#185: How to Manage Anxiety, Burnout, and Mommy Martyrdom with Dr. Pooja Lakshmin

Stephanie chats with Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, board-certified psychiatrist specializing in women's mental health and perinatal psychiatry, about maternal mental health and martyrdom. They discuss the real reason many moms are feeling resentful and burnt out. She shares why the common prescription to just  “do more self-care” isn’t working and how it can make moms feel even worse. You’ll learn how Dr. Pooja is helping the moms she works with set boundaries and reclaim their schedules to put themselves first. 

Enjoy the listen! You can find us on iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. We’d love to hear your thoughts on Instagram or Facebook.

Topics Discussed:

• Why the “faux self-care” we’re being offered isn’t helping
• The real reason moms are feeling so resentful 
• Realistic strategies to reduce burnout
• How to get comfortable setting boundaries 
• How to reconnect with yourself and your needs

Show Notes:

• Dr. Pooja Lakshmin's free guide to Mental Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum During COVID-19
• Dr. Pooja Lakshmin's Pregnancy & Mental Health Small Group Course
• Dr. Pooja Lakshmin's website
• Find Dr. Pooja on Instagram
• Pooja’s NY Times Article: Mothers Don’t Have to be Martyrs
• Pooja’s NY Times Article: Saying ‘No’ Is Self-Care for Parents 
• Pooja’s Op-Med Article: We Don’t Need Self-Care; We Need Boundaries 
• Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell’s Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child’s number one health advocate!
• Click here to learn more about Steph Greunke, RD’s online nutrition program and community, Postpartum Reset, an intimate private community and online roadmap for any mama (or mama-to-be) who feels stuck, alone, and depleted and wants to learn how to thrive in motherhood.

Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist and writer specializing in women's mental health and perinatal psychiatry and a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the George Washington University School of Medicine. She maintains a private practice in Washington DC where she applies an integrative approach to taking care of women suffering from maternal mental health conditions. Dr. Lakshmin is most passionate about empowering women and sees her clinical work as a perinatal psychiatrist as an extension of this mission. She is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, and her advice has been featured in Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Bustle and various other media outlets. Dr. Lakshmin is active in advocacy work and community building through online platforms. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, a national non-profit dedicated to further maternal mental health policy, and the Editorial Advisory Board of Clinical Psychiatry News. She is working on a book about the tyranny of self-care. 

Please remember that the views and ideas presented on this podcast are for informational purposes only.  All information presented on this podcast is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a healthcare provider. Consult with your healthcare provider before starting any diet, supplement regimen, or to determine the appropriateness of the information shared on this podcast, or if you have any questions regarding your treatment plan.