The Self Care Unit

This week, Christa Rymal joins Sibyl to ask and answer a deceptively simple question: Who cares for nurses?

As the founder of WeCare, Christa shares her story and discusses her mission to support healthcare workers navigating burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and PTSD. The vision? Allow our healthcare workers to put their own oxygen mask on first.

In theory, this argument is simple: when we care for nurses, everyone benefits. The health and wellbeing of our healthcare professionals impacts all of us. But as Christa and Sibyl discuss, the realities of healthcare are anything but simple. Together, they unpack the culture, systems, and expectations that make it so difficult for healthcare workers to prioritize their own well-being, and why changing that starts with care for the caregiver.

This week, we wanted to learn more about the role our gut health plays in our mental well-being, and Meg Allen, RDN joins us to share her expertise!

Meg walks us through common disruptions to gut health and explains the influence of sleep and diet on our gut health. We also discuss the basics of the gut microbiome, the importance of diverse food sources, and how and why different foods affect things down there! Above all, Meg's approach is so empowering, so we hope listeners leave knowing small changes can positively impact their overall health and well-being!

Here is the article Meg referenced about her trip to Italy: Nutrition Lessons from My Travels in Italy

This week, Christine Martin shares her journey as a nurse and how that shaped the founding of Daisy's Social Club, a wellness-driven community for nurses. She and Micheline discuss the challenges of new grad nursing, why community and togetherness are so important for our wellbeing, the fun events DSC creates to promote health and wellness, and her dreams for nurses everywhere!

Thanks to Christine for joining us and for her work to support nurses! Follow Daisy Social Club for more!

Beat the summer heat with us as we explore the healing power of water spaces!

We know that spending time in green spaces supports our mental well-being, but research also suggests that "blue spaces" offer equally powerful benefits: quieting the mind, reducing stress, and promoting a deep sense of calm. If you’ve ever noticed that you feel lighter, calmer, or more refreshed after spending time by a lake or the ocean, we talk through the research and theories, focusing on therapeutic effects, psychological impact, cultural connection, and our everyday life!

Chapters

• 00:00 The Healing Power of Water
• 01:17 The Therapeutic Effects of Natural Water Spaces
• 02:25 The Psychological Impact of Water Environments
• 06:29 Cultural and Evolutionary Connection to Water
• 13:58 Water in Everyday Life
• 22:29 Showering as a Therapeutic Ritual
• 25:38 The Joy of Night Showers
• 26:31 Nordic Style Spa Experiences
• 29:09 The Taboo of Bathhouses
• 30:47 Skinny Dipping and Refreshing Water Moments
• 36:07 Surfing and Water Activities
• 39:30 Fishing and Water Experiences
• 42:09 Hydration and Water Stories

This week, we discuss glimmers, or moments of joy and hope that can be intentionally sought out and cultivated in our everyday lives. Glimmers are sensory cues, either internal or external, and their neurological impact comes from telling your nervous system, “You are safe.” Researchers and advocates argue that glimmers can even act as the exact opposite of a trigger, but what do Sibyl and Micheline think? Will they try to find more glimmers in their lives?

Happy Pride! This episode is all about ways to support our LGBTQ+ colleagues. Jacob Bonnema joins us to talk about that by discussing the impact of scholarships, challenges in financing education, the influence of inspirational educators, unique challenges for LGBTQ+ healthcare workers, advocacy and visibility in healthcare, the role of CRNAs and advocacy, and the sense of belonging in the nursing profession.

This week, Sam Calvin is back to help us dive into moral distress. We discuss why it happens, its impact on nurses, and the line between moral distress and moral injury. We also explore the distinction between guilt and moral distress, responsibility and self-blame, the influence of personal and systemic factors, and how to recognize the need for help.

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding Moral Distress
• 08:00 Emotional Responses and Coping Mechanisms
• 17:26 Moral Distress vs. Moral Injury
• 23:13 Guilt and Moral Distress
• 30:06 The Isolation of Nursing
• 38:05 Ending on a Positive Note

This week, Carley returns, and we take questions from you! The questions range from fun to serious, and Carley and Micheline do their best to answer them. Where do they find joy in nursing? Who would be a dream guest? What mental health or self-care strategies work to help deal with the challenges of the profession? We answer all of those and more!

This week, we dive into debriefing in healthcare. Sibyl and Micheline explore its purpose, how to get nurses on board, variations across different units, the impact of high-acuity environments, and the different emotional and professional goals of debriefing. It's so important to address moral distress and create a safe space for nurses to openly communicate about mental health!

Chapters

• 00:00 Encouraging Comfort and Participation in Debriefing Sessions
• 26:17 Lack of Access to Mental Health Care
• 36:37 Proactive Debriefing and Emotional Support for Healthcare Workers

CW: Suicide

This week, Chris and Martha Thomas, co-founders of The Defensive Line, talk with us about their work to fight the stigma of speaking about suicide. We discuss the impact of asking direct questions, the importance of listening and not judging, and the role of parents in mental health conversations. Chris and Martha also address coping with grief, fostering hope, and the importance of mental health in communities of color.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Power of Storytelling
• 07:08 Dispelling Myths About Mental Health
• 12:52 Navigating Grief During the Holidays
• 19:32 The Importance of Hope and Mental Health in Communities of Color
• 29:10 The Defensive Line and Mental Health in Communities of Color
• 34:54 The Defensive Line: Defenders of Life