Your Emotions Aren’t the Problem. They’re the Signal.
Feb 06, 2026
If you’re a woman physician, chances are you’re very good at functioning while ignoring what you feel.
You were trained to.
The system rewards it.
Patients depend on it.
And yet, many of us are quietly overwhelmed, exhausted, or carrying emotions we don’t quite know what to do with.
Anger that feels unsafe to express.
Disgust at things happening in the world.
Resentment that shows up right alongside deep caring.
We’re often taught that these emotions mean something has gone wrong inside us.
I’d argue the opposite.
In episode #214 of my podcast, Ending Physician Overwhelm, I walk through a simple but powerful reframe: emotions are information. They’re sensations in the body that arise from thoughts; often thoughts connected to your deepest values.
When we don’t slow down to understand them, emotions tend to drive actions we later regret: snapping, withdrawing, giving up on ourselves, or pushing even harder when what we actually need is support.
But when we name an emotion, identify the thought beneath it, and drop the judgment? Something shifts.
We gain choice.
That might look like setting a boundary instead of swallowing resentment.
Taking action instead of staying stuck.
Or simply allowing yourself to be human without adding shame on top.
This work matters—especially in a profession that benefits when you disconnect from your internal signals.
🎧 If this resonates, I invite you to listen to Episode 214 of Ending Physician Overwhelm “Your Emotions Are Not the Problem.” It’s a grounded, compassionate place to start.
And if you’re ready for deeper support:
- You can join my email list for weekly, high-yield messages that remind you who you are beneath the burnout
- Or schedule a 1:1 coaching discovery call to explore working together:
👉 https://calendly.com/healthierforgood/coaching-discovery-call
You don’t need to be fixed.
You don’t need to toughen up.
You might just need space to listen to yourself—and the right support to help you respond.
Hi There!
I'm Megan. I'm a Physician and a Life Coach and a Mom. I created this blog to help other Physicians and Physician-Moms learn more about why they feel exhausted, burned-out and overwhelmed, and how to start to make changes. I hope that you enjoy what you read, and that it helps you along your journey. And hey, if you want to talk about coaching with me, I'm here for that too! I offer a free 1:1 call to see if we are a good fit. Click the button below to register today.
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