The C-Suite Confidant

Whenever we lose a public figure or a personal contact to suicide, it leads to a lot of questions as we ultimately deal with how this could have happened. These questions are even more when it appears that the person was doing well. Most of our questions are rooted in having deficits in our basic understanding about suicide. During this episode, Dr. Nicole clears up some common misconceptions about suicide.

People often use low motivation as a reason to explain why they aren't able to accomplish certain goals. In this episode, Dr. Nicole talks about whether motivation is required for action and the theory that it may be the other way around.

This week Dr. Nicole takes a question from a listener who is having difficulty getting along with her mother-in-law. Listen as Dr. Nicole talks through the complexities of that relationship and tips for building connection with in-laws.

Starting a family is a big deal. It's even more of a big deal when you have a history of depression and feel torn between treating your depression or potentially doing something dangerous to your unborn child. This week's question comes from someone in this exact situation. Listen as Dr. Nicole walks through the things to consider as you are contemplating to treat or not to treat during pregnancy.

When we are juggling the different stressors associated with our careers we can feel powerless, when in reality we have more power than we think. In this episode, we talk about finding your voice (and your power) through entrepreneurship. Dr. Danielle Hairston is the founder of Black Trivia Night and is the co-host of a new podcast, The Next 72 Hours. She is also just an all-around powerhouse and I am honored to call her a colleague! We take a few minutes to talk through how she ended up following this path and what it has done for her mental health.

Social media can be great for staying connected, networking and sharing information. But let's face it – it can also be time consuming and detrimental to your mental health if not kept in check. This week Dr. Nicole is talking to Amber Thornton, Founder of Mindful Media LLC to discuss social media and mental health as well as the app she created to help us limit our social media use while enhancing our mindfulness   Amber Lois Thornton is the founder of Mindful Media LLC., which provides access to a mobile application--encouraging limited social media exposure and mindfulness practices. Amber, after being personally impacted by social media overload, has designed this application in pursuit of advocating for mental health stability. In this particular field, Amber holds over 10+ years of experience assisting and advocating for those facing mental health issues--that may stem from social media overload. This application is unique in its ability to provide reports, resources and insights to all things mental health related; Mindful Media will be available Winter 2021, where their motto is 'Be Mindful, Monitor Media'. Instagram: @mindfulmediallc Facebook: @mindfulmediallc1 or https://www.facebook.com/mindfulmediallc1/?ref=pages_you_manage

Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder have a lot of symptoms that overlap, leaving many confused about which disorder they may have. On this episode, Dr. Nicole answers a question from a listener who thinks they may have been misdiagnosed. Take a listen and you will hear why it happens more often than you think

When it comes to seeking out mental health treatment for the first time, it can be confusing to figure out where to start. This listener question comes from someone who just isn't sure where to begin this treatment journey. Dr. Nicole goes through the differences between therapists and psychiatrists and what to consider what type of professional will suit you best

This week's episode responds to a listener who writes in questioning if their exhaustion could be a sign of depression. Dr. Nicole provides a brief overview of the physical health concerns that come with a drop in energy as well as a review of the criteria for depression

Caregiver fatigue is real! The stress of being responsible for a parent or other relative can take a toll, both mentally and physically, leaving you in a very difficult place. If not careful, this fatigue can lead to more serious mental health symptoms. This week, Dr. Nicole talks about common symptoms of caregiver fatigue, how it seems to sneak up on us, and tips for dealing with it better

Since March of last year when this pandemic started, we have seen a significant increase in people reporting anxiety related to the pandemic. As we move closer to what our previous normal looked like, we are seeing a new wave of anxiety, even in those who are looking forward to getting back out

The cost of peace is expensive.  Seems like every time we think we might be able to experience a little peace, the world tries to prove us wrong. This week's episode responds to a question from listener who inquires about how to protect their peace when everything is so chaotic around them. 

This week's episode discusses a question submitted by a listener who has some increase in anxiety after having COVID that is interfering with functioning. Listen as Dr. Nicole discusses COVID and anxiety.

What if I told that everyone with anxiety doesn't have an anxious outward appearance? Today's episode addresses a listener question about an employee who reports anxiety but doesn't appear anxious and who may come across as lazy. We will talk about the criteria for generalized anxiety disorder, how it can affect work performance and what can be done about it

So many of the Black professionals I work with at some point or another bring up the struggles of raising their children in environments where they are one of the few Black kids or the only Black kid. This is very different than how most of them were raised, leading to lots of questions and discussion. For this episode, I sat down with Jessica Vickers, a therapist who has the personal experience of growing up as the only Black girl in a predominantly white community and who helps clients navigate that experience as well.

