Uncover Your Eyes: The Truth About Health & Wellness - Why Are Patients So Angry Now? How COVID Changed Healthcare—for Providers and the Public with Dr. Nina Mafrici

Why Are Patients So Angry Now? How COVID Changed Healthcare—for Providers and the Public with Dr. Nina Mafrici

04/21/24 • 41 min

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Uncover Your Eyes: The Truth About Health & Wellness

In this unfiltered and deeply honest episode of Uncover Your Eyes, Dr. Meenal Agarwal is joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Nina Mafrici to explore why patients are more frustrated, entitled, and emotionally reactive than ever before. They unpack the mental health ripple effects of COVID, the rising burnout among healthcare workers, and why better boundaries, communication, and emotional regulation are essential for both professionals and patients. This episode is for healthcare providers who feel overwhelmed—and for listeners trying to understand why the system feels more strained than ever.

Key Timestamps:

(0:00) The emotional aftershocks of COVID: cynicism, entitlement, and rising tension
(1:18) Dr. Meenal reflects on clinic stress: “Patients and providers are both more frustrated”
(2:13) Dr. Nina joins to break down the emotional toll on healthcare professionals
(3:34) COVID didn’t break the system—it exposed the cracks
(5:24) The loss of social grace, rising entitlement, and pandemic-fueled behavior shifts
(7:12) Why healthcare providers are more anxious than ever—and what it’s doing to them
(8:00) The universal vulnerability checklist: sleep, food, movement, and meds
(9:42) Setting clear expectations: how proactive communication prevents conflict
(10:38) What boundaries really mean: not walls, but windows and doors
(13:00) Emotional overload: when patients vent trauma or mental health concerns
(16:00) Language to protect your role while showing compassion
(19:00) After-hours pressure: email responders and behavior shaping
(22:30) Bringing work home: how to mentally transition from clinic to family
(25:00) When to seek help: red flags, shame, and the myth of “I should be fine”
(27:30) Anxiety, depression, and early intervention
(30:00) How to find the right therapist: fit, credentials, and where to search
(33:00) Psychologist vs. psychotherapist vs. social worker: understanding the difference
(35:00) DBT as a tool for anxiety, burnout, and emotional regulation
(37:00) How Toronto Psychology & Wellness matches clients with the right therapist
(39:00) Final reflections and where to find Dr. Nina Mafrici

Key Takeaways:

COVID intensified an already strained system—and people are feeling it on both sides of the exam table.
Healthcare providers are absorbing emotional loads they were never trained for.
Boundaries protect both patient care and provider well-being.
Redirecting with empathy is a skill worth learning—and sharing.
Burnout is not weakness. It’s a signal to pause, reflect, and ask for support.

Resources & Links:

Toronto Psychology & Wellness: www.tpw.ca
Find a Therapist: PsychologyToday.ca
Follow Dr. Nina Mafrici on Instagram: @torontopsychologyandwellness
Follow Dr. Meenal Agarwal: @dr.meenalagarwal
Subscribe to Uncover Your Eyes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and more

Guest Bio:

Dr. Nina Mafrici is a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Toronto Psychology & Wellness. She specializes in working with healthcare providers and professionals in high-stress careers, using evidence-based modalities like DBT and CBT to support resilience, boundary-setting, and emotional wellness.

Tags:

Dr. Meenal Agarwal, Dr. Nina Mafrici, Uncover Your Eyes, Mental Health, Healthcare Burnout, Setting Boundaries, COVID-19 Impact, Therapy Access, Psychology Canada, DBT, Anxiety Support, Emotional Regulation, Patient Behavior, Communication in Healthcare, Systemic Stress, Wellness Conversations

Key Timestamps:

(0:00) The emotional aftershocks of COVID: cynicism, entitlement, and rising tension
(1:18) Dr. Meenal reflects on clinic stress: “Patients and providers are both more frustrated”
(2:13) Dr. Nina joins to break down the emotional toll on healthcare professionals
(3:34) COVID didn’t break the system—it exposed the cracks
(5:24) The loss of social grace, rising entitlement, and pandemic-fueled behavior shifts
(7:12) Why healthcare providers are more anxious than ever—and what it’s doing to them
(8:00) The universal vulnerability checklist: sleep, food, movement, and meds
(9:42) Setting clear expectations: how proactive communication prevents conflict
(10:38) What boundaries really mean: not walls, but windows and doors
(13:00) Emotional overload: when patients vent trauma or mental health concerns
(16:00) Language to protect your role while showing compassion
(19:00) After-hours pressure: email responders and behavior shaping
(22:30) Bringing work home: how to mentally transition from clinic to family
(25:00) When to seek help: red flags, shame, and the myth of “I should be fine”
(27:30) Anxiety, depression, and early intervention
(30:00) How to find the right therapist: fit, credentials, and where to search
(33:00) Psychologist vs. psychotherapist vs. social worker: understanding the difference
(35:00) DBT as a tool for anxiety, burnout, and emotional regulation
(37:00) How Toronto Psychology & Wellness matches clients with the right therapist
(39:00) Final reflections and where to find Dr. Nina Mafrici

Key Takeaways:

COVID intensified an already strained system—and people are feeling it on both sides of the exam table.
Healthcare providers are absorbing emotional loads they were never trained for.
Boundaries protect both patient care and provider well-being.
Redirecting with empathy is a skill worth learning—and sharing.
Burnout is not weakness. It’s a signal to pause, reflect, and ask for support.

Resources & Links:

Toronto Psychology & Wellness: www.tpw.ca
Find a Therapist: PsychologyToday.ca
Follow Dr. Nina Mafrici on Instagram: @torontopsychologyandwellness
Follow Dr. Meenal Agarwal: @dr.meenalagarwal
Subscribe to Uncover Your Eyes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and more

Guest Bio:

Tags:

Previous Episode

Who Supports the Doctors? The Pressure, Perfection, and Humanity Behind the White Coat

In this raw and honest episode of Uncover Your Eyes, Dr. Meenal Agarwal gets personal about the often invisible emotional toll of being a healthcare professional. She opens up about the unrealistic expectations placed on doctors—to be perfect, always available, endlessly kind, and never human. Through her own story as an optometrist, entrepreneur, and mom of three, she reflects on how the constant pursuit of “doing it all” can slowly wear us down. But this episode isn’t just about pressure—it’s about purpose, gratitude, and redefining what happiness and success really mean in medicine and life.

Key Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction: The impossible expectations placed on doctors
(0:42) If we get sick, we’re judged. If we’re too kind, we’re too soft
(1:00) The pressure to never ask, never question, never admit “I don’t know”
(1:24) Doctors are human: stress, family, health concerns, and feeling not enough
(1:36) Dr. Meenal shares her origin story: diagnosed with glaucoma at 11
(2:06) Juggling life as a business owner, optometrist, and mom of three
(2:30) Family rituals, support, and the guilt of being “not enough” as a mom
(3:06) Redefining perfection: Is it possible? Who decides what perfect is anyway?
(3:30) What does happiness really mean? And why are we chasing so hard to define it?
(3:48) Introducing the guests who helped her heal: the true heroes behind the mic
(4:00) Closing thoughts and invitation to follow the podcast journey

Key Takeaways:

Doctors are held to impossible standards—but they’re human too.
Work-life balance isn’t about perfection—it’s about awareness and support.
Even the most successful professionals question their worth and struggle with guilt.
Perfection is subjective, and chasing it might be keeping us from true happiness.
Healing starts by sharing the load—and letting others help carry it.

Resources & Links:

Follow Dr. Meenal Agarwal on Instagram: @dr.meenalagarwal
Subscribe to Uncover Your Eyes Podcast: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms

Bio:

Dr. Meenal Agarwal is a Canadian optometrist, mom of three, entrepreneur, and host of Uncover Your Eyes. Through short solo reflections and intimate interviews, she explores what it means to be a whole person in a high-pressure profession. Her mission is to normalize the messy, beautiful, and real side of being a healthcare provider—and help others uncover their truth.

