In today's episode, Ren shares a poem she wrote called The Dark Gray.

The Dark Gray was written in a time of the sour, the deep dark gray. A time of high anxiety and depression. It was shared so others may be able to relate and feel they are not alone. There are those dark gray moments within all of the shades of gray. The great thing to remember and hold onto, those moments of dark gray don't last. There is sweet that is coming.

In the United States: If you, or someone you know is in crisis not, please contact the Crisis Lifeline at 988

Join Ren as she shares more about the hashtag she uses in some of her Facebook posts #IfYouCanNameItYouCanTameIt

30%-50% Females Misdiagnosed with Depression

That statistic is unacceptable and there must be a change! Join Ren as she shares stories from her personal experiences with being misdiagnosed and left her questioning her reality.

Articles and studies mentioned in this podcast are listed below.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9004374/

https://www.choosingtherapy.com/misdiagnosed-with-depression/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3480686/

Dear Future Doctors,

This is what your patients will want for you to know about for your career in medicine. Tools that will become most useful in your medical bag toolkit are: listening, compassion, empathy, non-judgment, and curiosity.

Sincerely,

Your patients of the future

Problems in accurate medical diagnosis of depression in female patients - ScienceDirect "Depression may be misdiagnosed in 30–50% of female patients. This difficulty is considerably enhanced when women have physical diseases characterized by symptoms that resemble a major depressive disorder. In addition, medical treatments may induce symptoms that are misdiagnosed as affective distress. Multiple causes contribute to an enhanced likelihood of misdiagnoses in women, including physicians' androcentrically orientated medical training and the two-to-one female-to-male ratio of depression treatment. "

Join Ren as she shares a story about mindset and mood. Paying mindful attention to the moment without judgement. Mindfulness is focusing on the here and now, not worrying about the future or ruminating. Choose your mindset, as it is your power and control.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/mindfulness

Join Ren as she talks about her dashboard warning lights and alarms letting her know she has entered "the gray"* What signs has she noticed that has alerted her to spend some time and energy on herself. Ren shares some tools and recommitments she has made to herself to move from the gray to the blue*. If you can name it, you can tame it.

*The term The Gray comes from Jay Glazer's book and podcast Unstoppable. This is a phenomenal resource and tools to add to your toolbox

https://open.spotify.com/show/7KEk0BTuE2JpP2JGIIKHs4?si=72504cce31d848bf

Join Ren as she shares the moment that she was confronted with how much she has changed: physically, mentally and emotionally. It couldn't be denied. The evidence laid out in front of her was ironclad proof. A lot has changed in five years.