One of the biggest self care acts you can do is master saying no but this is easier said that done. Why is it so hard to say no? What does saying no signify to you? How does saying no affect your yes moments? Join Dr. Nicole as she discusses the answer to all of these questions and more.

Seems like you can hardly turn on the news or look at social media without some mention of the vaccine. The amount of information out there is overwhelming and some are really struggling with anxiety about whether they will receive the vaccine or not. In this episode, we talk about how to work through that anxiety to make an informed decision that is fact based instead of one that is fear and anxiety based.

In the follow up to the previous episode, Dr. Nicole discusses three other causes of stress during the holidays - fatigue, finances, and fantasy. 

The holidays are known to be a stressful time for a lot of people and this year may prove to be even more stressful than other times due to the effects of the pandemic. In my experience, the five areas that lead to increased anxiety and stress this time of year include finances, food/alcohol, family, fatigue and the fantasy expectations. In this episode, Dr. Nicole will talk about the effects of family stress and food related stress, how this year may be different, and some pointers on how to deal with these stressors.

I am getting a lot of requests for appointments during election week from people who feel they will need extra support during that time. In this episode I give some tips on dealing with election stress to try to decrease the emotional burden that you may feel during this time. 

In the follow up interview to last episode, we are having a discussion with Dr. Terri Major-Kincade, a neonatologist and advocate for Black women. We discuss the disparities that Black women face, the strong Black woman narrative, the effects of negative, the strong Black woman narrative, the effects of negative mental health on the womb, and how creating safe spaces can have positive effects on maternal health. 

According to the CDC, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. This startling statistic has led to a lot of mental distress during pregnancy for Black women all over this country. One of the things I hear frequently from my patients is that their anxiety during pregnancy is largely due to not knowing what they don't know, and not knowing what to advocate for. To help with that, I called in one of my favorite obstetricians, Dr. Anila Ricks-Cord. During this episode, we talk about what Black women are facing during pregnancy and how to advocate for yourself with your own obstetrician. 

I often find myself working with women who have struggled with fitting into typical corporate environments. Oftentimes this leaves them feeling defeated or like a failure in some way. The reality is that many of these environments weren't made for us to thrive and some of us are just not cut out to be successful in that environment without losing pieces of ourselves in the process. Some women spend their entire careers trying to make it work, while others take a leap and become entrepreneurs. Dr. Stephanie Freeman is a badass female physician who found herself in this position of being unemployable on more than one occasion, until she eventually took a gamble on herself and won! Dr. Stephanie is a powerhouse speaker who can empower a room to move. In this episode we discuss her journey through employment, her feelings on being unemployable, and the freedom she has found in taking the leap to entrepreneurship.

This past week has been a heavy one with America having a front row seat to another unarmed Black man being shot by law enforcement. Every time this happens we are faced with our own fears, frustrations, and sadness about what it means to Black in this country. Let's talk about the wide range of emotions we are experiencing and how we deal with it all during this difficult time. 

2020 has taken a toll on the mental health of many. Recently, Mrs. Michelle Obama shared her struggles with what she referred to as a low-grade depression, which has left many wondering if they were suffering with the same. Take a listen as we dive into how many are experiencing negative mood symptoms and what can be done about it.

In this episode, Dr. Nicole sits down with Dr. Janelle Peifer to have a conversation on othering and it its effect on the Black professional. The term othering refers to the classification of a group or individual as “not one of us”. We see othering within groups and between groups, with a variety of effects on our mental health and functioning. In this episode, Drs. Washington and Peifer talk about this concept and its effect today but they do not stop there. They go on to discuss the variety of ways that we process and outwardly express the effects of trauma, presumed incompetence, the double-edged sword that is resiliency among Black women, and tips on when to consider engaging in therapy.

There are very few things that disrupt our mental wellness like financial difficulty. With so many economic uncertainties leaving us frazzled, Dr. Nicole decided to bring in America's Money Maven, Patrice Washington. Spoiler alert – she does not disappoint! Dr. Nicole and Patrice take a deep dive into the discomfort that professionals feel during times of financial uncertainty, reluctance to seek out available assistance, taking giant leaps in your finances and business, and jumping into mental health treatment among a few other topics during this candid conversation.

