode, we explore the unique mental health challenges Black men face, the pressure to remain strong, and why seeking support is a sign of courage—not weakness.

Episode 3, “Strong Doesn’t Mean Unbreakable: Mental Health in African American Women,” explores the pressure many Black women face to always be strong, capable, and resilient—even when they are struggling inside. The episode looks at emotional exhaustion, self-silencing, barriers to seeking help, faith and therapy, culturally responsive care, boundaries, rest, and what it means to receive support without losing your strength.

What happens when the person everyone depends on gets tired?

In this episode of Brains, Pain & Purpose, Sheena explores the hidden cost of always being the strong one—from emotional labor and hyper-independence to burnout, boundaries, and learning how to receive support.

You can be capable and still be exhausted. Strong and still need help. And you do not have to carry everything just because you can.

In Episode 1 of Brains, Pain & Purpose, Sheena shares the story behind the podcast and why mental health, physical health, chronic illness, identity, and purpose belong in the same conversation.

She reflects on her experiences in healthcare, navigating her own health challenges, and discovering that purpose is about more than achievement. It can also mean healing, creating, resting, starting over, and building a life that genuinely feels like your own.

This is the beginning of a space for honest conversations about the mind, the body, and everything that happens in between.

Reflection: What part of yourself have you been putting on hold while taking care of everything else?

You can look like you’re holding everything together and still be carrying more than anyone knows.

Brains, Pain & Purpose is a podcast for people navigating mental health, chronic illness, and the everyday work of building a meaningful life.

I’m Sheena, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and someone living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), ADHD, Chiari I malformation, and migraine headaches. I bring both perspectives to honest conversations about anxiety, ADHD, invisible pain, caregiving, relationships, grief, and starting over.

Through personal reflections and guest conversations with patients, professionals, and advocates, we explore what a diagnosis cannot fully capture: how you feel, what you need, and the life you want to live. Expect useful information, questions to bring to your healthcare team, humor, and space to feel understood.

Our recurring reflection, The In-Between, brings each conversation back to your own life.

You are more than your diagnosis. You are more than your pain. Your story is still being written.

Brains, Pain & Purpose—a space to heal, a community to grow, and a purpose to live.

Learn more at brainspainpurpose.com.

For education and general information; not a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care.