The Physician Whisperer

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We think of stress as this thing we carry. But what IS it?

Stress is an emotion; a feeling. It probably gives you some physical sensations in your body (headaches, eyelid twitches, stomach upset).

And we try and treat stress by getting organized (journals, planners and apps, oh my!), doing yoga, promising that we’ll meditate (“I’ll just download this app and start meditating every day and then I’ll feel better!”).

But the stress we FEEL, comes from the thoughts that we have.

Today I’m going to show you exactly why this is true, and what to do in order to change your experience. Listen up!

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

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“I should exercise more”

This episode is not for those of you who already LOVE exercising. Those of you who are runners, for example, and strongly identify as such. Or Cross-Fitters. You are welcome here, and yet this episode might not make sense to you.

Because today, I’m talking to those of us who were not athletes, who put exercise on our calendars and then don’t do it, who think we “should” do exercise, or think of exercise as something we do to “fix” ourselves in some way.

Let’s talk about some new perspectives on exercise that will pull you in and help you get those shoes on, or that class scheduled.

Here’s the bottom line:

• You’ll feel good after (and RARELY regret moving your body)
• You are more likely to engage in other self-care behaviors, like better sleep or nutrition or time with friends when you are active (with a little boundaries practice to boot!)
• Spend time with friends/loved ones OR refilling your social batteries (introverts unite!)

When the short-term gains are right in your face, when you are very clear on the immediate benefits, you are more likely to be consistent. So put down the *shoulds*, and let’s go for a walk!

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us Fan Mail

How much of your day do you feel is in service to Epic and the almighty EMR?

The tech is supposed to serve us, right?

Today I am thrilled to be joined by Dr Michelle Flemmings, an ER Physician with past Hospitalist Experience, who moved into the technology space, helping to shape medical technology to fit the users, not the other way around. She shares her journey from pre-EMR medicine to her role with Oracle as a Healthcare Clinical Strategist, and all the bumps and lessons along the way.

Although we didn’t dive into this on the show, Dr Flemmings also coaches women physicians looking to expand their voices and roles within medical leadership. If you’ve been looking for guidance in this arena, you will want to be sure to connect with her!

Dr Michelle Flemmings is the Industry Executive Director for Healthcare in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.With 30+ years of experience in clinical medicine, physician leadership and technology-physician interface, Dr Flemmings is also a skilled coach, helping physicians to find satisfying, sustainable roles in medicine and medical leadership.  A former CMIO and recently retired Emergency Physician, Michelle lives with her husband and two dogs in SW Colorado. Fun fact, she’s a certified Master Gardener and avid traveler. 

Here’s my LinkedIn 

Connect with Dr. Michelle Flemmings on LinkedIn 

Here’s my YouTube Channel Link:

Check out Dr. Michelle Flemmings on YouTube 

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us Fan Mail

Food is complicated; I know it, you know it.

Today, I invite you to consider how you are fueling your body, and how it’s working for how you feel? Do you fuel your body often enough, and with foods that help you feel good in terms of energy, and overall effects? Or are you eating on the go, grabbing whatever’s easy, eating so quickly you barely taste anything and soon after having heartburn or a migraine?

What and how you eat matters to your human body. And having a human body is often considered to be inconvenient to others who want you to work as though you don’t have one. But we need to start thinking about fueling our bodies in a way that supports us feeling our best.

My 2 major recommendations for humans?

-More naturally fiber-rich foods

-More plant-based protein

Additional Resources: I highly recommend reading “How Not to Age” by Dr Michael Greger; it’s a BIG book, but he really dives into the evidence of human health and longevity, and I think it’s a powerful argument towards more plants in our lives, without being preachy or political.

Caveat/Disclosure: This is not a lecture about metabolism, weight, weight loss, obesity, etc. If you struggle with disordered eating, eating disorders, binge-restrict cycles, or other trauma responses in connection with food, nutrition, dieting, etc, I’m not diving into any of these, but if you still find the topics triggering, I invite you to sit this one out. Many of us come from difficult or traumatic experiences with these areas, and my goal is not to increase distress.

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us Fan Mail

Yes, yes, you know. You should sleep more.

And most of us WANT to sleep more; or at least feel like we have slept more.

Today is part of my “4 Pillars” or “Back to Basics” series for September, and today we are talking sleep. But rather than give you a prescription, literally or figuratively, I want to talk about what’s getting in the way of you getting to bed, what it’s costing YOU (not humans in general, but the impact on your life), and then creating a customized action plan to meet your needs.

Let’s get our sleep on!

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us Fan Mail

Do you get stuck in “right way” energy?

Today I'm sharing a little bit of my own anxious internal environment and talking about “right way” energy. IT’s that internal voice that tells you that there is only one right way to do things. We'll talk about where this kind of energy comes from, what it creates for us in our lives, and what it keeps us from having in our lives.

 This is a don't miss episode so be sure to tune in.