On this episode, The C-Suite Confidant, Dr. Nicole Washington, interviews Dr. Lauren Powell, The Culinary Doc. Dr. Lauren is a family medicine physician who is on a mission to make healthy eating accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Dr. Nicole and Dr. Lauren discuss a variety of diet tips and strategies to help you stay on track whether you have returned to work or whether you are still working from home. We also dive into how to help others in your house stay on track.

On this episode of The C-Suite Confidant, Dr. Nicole Washington interviews Dr. Yvette McQueen, The Travel Queen. Dr. McQueen is an Emergency Medicine Physician who travels around the country providing emergency services. She also works as a Travel Doctor and helps professionals stay healthy and safe while traveling internationally. During this episode we discuss considerations in determining whether to travel or not this summer and how to stay safe if you do plan to travel this summer.

On this episode of The C-Suite Confidant, Dr. Nicole Washington interviews renowned financial advisor, Harvey Maclin. With nearly a decade of experience in the financial services and investment industry, Harvey answers all of the questions you have related to what effect engaging in mental health treatment can have on your ability to obtain disability or life insurance.

Dr. Nicole Washington, The C-Suite Confidant, is relaunching her podcast by the same name. This episode serves as a brief reintroduction to both Dr. Nicole and the show as a whole. 

July is Minority Mental Health Month and for this very special episode we are interviewing Imade. Imade is a mental health advocate who uses her own journey dealing with her diagnoses to be a voice for those who don't often have the opportunity to share their stories. She runs the Depressed While Black Twitter account and can be counted on to share an unfiltered view of what it is like to live in this country as a person of color dealing with mental illness.

This week's episode is for the parents out there who have ever had concerns that one or more of their children is lazy or has a lack of motivation when it comes to education or career goals. This can range from the young child who doesn't seem to have a zest for learning that you had at that age or for the high school senior who hasn't been able to identify any career goals yet. Dr. Nicole provides 5 tips to help you identify some problems that can mask themselves as lack of motivation and offer suggestions on how you can approach this issue.

This week's C-Suite Confessional entry comes from a professional who reports family members are concerned that he is depressed. In this episode we dive into what possible diagnoses could be present, if any at all. Dr. Nicole discusses clinical depression, dysthymia and other possible causes of depressed mood.

This week's C-Suite Confessional entry comes from a physician whose significant other has a problem with her long hours.  Dr. Nicole addresses this question and discusses whether long hours equate to productivity.

In Episode 8, Dr. Nicole Washington, The C-Suite Confidant, addresses a listener question regarding difficulty making friends in the workplace after a move to a new city.

In a follow up to the previous episode, I briefly discuss what work environments can do to improve the burden of Impostor Syndrome on its employees. On the surface you may think it isn't your problem, but if it affects performance, then it is definitely your problem!

Dr. Nicole Washington, The C-Suite Confidant, discusses Imposter Syndrome, a term that has been present since the 1970s that is gaining a lot of attention in the corporate world. She discusses signs you may be experiencing this as well as a few tips to deal with the phenomenon.    

Dr. Nicole Washington, The C-Suite Confidant, interviews Dr. Mani Saint-Victor, a physician who walked away from practicing medicine in the traditional sense to live a life that was more aligned with his core values. In this interview, Dr. Nicole and Dr. Mani Saint-Victor discuss what led him to make the decision to walk away from the career path he was on as well as some unintended consequences of making the change.     

Dr. Nicole Washington, The C-Suite Confidant, walks listeners through the 5 top sources of stress around the holiday season and provides practical tips to help navigate this stressful time of the year.

Comment: Dr. Nicole Washington, The C-Suite Confidant, explores burnout and reviews the history of this term, what it looks like and briefly touches on a few quick tips to decrease the effects of burnout.

Dr. Nicole Washington, The C-Suite Confidant, discusses how you might know if your irritability or substance intake is reaching a problematic level. You will learn signs and symptoms that your irritability could be a symptom of an underlying mood disorder or how to know if your alcohol intake is masking a deeper problem.

Dr. Nicole Washington, The C-Suite Confidant hosts the inaugural episode of her show by the same name. Produced for the CEO, CFO, President, VP, physician, attorney or other credentialed professional who has felt dissatisfaction despite having achieved so much in your career, she knows your inner most fears and stressors and the strategies to get you feeling and living fully again. If there is a question you fear to ask other executives or your family, now you can confide in Dr. Nicole for the answer.