Tags:

Dr. Meenal Agarwal, Uncover Your Eyes, Women in Healthcare, Optometrist Life, Medical Burnout, Work-Life Balance, Guilt, Perfectionism, Mental Health in Medicine, Personal Growth, Female Entrepreneurs, Mom Life, Doctor Wellness, Healing Journey, Podcast for Women, Eye Health Advocate

Next Episode

Struggling with Energy, Weight, or Cravings? The Blood Sugar Fix You Need with Anar Allidina

In this eye-opening episode of Uncover Your Eyes, Dr. Meenal Agarwal shares her personal struggle with blood sugar imbalances, low energy, and failed diets—until she found registered dietitian Anar Allidina. Together, they break down how stress, poor eating habits, and even "healthy" choices can sabotage your health. Anar explains why eating less isn’t the answer, how to balance your meals for stable energy, and why protein is the key to keeping cravings and weight gain at bay. Whether you're pre-diabetic, struggling with PCOS, or just want to feel better, this episode is packed with practical, science-backed solutions to transform your health without restrictive dieting.

Key Timestamps:

(00:00) Why doctors miss early signs of pre-diabetes and insulin resistance
(01:18) Dr. Meenal’s personal struggle: fatigue, weight gain, and unstable blood sugar despite "eating healthy"
(03:18) How small food changes transformed her energy, mood, and sugar levels
(04:00) Meet Anar Allidina: Registered dietitian specializing in blood sugar balance, diabetes, and PCOS
(06:15) Why stress and cortisol play a huge role in high blood sugar
(08:30) The hidden dangers of skipping meals or eating on the go
(10:12) Who should be checking their blood sugar—even if they’re not diabetic?
(14:00) The #1 most important nutrient for balancing blood sugar
(16:42) Why eating an apple alone could spike your sugar (and what to eat instead)
(20:30) The protein-to-carb ratio rule for picking the right snacks
(24:30 The worst granola bars for blood sugar (and the best alternatives)
(30:48) What you’ll notice immediately after fixing your diet: More energy, better mood, and weight loss
(33:42) How eating more protein actually reduces cravings (goodbye, binge eating!)
(35:00) The importance of hydration and how it affects blood sugar balance
(36:48) Where to find Anar for personalized nutrition coaching

Key Takeaways:

Skipping meals and eating low-calorie isn’t the answer— it makes cravings, energy crashes, and weight gain worse.
Protein is the secret to stable blood sugar. Every meal should include protein to slow down sugar spikes.
You don’t need to cut carbs— just pair them with the right foods for better blood sugar control.
Tracking your blood sugar isn’t just for diabetics. Early signs of insulin resistance are often missed.
Hydration and stress control are just as important as food. Dehydration and high cortisol levels can raise blood sugar, even if you eat well.

Resources & Links:

Follow Anar Allidina on Instagram: @AnarDietitian
Visit Anar’s website for coaching and blood sugar support: www.anarallidina.com
Follow Dr. Meenal Agarwal on Instagram: @dr.meenalagarwal

Bio:

Anar Allidina is a registered dietitian specializing in blood sugar balance, pre-diabetes, diabetes, and PCOS management. She helps clients feel more energized, reduce cravings, and lose weight without giving up their favorite foods. Anar believes in simple, sustainable nutrition habits that make health easy—no restrictive dieting required.

Tags:

Dr. Meenal Agarwal, Anar Allidina, Uncover Your Eyes, Blood Sugar Balance, Insulin Resistance, Diabetes Prevention, PCOS, Pre-Diabetes, Stress and Blood Sugar, Protein for Energy, Low Carb Diet, Healthy Eating, Managing Cravings, Weight Loss, Nutrition Coaching, Healthy Snack Ideas, Women’s Wellness, Health, Wellness, Mental Health, Healthcare Innovations,