Self-love, Self-care & Burnout with Jessica Medina (formerly Ehrman)

If you're feeling overwhelmed, struggling with self-care, or wondering how to spot burnout before it takes over, this episode is for you!

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/jessica-medina-2

In this episode of Even Tacos Fall Apart, MommaFoxFire interviews Jessica Medina (formerly Ehrman), a registered associate marriage and family therapist. The episode centers around self-love, self-care and burnout, with Jessica offering insights from her experiences both as a therapist and as an individual. Jessica highlights the importance of practicing self-love, describing it as a mindset of appreciating oneself, and self-care as the practical actions that support that mindset. She emphasizes that these two concepts are intertwined, and you cannot have true self-care without first practicing self-love.

Throughout the conversation, Jessica shares her personal experiences, including an encounter where she had to fire her therapist after feeling unsupported during a difficult time. This story serves as a reminder that it's okay to prioritize personal needs in therapy and seek out a therapist who truly supports you. Jessica stresses the importance of open communication with therapists before making drastic decisions, as therapy should be a collaborative process.

The discussion also touches on the impact of relationships on self-care and self-love, whether it be with romantic partners, children or colleagues. Jessica explains how boundaries play a critical role in maintaining one’s emotional wellbeing and how they help in balancing personal needs with those of others. She offers tips for managing these dynamics, such as modeling self-care behaviors for children and ensuring that significant others understand the importance of personal space and mental health.

Burnout is another key focus of the episode. Jessica describes burnout as a chronic state of stress that accumulates over time when self-care is neglected. She shares her own signs of burnout, such as neglecting basic hygiene and feeling emotionally overwhelmed. The conversation also covers how to recognize burnout through physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. Jessica encourages listeners to be mindful of these signs and to take proactive steps, like self-care check-ins, to avoid reaching a state of exhaustion.

Jessica also provides practical advice for combating negative self-talk, offering an intervention that involves writing down positive affirmations on post-it notes as a way to retrain the brain. The episode ends with a light-hearted discussion about how Jessica finds self-care in activities like playing video games, and how she uses pop culture-based therapy methods, including video games like Roblox and Animal Crossing, to connect with her clients.

Overall, this episode encourages listeners to prioritize their mental health by practicing both self-love and self-care, setting boundaries and recognizing the signs of burnout before it escalates. Jessica’s down-to-earth and relatable approach makes the conversation engaging, informative and insightful for anyone looking to enhance their mental well-being.

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