Episode 26

Caregiver Burnout w/ Dr. Monica Vermani

Published on: 22nd June, 2022

Dr. Vermani is a clinical psychologist, public speaker, teacher and author in the field of mental health and wellness, and a registered member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. In her private practice, Dr. Vermani Balanced Wellbeing, she provides a multi-faceted treatment approach through a variety of techniques and treatments, including supportive Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Breath~Body~Mind practices, executive coaching, Mindfulness Meditation, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).

 

Dr. Vermani specializes in facilitating treatments to adolescents and adults suffering from trauma/abuse, mood, anxiety, substance addictions and other related conditions and disorders. Furthermore, Dr. Vermani offers crisis management, marriage/couples/family counseling, chronic pain management, self-esteem/assertiveness enhancement, vocational counselling, skill development and professional coaching. She also conducts outpatient/inpatient psychological, vocational and forensic assessments.

 

Dr. Vermani’s Start Living Corporate Wellness programs were created out of her belief in the importance of good mental health in the workplace. These in-person and online programs are a product of her dedication to helping people cope more effectively with mental health issues and challenges in every aspect of their lives, providing continuous, ongoing support and resources. Start Living Corporate Wellness programs support and facilitate individuals’ efforts to overcome the barriers that prevent them from living their best and most authentic life.

Dr. Vermani has worked as a Clinical Psychologist at United Health Network (UHN), the Lyndhurst Rehabilitation Institute with brain and spinal cord injury patients, and at Correctional Services of Canada (CSC), providing crisis intervention and the management of substance abuse, chronic pain, low self-esteem, stress, mood and anxiety management. She has also worked at the Stress, Trauma, Anxiety, Rehabilitation and Treatment (START) Clinic in Toronto, at the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH – Anxiety Disorders Clinic & at METFORS, forensic unit), with youth and families with anxiety disorders at the Lakeridge Mental Health Centre, and with crisis/trauma forensic populations at Correctional Services of Canada (CSC –Fenbrook and Beavercreek Institutions).

Dr. Vermani is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher and provides individual and group mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBSR/MBCT) training. She has taught breath/body/mind practices to many groups, including members of the US Military, 9/11 first responders in New York City, and war veterans in Watertown, NY.

Dr. Vermani has taught and spoken at as a guest speaker at various colleges and wrote as a columnist for over 7 years for Anohki Life magazine. She is also a certified Coach Practitioner, certified Reiki Master level (1, 2, & 3), a Breath~Body~Mind meditation practitioner/teacher and an assaulted women’s and children’s counselor/advocate (AWCCA). Her latest book, A Deeper Wellness, Healing your past, dealing with your present, and taking control of your future, is slated for publication in 2021.

Dr. Monica Vermani, C. Psych., and author of A Deeper Wellness returns to the the show to discuss caregiver burnout and what to do about it.

Caught up in the relentless pace of modern life, the demands of work, family and finances can, at times, leave us feeling overwhelmed. The demanding pace of life fosters anxiety, depression, restlessness, anger, irritability or unhealthy habits, like overeating, overworking and addictions. All too often, the daily grind can leave us struggling to keep up, with little or no time for self-care or reflection. We find ourselves merely existing, not living the life we wish to live.

In her new book, A Deeper Wellness, Dr. Monica Vermani provides the tools to create a deep, authentic sense of wellbeing. Drawing from her 25 years of clinical practice, Dr. Vermani takes readers through her tried and true steps of creating incremental, meaningful change. In 18 clear and succinct ‘chapters,’ the author guides readers through healing their pain and trauma, recognizing and confronting the thoughts and behaviors that stand in the way of their happiness and connecting to their authentic self.

Inspiring and guiding readers to create deep, transformational change in their life, A Deeper Wellness provides a focused, and practical path to healing the past, dealing with the present and building an authentic, connected future — and creating for themselves a lasting, deeper wellness.

[0:33] Introduction to Caregiver Burnout

[1:33] Physical symptoms of burnout

[2:30] Where does caregiver burnout come from?

[3:20] Caregiver timeline

[3:55] Modeling

[4:42] Codependency and reinforcement

[5:35] Pandemic disheartenment and finding joy

[6:17] "Victim mentality" and caregivers

[8:25] Human symptoms have a purpose

[8:55] Habits

[10:00] 1/3rd of your time needs to be restful

[11:06] Time management while running a business

[12:30] Body states and symptoms

[14:00] The problem with using food for short spurts of energy

[15:15] Structure and Routine

[16:00] Human suffering serves a purpose

[16:45] Eustress, distress and substances as uppers/downers

[18:12] Digestive issues=hard time processing

[21:39] "I ams" and "shoulds" with caregivers

[24:33] Rituals

[25:15] Parenting with trauma

[31:55] Keep things simple

[33:33] Overextension

[36:23] Healthy living

[37:29] Overthinking

[38:22] Date yourself

[39:35] Friend influence

[41:15] Protecting your energy

[44:40] Mantras and grounding

[46:00] Gratitude

[47:21] Capabilities vs imagination

[49:07] No double standards with unconditional love

[51:43] Values

[52:48] Imposter syndrome

[55:20] "Who am I separate from my past and culture?"

[56:10] Finding your own uniqueness

To find Monica:

https://www.drmonicavermani.com

To find Hayley:

hayleythetherapist.com

IG: @traumagility

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About the Podcast

Traumagility
Navigating trauma
Trauma sucks. This podcast will identify types of trauma and give tips to help navigate through it all from a trauma therapist. I'm on a mission to help one million people start healing past wounds!

About your host

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Hayley Adams

My name is Hayley Adams, CMHC, LPC, CCTP. I am a retired Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran and licensed therapist. I graduated in 2017 from Thomas University with a Masters in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Addictions. I also have credentials in trauma treatment. I understand trauma from both personal and professional lenses. My behavioral health background began 15 years ago on a volunteer basis where I worked with Native American tribes to provide mental health support to teen mothers. From there, my passion for people began to grow full force. I got my start as a therapist working in a Therapeutic Community (TC) in a prison providing rehabilitation services. I went on to work for a few dual diagnosis centers working in addictions after that. I then branched out and began curriculum development writing therapeutic content for three distinguished dual diagnosis centers. Wanting to broaden my horizons, I worked for an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). There, I specialized in working with first responders, trauma cases, crisis care, and family issues. My love for people didn’t stop growing there. I wanted to help more individuals on a wider scale. As a result I started the Traumagility podcast and coaching academy. I’m on a mission to help at least ONE MILLION individuals find healing in their lives.