Podcast
Ending Physician Overwhelm
Hosted by Megan Melo, Physician and Life Coach · EN
I'm Megan Melo, board-certified Family and Obesity Medicine Physician and Physician Coach. In this podcast we talk about the many ways that burnout shows up in our lives, and what we can do about it. I'm on a mission to help Physicians take steps towards to heal burnout by unlearning the habits of perfectionism, people-pleasing and limiting beliefs so that we can lead healthier, happier lives.
The healthcare system is broken; but you don't have to wait until it's fixed to feel better. I'm here to help.
Thank you for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Until next time, take care.
Connect with me:
- Website: www.healthierforgood.com
- Instagram: @MeganMeloMD
- Email: megan@healthierforgood.com
- Bookshop.org Book Shop: https://bookshop.org/shop/meganmelo
42episodes
Episodes
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When Everything Falls Apart: Why Your Default Thinking Might Be Making It Worse
Aug 12, 202500:36:41Tap to summarizeSend us a text⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses challenging topics including job loss, disciplinary actions, and references to physician suicide. While this episode is not about physician suicide specifically, these topics are mentioned in the context of understanding how certain thought patterns can contribute to physician mental health struggles. Please prioritize your wellbeing - if this feels too heavy today, consider skipping to next week's episode which focuses on solutions and moving forward.When Everything Falls Apart: Why Your Default Thinking Might Be Making It WorseWe need to talk about what happens when things go wrong in medicine. Really wrong. Like getting terminated without cause, facing disciplinary action, or dealing with a bad outcome that leaves you questioning everything.If you're like most physicians, your first instinct is probably to ask: "What did I do wrong?" And that question? It might be the very thing keeping you stuck in a cycle of self-blame that's slowly destroying your mental health.The Responsibility Trap We All Fall IntoYou were trained to be hyper-responsible. Before medical school, you were the reliable one, the one who turned things in on time, the one people trusted. Then medicine amplified this tenfold. Morbidity and mortality rounds, medical-legal responsibility, the weight of life-and-death decisions - all of it reinforced one core message: You are responsible for everything.This serves us well in many ways. Patients need physicians they can trust. But it becomes toxic when we start believing we're responsible for everything - other people's emotions, their satisfaction, outcomes beyond our control, and yes, even the broken systems we work within.The 5 Deadly Assumptions That Keep You SpinningWhen something goes wrong, we default to these thought patterns that feel logical but are actually destroying us:1. Logic Always AppliesYou assume there's a clear reason for everything. But here's the brutal truth: many physician contracts now allow "no cause" terminations. They literally don't have to give you a reason. They can just say you're done. No explanation, no opportunity to learn or improve. The logic you're searching for might simply not exist.2. Everything Is PreventableMedicine teaches us that preparation and knowledge prevent harm. Hand hygiene prevents infections. Sterile technique saves lives. But we take this too far, believing we should have been able to prevent whatever bad thing happened. Bodies didn't read the textbook. Cancer advances despite perfect care. Deaths happen even when we do everything right.3. Everyone Else Has It TogetherYou assume other adults - especially those in authority - are logical, rational beings who have their emotional lives sorted out. Meanwhile, you feel like a hot mess. Plot twist: they're human too. They make decisions based on emotions, incomplete information, and sometimes pure irrationality. You just don't get to see their internal chaos.4. You're Responsible for Bad Outcomes (But Never Good Ones)W Support the showTo 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: megan@healthierforgood.comFollow me on Instagram!@MeganMeloMD
Transcribe →Miserable Comfort
Apr 16, 2024Tap to summarizeSend a textAt some point in our lives we've probably all felt like we've settled into a groove where everything is comfortable enough and there's nothing standing in the way of life going on like this for a while. But what if you know deep down that you want to change something about your life? It can be EXTREMELY hard to make that decision to make a change when you know that you might be straying away from comfort and stepping into the" unknown". But you also know that if you don't make a change, you might have regrets or feel unfulfilled.This is called miserable discomfort, and it's what we're going to be talking about this week on the Ending Physician Overwhelm Podcast. As you listen, I encourage you all to dream big and consider what is possible beyond your current circumstances. I'll share stories of incredible physicians breaking free from the traditional mold of medicine to embrace their passion and find professional freedom. We'll reflect on areas of our lives that might be holding us back, and discuss ways in which we can side-step them to take the first step forward to a life that aligns more with what we dream of.So enjoy, and to see what other badass Women Physicians are building, follow these folks on IG:Dr Rachel Rubin, Sexual Medicine and Menopause Specialist @drrachelrubin Dr Funke Afolabe-Brown, Sleep Medicine Physician and Coach for families @restfulsleepmd Dr Sadaf Lodhi, Sexual Health and Menopause @drsadafobgynDr Andrea Wadley, Breastfeeding Medicine @breastfeedingmedicinedoc Support the showTo 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: megan@healthierforgood.comFollow me on Instagram!@MeganMeloMD
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