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us Fan Mail

We do hard things. As physicians, we are trained to diagnose and treat complex medical illness and to be present with patients through illness, loss of function and loss of life. 

But how many of us are equipped with the skills, grace and compassion to deal with a devastating diagnosis in our own families?

Today I’m joined by Dr Crystal Nelson, a board-certified Psychiatrist who shares her story of love and loss at home while completing her medical training. Because of course, life doesn’t stop just because we start medical school.

Board Certified and Licensed Psychiatrist, Dr. Crystal Nelson, is a distinguished medical authority and entrepreneur in the realm of mental health. Dr. Nelson is the CEO and founder of two Georgia Companies, Blueprint Psychiatry and Blueprint TMS and Wellness Centers of America. 

Dr. Nelson has appeared nationally on Headline News with CNN and Fox. She has been featured in

articles for Working Mother, Voyage ATL, Canvas Rebel and Atlanta Magazine. Recognized as a leading expert, Dr. Nelson earned the title of Top Doc Atlanta 2023 in the field of psychiatry. She recently published her own guidebook entitled “A Blueprint to Better Mental Health”. Dr.Nelson is a college graduate of the highly esteemed Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from Morehouse School of Medicine and went on to complete her psychiatry residency at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Nelson also serves as an Adjunct Faculty Professor at Morehouse School of Medicine where she proudly collaborates to train the next generation of medical doctors.

Dr. Nelson is avid dancer and traveler. Most of all, however, Dr. Nelson enjoys spending time with her husband Kenny and their three children, Kenny Jr, Jordyn and Kenton.

To learn more about Blueprint Psychiatry or to request Dr. Nelson as a speaker/consultant:

Visit https://BlueprintPsychiatry.com

Follow on Instagram @drcrystalnelson

Follow on Facebook at Blueprint Psychiatry, LLC

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us Fan Mail

Let’s really talk about burnout, shall we?

Today I’m diving deep into the emotional exhaustion component of burnout, and centering our conversation around the excellent book, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski, a must-read. If emotions are tunnels with a start and a stop and we are supposed to move through them, emotional exhaustion is us getting stuck in the tunnel and feeling an emotion so chronically that we lose capacity to feel anything else.

Join me, and let’s explore this idea and 3 common misconceptions that are preventing you from getting help, and how to change them for yourself.

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us Fan Mail

“Anxiety is the combination of uncertainty plus our lack of trust in our ability to handle it” 

                  Becky Kennedy, PhD Clinical Psychologist aka “Dr Becky”

Ah COVID, here we are again. Welcome to a very special, (mild) COVID edition of Ending Physician Overwhelm. 

But really it’s a perfect background to explore this framework of anxiety, and talk about how instead of trying to reduce uncertainty, often with rigidity and controlling, grasping energy, we can work on leaning into self-trust instead.

When we learn to trust that we can handle difficult circumstances, simply by focusing on the next best step, we mitigate uncontrolled anxiety. Eliminate it? Probably not. Dial it down? Yes. Stop getting stuck in it? Yes. Believe that we aren’t doomed to live trapped in a bundle of anxious nerves? Yes.

Let’s stop trying to control the uncontrollable; Instead, believe in your own capability. Believe in your ability to handle other people being upset/worried/frustrated about their health, and to try to help them navigate the medical concerns. 

My friends, trust in yourself. Trust in your goodness. Trust in your desire to help. Trust that you will use your knowledge and skills and do the best you can in any situation with what you have.

Want to hear more? Listen to Dr Becky on The Daily Stoic podcast, episode from December 15, 2023, link here. Or catch the YouTube version here. 

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us Fan Mail

Does perfectionism bleed over into your physical appearance?

Today I sit down with Dr Mary Alice Mina, a double-board-certified Dermatologist and Dermatologic Surgeon to talk about…you guessed it, skin. And appearance, and perfectionism, and how to make it all easier. In this conversation, we talk about how complicated thoughts and beliefs get around our skin, and practical advice from an expert on how to keep it simple.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina is a Harvard-trained double-board certified dermatologist, dermatologic surgeon, and leading expert on skin health and skincare. She is the host of THE SKIN REAL, a podcast for people looking for real skin care guidance, by true skin experts where she emphasizes a holistic and preventative approach to skin health and aesthetics. With over 15 years of clinical experience, she is an invited speaker on podcasts and at national meetings. She is recognized for her artistic eye and surgical skills while helping people feel good in their skin! She is co-owner of Baucom & Mina Derm Surgery in Atlanta, Georgia where she treats patients with advanced surgical and cosmetic procedures to restore and maintain healthy skin.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/drminaskin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drminaskin

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drminaskin

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drminaskin

Website: https://www.theskinreal.com/

Podcast: The Skin Real

Podbean: https://theskinreal.podbean.com/

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-skin-real/id1638619358

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6fusqoOa7ghC7MNy27Payd

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: [email protected]

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD