Therapy Roulette

Moving Cross Country & Chasing the Covid-19 Peak w/ an Essential Worker

February 12, 2021 Michele Baci Season 1 Episode 121
Therapy Roulette
Moving Cross Country & Chasing the Covid-19 Peak w/ an Essential Worker
Show Notes Transcript Chapter Markers

Michele shares some mental health tips for frontline workers. Today’s guest is Emily, a dietitian at a hospital in Los Angeles. Emily moved from New York to LA in the middle of the pandemic to help her girlfriend open a restaurant that serves Latin American / Asian fusion empanadas and because LA is a nicer place to quarantine. Emily explains how she became a registered dietitian, how it’s different from calling yourself a nutritionist, and the rewarding components of her job, including helping people learn how to eat a healthy diet. 

She shares her experience of being an essential worker during this stressful time, catching the ‘rona, getting the Covid vaccine, and the satisfaction of having a doctor listen to you. The ladies also discuss the preventative aspects of therapy and how Emily probably had a bad therapist once. 


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welcome to another episode of Therapy Roulette: consent to vent. I'm Michele Baci. And right up top, if you are listening, go ahead and press pause if you're able to do so if you're driving, don't do that. Keep listening. But if you can press pause and go ahead and leave me a review on Apple podcasts. Five stars, please. That is the best number of stars write something, hopefully it's positive. And if you leave me a review on Apple podcasts, it really helps boost the podcast in in searches. And when people are looking for mental health podcasts and therapy stuff. It's how strangers find the podcast. So please leave me a review. If you want to review me on some other podcast app like stitcher or Google podcasts. Go ahead. It can't hurt, right. Reviews are awesome. And I appreciate it if you can do so. It only takes like 20 seconds, I swear. Today, I interviewed my friend who is an essential worker. And she's been working in a hospital this whole pandemic. She was living in New York before. So she was working in a hospital in New York during the peak Corona times there. And then she moved to LA in the summer and now she's working in a hospital during peak Corona times in LA so the girl can't catch a break. For the intro today I wanted to read you a few blurbs from an article about essential workers. This article is from very well minds.com and it's called the impacts of Coronavirus on essential workers mental health by Sarah Lindbergh, who has a Master's of education and counseling good for you Sarah Lindbergh. Nurse fly conducted a survey about the impacts of COVID-19 on health care workers, which includes some data around the topic of mental health. The survey pool, which consisted of over 1380 health care professionals looked at insights from hospital workers on the frontlines nationwide. More specifically, it analyzed Hospital Preparedness operations and the outlook on recovery. Since the COVID-19 crisis escalated, nearly 80% of respondents feel more stress in their job, Noda. In regards to mental health resources only 40% reported their hospital has established specific COVID-19 resources for mental health support, but it's the expectation that frontline workers are essential, which often leads to very little time for rest. That has Logan Jones, sidey, a licensed clinical psychologist at clarity therapy online, and other experts really concerned with the idea that essential workers must act superhuman, despite all odds is an unhealthy recipe for burnout says Jones. I mean, just an aside for me, I am burned out as a pretty non essential worker. So I can only imagine what people on the frontlines are feeling. I don't know how they've, you know, been doing the work they've been doing this whole time I give them the utmost kudos, all my kudos goes to them. Back to the article. This heightened level of stress, day in and day out, increases the stress hormone cortisol, which unfortunately can have a negative impact on the body's vital immune system. Doreen Marshall, PhD, Vice President of mission engagement At the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, is also concerned about frontline workers and their mental health. Essential workers are remaining strong and resilient for their patients, families, friends and communities. However, the great personal risk they're taking to keep everybody else safe and healthy, can have a toll on their own mental health. She explains. Now more than ever, health care workers need to take steps to safeguard their mental health by intentionally staying connected with friends and family, even through virtual means engaging in an open and honest dialogue about their mental health, practicing self care, and maintaining healthy habits, engaging in physical activity, eating healthily and getting adequate sleep and rest are critical for boosting health. That's all I wanted to take from the article. I kind of copy and pasted a few paragraphs but that's the gist of it. I mean, we can all learn from those tips. This article was posted in May Which is kind of wild to think about how many months we've been in this, but it's still relevant for sure. And, yeah, I wonder if essential workers have time to even take stock of their mental health very much, because they're probably busy. They're probably not able to think with the space and the meditation that you really need to like, look at your mental health. So if you're an essential worker, you know, someone who is encouraged them to take time for therapy or exercise, eating, right? Ask them how they're doing and make sure they really tell you. If they just say, Oh, I'm fine. Be like, okay, but how are you really,

you know, get

to the root of it. Your friends, your family, find out how they're really doing because we're all just pretending we're fine at this point. I mean, we're coming up on our year, our year anniversary in lockdown, so none of us are fine. Today's guest is my friend, Emily. And I knew her back in New York, and now she lives here in LA. So now we're somewhat neighbors even though we're so socially distance. I haven't seen her in a very long time. Emily is a dietitian at a hospital in Los Angeles and the work she does is while it's pretty dang essential. I'd like to welcome to the podcast, Emily,

guest interview / a friend for you / strangers whose issues are relatable / guest interview / They're the voice that's new / this person has problems and they don't mind discussing it, but they still need a therapist / (Who’s not me) 

All right, Emily, yes to the podcast.

Baci, thanks for having me. I'm sorry, I'm

calling you Baci.

It's a pleasure. You can call me Baci, people know that name, too. Okay. Okay, good. How's it going? How is your Saturday? You said you made a lot of empanadas.

I made a lot of empanadas. Likely this conversation will go with a plug to my, my girlfriend's new new business venture, which afford

it upfront.

Yeah. Well, it just has. It's on the tip of my tongue because I've been making empanadas all day and helping her with that. So,

so yes, the TCS concoction she has right now.

Ooh, that's a good question today. She made a new flavor and it's curry chicken and there are pickled pineapple pieces inside and it's like imagine like a pineapple curry chicken from like, the best Thai restaurant oozing out of an empanada.

It's delicious. This is something I would never make in my own kitchen. I know. It's It's wild. So I have to seek it out from her kitchen. What is it called?

It's called Bondi. Yeah, I suppose the like authentic. Argentinian way of pronouncing it is boondi which in Argentina is like the slang term for the bus that everybody rides. So it's their public transit. So I don't know. I guess it's you know, these empanadas will take you places that kind of nice. It's in

it in nice in Van Nuys. So if you're in the valley, you can find her on Yelp. You can find her on Instagram. It's @ La Bondi Go. And yeah, several different platforms to order from basically anyone you could think of you could order it.

I'll link it down below in the show notes.

Yes.

Get those empanadas? Yes, you should. So this leads me to my first question, which was You are a new la resident from New York? Yes, I am. And why did you move from New York in the middle of a pandemic?

That's a great question. Um, so

I don't know, Bondi. Yeah,

for sure. For sure, in part to do with Bondi and my girlfriend's dream of moving back here. She used to live here several years ago. Really enjoyed it. And for me, I guess for selfish reasons to you know, not live in places with two feet of snow falling down and nothing else to do outdoors in a pandemic. So, selfishly, for me, I think this is a much more pleasant place to live amid this disaster.

You get that outdoor nicety of like,

I can walk outside during the day. I don't have to be covered in layers and layers of clothes, like in New York, right? Right. It's like why do I live where the wind hurts my face right there. All those means about that experience in New York or Boston or wherever on the northeast coast.

Do you love driving everywhere out here?

Um, I wouldn't say I love it. But I would say that again, it's like, a convenient thing I can just zone out and be in my thoughts. It's like, similar to my time, you know, spent, I guess in the shower, but in New York like in New York, you're stuck on the subway, cram all these strangers and you don't really get to like quietly think in your head, you're mostly thinking about like, not touching another person.

That's true. I feel like in New York subway, I would mentally be in a bubble all the time. I'd be like, this is my space, clutching my bag. So no one can steal it. Maybe reading on my phone or with a book. But otherwise, really feeling like no one can infiltrate my space, even though there's 100 people around me.

Yeah, that's that's the the New York Public transit experience to a tee.

Yeah, I like how you equate driving to being in the shower. I guess you do a lot of thinking.

Yeah, I don't know. It's just me time. You know, now. Now I live with my girlfriend. And now we have our own dog as well. So I don't get a lot of alone time. I guess even though we're in this pandemic.

It's the first time you used to live together without a roommate to

correct correct so that we're all on our own. And now we have a baby. So you know,

a fur Baby, baby. Exactly. That's nice. Do you think you prefer it out here? Do you miss New York?

Hmm. I honestly think the things I missed most about New York are like my favorite like food places because of course, I'm very food driven just as a person. That's probably why I got a dog because they're I can relate. They're so food driven. Yeah, I haven't. I haven't missed it too much. Other than that, for the most part, the thing that's mostly just like, Oh, I wish I could order takeout from x. You know?

I feel all that pain.

Yeah, I'm right. Like you.

I miss my cheap sushi. I miss my like, corner shop bagel store. Yes, exactly.

I know. Yeah. bagels are hard to find, you know, good pizza. There is good sushi. I know that that exists. But cheap. I don't know. Yeah, it's

expensive here. And it's the same sushi. So I don't understand. furreal? We'll figure it out together someday. Good, good. And you work as a dietitian, how were you inspired to get into that fields?

Um, another great question of them they're

coming at.

So no, I went a very roundabout way to becoming a dietitian. And I think I should preface what it means to be a dietitian, because I think there are some misconceptions out there because they think a lot of people are just like, well, aren't you just a nutritionist? Like, what's the difference? So

I wouldn't know as a non dietitian, really what the differences are,

of course, who would so I guess this is a good platform to plug with the differences. So anyone literally anyone could call themselves a nutritionist, there is no sort of licensure or exam or certification that goes along with that title. You could have a food blog, or I don't know, pretend that you were the creator of the keto diet and call yourself a nutritionist, totally fine. But if you want to become a registered dietitian, it involves going to like an accredited program getting either a bachelor's or a master's degree in that program that's accredited by like a nation wide body in the US. And after that you would have to apply get into an internship. And that involves many hours of sucking it up and learning the profession and the trade you're about to get into whether it be in a hospital or community based setting, and then clean up the knowledge. Yes, and then after all, that you pay several $100 to that exam board and you sit for the exam and you pray to God that you pass and then you're a registered dietician.

Okay, so several steps, many years.

Yeah, several steps many years. I myself, unfortunately have two bachelor's degrees because of it.

And you got another bachelor's I didn't realize that. Well, the reason being

is that

Emily's a distressed face.

The reason being is that I went about it all wrong. I didn't know what I wanted to do when I grew up, you know, when I was big into in college days, so so I had to go back to school to take coursework, and by the time I think Finished that coursework it amounted to a second bachelor's degree in nutrition. So Okay, there we go. That's that's my story. That's how I became a dietitian, why I became a dietitian, right. Is that the question?

Yes. But just to clear up my own memory, you got one bachelor's degree, you got a master's degree, and then you got a second bachelor's degree. Correct. That is the timeline. Okay. So you can do that. It's good to know, you can do whatever you want. You

can pay, you can pay colleges a ton of money. And, you know, they'll take it from you, that's for sure.

Okay. Cuz I'm still figuring out what I want to do. And I grew up so good to know. Yeah, I always go back to school.

It's true.

I don't think I want to go back to school, but at the same time, maybe who knows one day, but you were I'm guessing inspired by food in some capacity. But to go into this field?

Yeah. Mostly food. My my first bachelor's in my first life was in environmental studies. And I kind of started learning about the food system and how we feed ourselves in this country and globally, and what food insecurity looks like and and just, you know, what the agricultural system is like, and I got super interested in that aspect, but I always kind of had an interest in, why are we healthy or unhealthy because of what we eat. So we're just all kind of blended together. And eventually, I was like, yeah, this would be cool. I could be a health care practitioner and talk about food all day long, and try to make people healthier. So

yeah, because I am when I first met you, you definitely introduced me to more different types of foods and things I had eaten at home because we became friends early on in college, and I knew you were an adventurous eater, you seems confident you could order Indian food, I was like, okay, she seems like she's fine. Or during this random dish that I've never heard of. I think maybe I'll be okay, too. You're like, so confident and adventurous in your own dining choices and inspired me. And then you know, you got smart about it and got a couple of degrees in it. So

yeah, I guess. Thank you. Thank you. I hope so I hope it amounts to something.

I'm sure you're helping people all the time.

That that's the hope. Yes.

So you work as a dietitian in hospital. You did that in New York. And now you're doing it in LA? How is that going?

Um, it's, it's, it's good. I mean, the The good thing about this career and doing like dietetics nutrition in a hospital setting is you could pretty much do it anywhere. So that was another big plus of like, just being able to move, like pack up and move is that as long as I found a job, I could do that job in x city. So it's good. There are similarities, obviously, in the work that I do. The patient population here is a little bit more boozy, just because I'm only a little working only a little I'm working in a in a Medical Center in the heart of Beverly Hills. So you know, take that with what you will. So

yeah, but Li overall is pretty boozy. So I don't know if it's that different in Beverly Hills. They have more statues? Yeah, yeah. fountains?

For sure. And lots of personalities, lots of picky patients telling me how much they hate the food that's being served.

Do you see a lot of like plastic surgery faces walking around? Or you can't tell?

You know, not not so much. It's Yeah, it's not really those kind of problems that would lead you like in the hospital like inpatient for like, long amounts of time. So not so much. Not yet. Maybe once the generation of plastic surgery gets, like, a lot older, I'll see more. True.

it'll it'll come during your lifetime.

Definitely, definitely.

So how has been an essential worker during this pandemic? Like, how do you feel about that

label? How

is it affecting your mental health? Like, how are you doing with all of that?

Yeah, it's it's super interesting. It's cool in some ways, I think the big absolutely on the podcast No, no, no, I'm going to talk about the perks first because I think there are a lot okay. The amount of pride that goes with that title the amount of like donations and lovely cards and people showing support is is so appreciated like more than anybody knows that like, I mean, what we do is we do it no matter what but like hearing that or getting any sort of, you know, like free lunch or whatever that they might like toss Our way is so so appreciated any token of gratitude, like probably means more Now more than ever, yes. And the other perk is that while most people have been so secluded at home, and not really able to interact with coworkers in person, I interact with my co workers every day, I have been able to do that every day. And I never lost that amount of, you know, communication aspect of what goes on at my job. And I value that a lot more than I probably realized, because I haven't had to let that go yet.

Yeah, so I'm having a hard time putting myself in your shoes talking about

well,

like, like, the world is so normal in a way.

Right. Right. So it's, yeah, so it's like, every day, I mean, I sit in the office masks on, you know, we separate by one computer, you know, that isn't allowed, you know, for a person to sit there. And, you know, we we chit chat. I mean, we get to have like normal, like gossip, but also talk about obviously, things and bounce patients off of each other, you know, and like, realize, and just like have those, you know, productive conversations in person rather than, you know, Skype or zoom or whatever else is going on?

Yeah, that's definitely a perk. See, do you think that's, that's helping your mental health, like stay on track? Because you're having like the socialization, you're having communication? You don't have zoom fatigue?

Yes, I will say that, for sure. Helping, because for about a month and a half in New York, while I was still there, during the height, so this was like, April, May, they allowed us to work from home, as dietitians. So sorry,

I would say it's gonna break if you need one.

Yeah, I would say that, like 90% of what I do, I could probably do without physically visiting a patient, of course, so as you know, to like communicating in person, you, you are able to have so much more, you know, body language involved and really understanding of what's going on. So calling someone over the phone, a patient who's sick in their bed is a very arduous task, right?

Yeah, you probably have to do a lot more like, let me just interpret this. Like, let me figure it out. Based on little information. I have a lot more detective work. Yes.

Yes. So. So while we were like I was saying, while we were in New York, we got to work from home for a month and a half as our field because they deemed us you know, not not as necessary to be fake patient facing at the very height when all he wanted to do was like preserve peepee personal protective equipment and not, you know, overburden our system. Yeah. They stripped you of that essential label for a little while. Yes. So so what we did was we just had one of us in the office for one day of the week. There were five of us full time I should clarify. So in order to not have all five of us in the office at one time we rotated each of us had a day and the other four people would work from home and call patients and I should also say that the protocol for my profession was never to go see and it still is not ever to go physically see a patient infected with Coronavirus in person. So of course, that's to keep our PP you know, in check and also protect ourselves. So we still as a protocol, just call them. Okay. So so for that month for Yeah, so for now you're in the building with

Coronavirus. You don't have to really be face to face with people with it.

Correct. So, so that's why I know how bad it could get when you aren't allowed to go to work because I lived it for about a month and a half where when I did go to work. I was alone at an office or I was at home calling people. And at least in New York, that was very difficult because I lived with my partner and a roommate and the roommates partner and a dog and it was just very difficult to get any work done. So kudos to everybody working from home this whole time. Yeah, for

sure. I I feel like I'm trapped in my Long Beach, California apartment. I don't know what it'd be like if I was living in Brooklyn with my like, three, three to five roommates.

Sounds like a lot harder. It and yeah, it was a challenge. It was a challenge.

I'm just putting stress on Joseph like, maybe it'd be better if I spread it out over five roommates. Like let's clean the apartment.

The grass is greener. bachi Let me tell you, it's always so green

coast. That's true. Yes. It sounds like you're doing okay, was that a hard month and a half working from home?

Yeah, it was Challenging like every day, we would have something else come up like I would have to be able to get into our like electronic medical records to work on patients and whatever. And a lot of things, weirdly, were somewhat antiquated. In the medical system still,

like, probably never going to fix it.

Right? For example, there was one particular kind of order set that we usually would just fax actually, if you remember what that is, we faxed it to the pharmacy department in order to get that order to our patients.

You're still faxing documents.

That was it. That was in New York. I don't do that anymore. I don't know what's going on in New York right now. But yeah, it was really bizarre. So So having to overcome that and try to figure out how do I do this from home? I don't have a fax machine. Like, what is this 1984 la,

I remember my dad doing that in the early 90s. I couldn't tell you how to fax something. Now I guess it's on the old school printers. Right.

And, of course, like having any sort of patient sensitive information, not within like, the hospital building, like getting the privilege and authority to have that at home was a very difficult task too. And a lot of people had to jump through a lot of hoops early on to get us to be able to kind of protect ourselves a little bit better.

Or at least they're taking care of you as as much as they can. It sounds like yeah,

yeah, yeah, no, it's true. They, they definitely. I mean, we have to fight a little bit for it to just have everybody realized, obviously, this is a very novel event, and we need to kind of strategize. How do we do this the best way so that we treat people and don't hurt our employees at the same time. So it was a lot of brainstorming in the end. We got a few days off in there, you know. And, and at least while I was in New York, I stayed healthy.

Do you want to talk about your health now or do you want to skip it?

That's totally fine. I will address it because I am coughing a bit. So I did. I apologize. I did. I did get the Coronavirus infection in January Beverly

Hills population they got to you? Yes. I

mean, the spike in cases here in LA has been extremely wild. I think it even got worse

than everyone's shopping at the mall. I feel like our addiction to LA life our like entertainment industry, our capitalistic tendencies have risen our COVID numbers and I don't know. I hope they go down. But I don't know how we're gonna do.

Yeah, I mean, no, they definitely are going down. Now. I just think that the surge happens so quickly and so crazily, like just after Thanksgiving and then obviously next for you cuz you got out of the surgeon, New York. You come here and you're like, I'm gonna have a better life in California. And then big surgery. I know everybody's just joking with me that I'm like chasing the peak of the virus. Like Yeah, I guess I guess I did a little bit.

You really wanted to get it?

Yeah. Right. So So I actually don't know how I got it yet. So it's still a big mystery. None of my coworkers tested positive. My my partner and I yes, we were positive. So I don't know. It could have been a lot of things maybe from work maybe from her new work, she started her business and it was going to like, you know, restaurant depot's and that sort of thing. But wearing masks, you know, I mean, the fact of the matter is, it was so ubiquitous and so like everywhere that it was just clearly I mean, dice roll, right? Like maybe you get it maybe if you

get out of like you and and she was both you're both going to work. You're both interacting with people, even if you're trying your best to be safe. Just like exposure wise, you're exposing yourself. Plus you're in a hospital when you do go to work. So that doesn't help.

Yes. Right. Exactly. So so I apologize because I am going to cough every now and then I do still have a dry kind of cough going on, but that it's just like the next evolution of blitzscaling listeners. Listen to Fauci. Dr. Fauci. I'm

so glad he's getting this platform now to speak about you know, the trauma that

finally he wasn't like, you know, sent to the basement you know, like he we brought him into the light again, he

finally got on Rachel Maddow. Now we can listen to everything he has to say.

Yeah, very true. Yeah, no, I'm so I'm so happy that that you know, the world is where where it is now. Hopefully. Hopefully there's like a light at the end of that. tunnel. No, you know,

do you feel you got COVID You said it was pretty bad symptoms wise for like three weeks or more.

So my symptoms were actually very mild. I never got any fever. I never had really any shortness of breath. The It was strange, it was very mild for me. I had congestion, I had a cough. And other than that I didn't have much else. My my girlfriend, though she did lose sense of taste for about five days. And that's what triggered us. I know, I know, it was very scary for her so and I was like, Oh, you're probably just, it's just because you're congested, because I was too. And I was like, it's probably just this weird thing where you're congested. And then I was like, No, you lost your taste like we should both get tested. So that's that story. So then,

but only for five days. Now she can taste things. Normally.

He could taste things. Normally, I think we're both still going through the end stages of just like this cough and recovery period of whatever this virus did to us during the time that it was active. Probably the the most stressful part of all of this is that because I because I do work at a hospital, I did receive the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in December on Christmas Eve, actually, I Oh, Christmas Eve. Wow. Yeah, so this was all pre COVID, pre me receiving COVID

and like a peak time of cases and La

peak time of cases. So I definitely acquired the virus, probably very shortly after getting the first dose and then I tested positive on the 11th of January. And then I was supposed to get the second dose on the 15th of January. But that obviously couldn't happen because I was quarantining at home. Because I had the active virus. So then I had to be on multiple phone calls with like the epidemiologist at the hospital, employee health, all of these people trying to figure out like, what do I do in my case? And during my 10 days of quarantine, the answer changed probably four different times.

I know I remember you texting that you might not get it till the spring, like you might have to be like super far down the list because you couldn't get it at the right time that you were supposed to.

Right. So originally, what they said was you have to wait 90 days after you test positive to then be able to get the dose again. And by that point, you would probably just need to get both doses. So it was very confusing. And then I did like my own research and obviously, you know, people in people in my predicament are not many at this point, right? This is all just so new. So I felt like I was just like flying without like wings, you know.

So all these vaccine rollouts are kind of all flying without, like seat of their pants, like they don't really know what the right thing is because the rules are so different from county to county, state to state. It's kind of like who's running the show here. That's how it's going.

Yeah, that's so right. I mean, yeah, it did. I didn't really know what to do or what to believe. I was just like, Okay, well, I guess by the end of this, I'll be super immune, though. Like I've had had I've had the actual virus, I probably will have antibodies, like I'm not gonna get sick from anything anymore.

Do you wonder if it was the first shot of the vaccine? Like got you sick? Like, do you? Are you upset that it could be? No, I'm

very confident that it that the first vaccine did not give me COVID because that, actually that science couldn't happen. Like there's no active virus going into you when you get the vaccine. The vaccines that are on like available right now are all the basically like, how do I put it the not live stream, the blue the blueprint of what the what of what your immune system needs to to fight the actual virus so it's not the actual virus, right? It's just like, carrier the schematics of what's going to come to you learn it, fight it, right.

This is good to hear from my inner conspiracy theorist. So the first vaccine did not get you sick. It was like a terrible coincidence.

Absolutely.

Yes. 100% and you were never like debating, should I get this vaccine? I don't know.

Okay, no, never never and and since that time, I have received my second dose and it went better than my first dose. I had no reaction other than mild sore arm. So I definitely still encourage everybody to get vaccinated when you can. Good.

I can't wait. I've been Yeah, I'm on the email list as soon as I'm available. I'm gonna go get it.

Yeah. Can't wait for all of all of my family all my friends everyone to get it. I think it's gonna finally get us towards some semblance of normalcy.

Here's hoping that we could all as we hit our one year anniversary of COVID

Oh my god, it's so crazy that it's been a year of this.

Mm hmm.

I'm

I want to celebrate. I don't I don't know what my feelings are.

I know I saw recently someone posted. Oh, it was it's like this comedian. Another comedian. wasn't making posts.

I'm sorry. It wasn't you. But this time I'm one less funny posted

less funny he posted so what are you gonna get COVID for your anniversary?

I think I really like a brand new mask. And maybe some more strong hand sanitizer. Maybe a plane ticket home and like 2022

There we go. Those are all reasonable ticket. They'll probably be much appreciated by COVID.

Yeah. I think it was like March 14 or 15th when we went on lockdown, or like the country went on lockdown.

Yes. I remember it perfectly. Because no, the reason being is that my roommate, not my girlfriend in New York. Her birthday is March 16. And there was this weird ominous, like, small get together that we had on that day. We were like, pretty locked down. But it's your birthday. What do we do? You know, and it was like, live together. We

have to acknowledge the birthday.

We had one or two people over to celebrate the birthday, but it was kind of like, should we shun this? Should we not you know, no one knew. Yeah, no one knew that. So I mean, I still I went to Martha's country bakery. I got her a little cake. You know, the my girlfriend, she she cooked her dinner. And we had a little birthday celebration, and we were gonna go out to dinner. But that was the first day restaurants closed. So we're like, okay, we'll do it at home. 16th. And then that was the last hurrah.

Because it was different for me because I was I was at a wedding in South Carolina. So I think I think the wedding was on the 14th. So we had the wedding still felt a little ominous because the news was on, you know, at the hotel, people were talking about it. We're like, Don't worry, it's your special day. You know, congratulations. Wedding happens. The next day. It feels weird. I think the 16th was two days after I felt super weird. My whole family booked it out of town early. They're like, there's a pandemic happening. We're going home. I was pretty much alone without my close family in South Carolina. And I got dinner at a restaurant says like, it's my last day in South Carolina. I'm gonna go out. And it just felt like the apocalypse. Oh, and also in Charleston. Not a lot of people were concerned. Everyone seemed like normal at the restaurant. So I was like, Am I the weird one for thinking this might be my last day on earth and no one else thinks that way. Yeah,

no, I gaslighted at

at the same time.

Yeah, I distinctly remember you texting me too, from that very moment being like, EBD you do you think? Do you think I should go home? Like, yeah, you should probably go as soon as you can. Like,

I felt alone. Yeah, no,

for sure. You found a friend. And I'm glad I could be there to be like, yeah, that sounds reasonable. You should go home soon.

Well, I guess the fact that my whole family was there for a wedding. My mom was like, we're gonna have a trip all together. And then early. They leave early. My mom, my dad, my siblings, they all book it fly out. And I'm just the only one. So I felt Yeah, I felt like the crazy one.

I don't blame you. What a weird scenario. I mean, I also before my, my roommates birthday, the weekend before your wedding that you went to I went to one of my close highschool friend, you know, Julie right in New Jersey? Yes. And she and it was like Loki, like they were having like, you know, hand sanitizers and all of the like, what's that called? at weddings in the hors d'oeuvres? Like stations, right. Like they they had little hand sanitizers and you know, people were like fist pumping or like this rather than giving you know, full on hugs all the time. And it was just

a week before the shutdown.

Exactly. So it was like low key. Trying to acknowledge that something might get real but it wasn't real yet and sticky

situation. You're planning this wedding, a pandemic hits what are you supposed to do? Like

you had last year? Absolutely. So so so Julie always jokes that she like she She really got lucky. Because I mean, it could have happened. It could have happened two weeks later. And then that's it, they would have had to cancel. Right? What do you do? So that was also fun. Like a last hurrah in like a party sense. You know? That's true.

I should be grateful. I got to see my family a year ago.

Yes, but it

did feel like what is the future hold? Like all these people who are trying to get married since then, who keep canceling or rescheduling? And people who think they're getting married in the spring or summer? I don't know. I would not want to be in their shoes.

Yeah, I so true. I mean, so much money, so much planning, I, the more I think about it, I get like, so overwhelmed of like, how many people's like, thoughts and dreams like are shattered because, you know, slowly, this pandemic just takes longer and longer to, like, get rid of. And for me, I'm like, I feel mostly lucky that I've, I was privileged enough to not have, you know, too many ties that I could just pack up and drive to LA and move and keep my life, you know, as normal as possible, you know, I still have the same type of job I still, you know, I have my partner, I have a dog, you know, but some people their plans have like, completely shattered and, and been, you know, up ended. So I feel so bad. I feel lucky, and I feel bad.

Well, I'm amazed, you even feel lucky. I feel like that's a great perspective, because you're in the thick of it so often, like working as an essential worker in the hospital. And then your girlfriend is opening a restaurant, which seems very challenging, but she's, she seems very driven to do that. And you're both like, committed to the plan. So yeah, I don't think your dreams have been shattered. I hope no one's dreams have been shattered. But I guess that makes sense.

You know what, Amy, and just because of like events on the schedule, they're like anniversaries or like all these things that, you know, they they thought we're gonna happen, like, movie theaters, like people in that business, you know, live music, all of this stuff, like what is you know,

that's like, all the entertainment people have to be online, because that's where we're performing. Now, if you're performing indoors, like, God help you, you shouldn't be doing that. But you have to figure out something to do like in New York, you're performing on rooftops or alleys or a lot of shows.

Right, which is why I mean, you and doing this creative outlet of perform performance in a way right is a platform. It's a platform. Somebody call it a platform is is so incredible. It's awesome that you were so creative to think of something like this. No, no, I think

it was COVID perfectly.

Okay, for COVID You know, there are other creative outlets we can we can do your dreams do not need to be shattered, you could just make a podcast

wasn't writing a Broadway musical at the time. This is a good alternative.

Although a zoom Broadway musical would be interested.

Maybe in the next phase of the pandemic, I'll look into it. Be up for me. I just wish I could travel to see people that's my big hang up. Everything else is fine. Yeah,

I I agree. I don't even I don't

even see you and you're across town.

Well, you know, I had COVID so there was that but but now that I don't have active COVID and I'm fully vaccinated, we you know, we could find some time. We can have an outdoor picnic to do a nice right outdoor socially distance, you know, thing.

We did that today with our friends. They brought up pop up picnic table, and we just had hung out outside for a few hours like talking and acting like the before times. It was nice.

That is very nice. That sounds so pleasant.

Because with the outdoors, it feels way less scary than being confined inside for too long.

And hence I'm in LA you know, you can be outdoors and it's pleasant for the most part.

It was very cold in the shade, but then you bring your your little jacket out. You're okay.

That's true. That's true. And you know what the new job did give us all little jackets as a press as a holiday present. Yes. Because you know, we couldn't have like a holiday get together that they normally cater and do so they they got us all like logoed Hospital jacket. So yeah, it's nice, useful. Yeah, work perks.

What do you think? I think you've mentioned a couple perks of the job, but what do you think is like the most rewarding thing of your job,

most rewarding thing of my job. It's probably Having doctors Listen to me. doctors and patients, what is your advice? Yes, your suggestion? Yes, exactly. So, at least at least in my profession, and at least in California and New York, the two places that I've worked as dietitian, you, for the most part needs to get physician sign off on almost anything that we do. So let's say I have a patient, I see them, I get their story, and they're not eating well, they've lost a ton of weight they have, they have, like muscle and fat loss. And I say this, this person, whatever their condition is, they are malnourished at this point. And they need some type of supplementation, they need some protein, they need calories, they need vitamins, and they when they need X, Y, and Z, I need to get all of that signed off by a doctor before it actually gets to that patient. So for the most part, things like simple, you know, protein shakes or vitamins, they're usually signing off, but every now and then you get someone being like, do they really need this? Or, you know, are you sure that's indicated? And then it's like a whole nother conversation. So

for like a supplement or a small like diet tweak, right, exactly. So

so. So sometimes that's a challenge. And when when doctors actually think you did the right thing, and they just do what you say without questioning it, and even maybe comment about like spoke with dietician this morning, and plan is to x like that is so awesome.

Okay, so this is this is your comedy. I'm getting in from the conversation, this is your moment for your ego to be stroked. And they can say like, yes, Emily. Yes, you are, right.

Yes,

exactly. Went to med school. But you know what you're talking about more than I do? Yeah. With the dietitians? Yes.

So the funny thing about doctors is that they are not required to take any courses on nutrition. So if they do have any education is it is some type of elective in any base of a medical degree, there is no nutrition course. So just, like just so you're

not even a Gen Ed. Right? They need one thing

out of nutrition, that's totally reasonable. No, I

mean, look at an updated, whatever the food pyramid is now, something like that. It's called the plate that's

my plate.

My Plate that sounds more normal, I could, I could see a plate more than a pyramid.

That's why they changed it. But that is a fun fact. That is exactly why they change. Fun is

fact of the day,

you can't eat a pyramid, but you can eat off a plate

that they should be teaching that in schools, I hope they are,

they should be if they aren't. And also, of course, like at the heart of it all is clearly like having a patient like take your advice or really listen or like want to know how to better themselves and make themselves more healthy through what they eat, or what they don't eat, is always appreciated. And something that keeps me loving what I do. I mean, I love talking to people too. So it's, it kind of like just goes hand in hand. I enjoy my job. For the most part there, of course, are of course people that you know, don't want to listen or don't really want to talk to you. And then if that's a challenge, but you just try not to think about those people as much.

True, the people who aren't willing to listen, you can't do much when it comes to that. Exactly. Yeah, that's cool. So you you really get the rewards out of it, helping people teaching them something, hopefully making them healthier overall.

Hopefully, that's Yeah, for sure. I think the most Yeah, I think the heartbreaking thing though, is with COVID, is that when the majority of the patients do have COVID that are in the hospital, and you call them just to like talk about how they're eating majority aren't eating that well. I mean, they're have fevers or they're short of breath and be able to taste they might not be able to taste or smell so that they mean is a disaster, you know, for for weight loss and loss of appetite and all of that. Good stuff. So it's hard because then you're just like on the phone with them being like, I can give you a protein shake out some ice cream, you know, but like you're Yeah, you're not really there at the bedside being like I'm, I'm so sorry. Like everything you're going through. You can't see your family. Like,

that's the hardest part, I

think. Yeah, it's like isolation. Right? Right. It's like I just I'm here to talk to you and I want to send you whatever will make you feel better. You know, like, tell me what you like to eat. I'll I'll do my best. I'll get it to you. So

yeah, I feel like you. You probably make people more warm and comfortable in that way? I

hope so it's tough. Even if it's over the phone. It's something right. Exactly. At least it's some type of like human interaction and chat communication. Yeah. Well, I

want to ask you a little bit about therapy. What's, what's been your experience with therapy? Do you do it do stay away? How is it right now for you?

So I'll be honest, I have only done therapy once in my life. And one session? No, it was, I think, maybe four or five sessions, but like one? Okay, we're one instance. And I thought about this question, because I was like, she's gonna ask me this question. And I need a good answer. Because I think therapy is very valuable. And I wish I was someone that wanted to seek out more, you know, professional, just like communication and chat and dialogue, because I think that therapy, much like nutrition is more of a preventative type of medicine than it is a emergency type of medicine. So for me maintenance,

right, so like shooting the cogs in the brain,

right, right. Like, you think of going to therapy, or you think of going to, let's say a dietician, the minute something bad happens to your health or your mental health, right, you don't really write a crisis, you you find out you have diabetes, you, you know, break up with a significant other, like, those are the reasons that draw you to those professions, when in reality, I think both of our professions would be more beneficial to the patient to be seeing preventatively and before there is a crisis, right?

Yeah, like a Gen Ed. Like, let's just take one intake of a therapy session. Let's make sure nothing's broken up there. Or like, you know, Rusty, right, let's check you out. Let's not make it so stigmatized. Totally normal.

Yeah. And that's deistic. So

many people would benefit, like, I find it so hard to talk to people about real stuff. You know, if I had opened the conversation earlier, it would have been

much easier. I apologize for pepper. He, he was going at it outside and he's unhappy with it that birch

pepper will have your moment. Quiet.

I don't know if he's still at alert. Right now. I wish I could show you

the doggy daycare really gets to Him

for real. But we were saying that that that therapy and nutrition should be more preventative right. So

yeah, nutrition to it. These are things they don't teach you. In schools, really in families. Like it's not it's not a pillar of education for kids, or teenagers or anything, right? like going to a dietitian, once you have diabetes. Yeah, you can learn to eat better now. But you still have diabetes. Like, even if it's managed by what you eat, you still have diabetes, you skip the preventative,

preventative stuff that like your whole life, you could have not been eating all that processed food and you know, sugary drinks and giving yourself diabetes. Same with mental health, right, like you could have D stigmatize the process like learn to have, you know, normal emotional thought or conversation. See, I don't even know everything that goes on in therapy as much as well as others do, probably because, of course, I didn't take advantage of it most of my life because it was stigmatized, I think in my upbringing. So yeah,

I feel like growing up because your family's more conservative, it seems like they wouldn't have really been suggesting therapy or open to that idea. Right?

Yeah. So I I never like grew up with that being something that was like, normalized. So I don't think I ever felt like I needed to seek it. Or if I did, I felt like maybe that would be like a weakness and a way to seek it. Just because of my upbringing. I

would, I would have thought when I was younger, too, like, I don't need this. I'm stronger than this. Right? never tell anyone how I feel. Vicki like right, healthier choice. Right. And of course, when

I did finally seek therapy, it was because of an emergency. Right? It was because of you know, a loss of a significant loss in terms of a relationship not losses of a debt. But anyway, yeah. a break.

Yes.

Emergency because your world changes and you don't know how to process it.

Yeah, exactly. And, and for me, I, you know, I basically just like bald and all of those sessions, like I just was like cathartically, crying and talking about, you know, the guilt from my parents and you know, everything that went on with my previous partner. And all of this, you know, junkie that

that one counselor like 20 something years of therapy bottled up.

Exactly. And like their take on it from what I remember was like, I think you're saying that you feel a lot of guilt on you as a person. And I'm like, calm. Yeah. And I'm just like, yes. But also like, I don't know. And then of course, like I didn't, like, I feel like I've listened to a few of the other

podcasts you recorded. And most of the time people, you know, equate therapy to dating, right? Like, you need to find the right therapist to feel comfortable enough to open up that they understand your life and can give you whatever advice like they say, right? It's a two way street, like, because I feel like I needed therapy as a 10 year old, I feel like very young, I could have benefited from therapy, I never would have asked for it. I didn't know how. And then when I finally sought therapy, I was probably 23. And my therapist was pretty reserved, I was very reserved, so nothing got done. And I just like sat there making small talk, pay money. And I was like, I don't know what I'm doing. I didn't know what to look for. It is like dating, but I didn't realize that in the beginning.

Yeah. And so that's what I realized. And then I, what I realized after like, the third or fourth session was that like, I don't really like this person doesn't really relate to me or understand the upbringing I went through, like, to the level that I think I need them to, so that they can truly understand what I'm saying. So I felt that disconnect. And then of course, like, the sad feelings went away, because I started feeling happy because I was, you know, starting to date other people. And then it was like, Okay, nevermind, I don't need therapy anyway, which is obviously a feeling of better, which is obviously an unhealthy thought, and not something I recommend to anybody, but I'm just saying, honestly, that's, that's my trajectory with therapy. And I hope that, you know, I will change and that I can change and accept some form of therapy in my life again, because I do think it would be beneficial. But

I think it's a great track to grow. Like if you're looking for more growth, or more, you know, maybe if you feel stuck about something, it does help you like get past obstacles, right? Yeah,

I think you're right about that. So if I had like, some type of obstacle that wasn't an emergency,

I don't know, what would that be? Like? Maybe like a Career Career? relationship? You know, right. And then like, interwebs of your life, like if something feels off, it's good to talk about it with a professional family. All that stuff. Yeah.

Yeah, no, I, I totally agree. I, if if I come to that point, and I feel like I have the means and the time, of course, I want to take advantage of a therapist, and I feel like I'm gonna go to you first for advice on how to find what,

Emily, I'm in double therapy right now. I can give you recommendations. I don't know. I know. You got to get your insurance. You know, look through your insurance first. I'm doing personal therapy with this lady over the phone and now I'm doing couples couples therapy with Joseph because we had to attack are doing the dishes argument that's getting better.

Wow, I'm impressed.

Growing we're just growing here in Long Beach so poorly relations.

You know what I so I have asked her insurance. I don't know that help. But yeah, I'll

you know, I'll get on the internet and let you know. Okay. I appreciate it. And

you know, honestly, when I when I first went to therapy, it was also because of a friend saying I think this would benefit you. And I think talking to someone you know who's a professional will will help you get out of this headspace and you know what it did? And I'm so appreciative to have such good friends.

Yeah, that's good to listen to your friends. Listen to people if they're suggesting that for you. Yes,

yes. But, but low key like my therapy is chatting with you. Bochy, right now.

Hey, that's what the podcast we try to bring therapy to the people.

I appreciate it.

Correct me if I'm wrong when you first did this stint at therapy was like with a student or like with a practice, like a brand new kind of therapist was someone who didn't have a lot of experience. They weren't

brand new, but they weren't like, I forget what it was. It was like a fellow or something. It was someone between a student and a full blown therapist. So

okay, so you were kind of a guinea pig.

Kinda sort of the guinea pig. Yeah, maybe I needed the full fledged therapist. I don't know.

It's kind of nice to talk to people. Only Than you because they've had more life experience. Like maybe they're not a great therapist, but just because they lived longer, they probably know a little bit more of what they're talking about. That's so true. I

mean, older, wiser, right?

Mm hmm. Yeah. That's, that's my guidance. Yeah.

Okay, that I'm, I'm taking it in, I'm going to the next time, I feel that that nudge of Oh, this is a career or relationship or whatever, I want to talk it out. I'm gonna take your advice and find an older therapist.

Yes, probably someone with very gray hair. Not gonna live much longer. Those are the best, like, um, I wanted to say, my theory that you don't really need therapy at least like, you know, as far as I know, maybe I don't know everything about you. But I don't think you need therapy like I do. Because you talk more openly in your everyday life, like you are more extroverted. You seem to connect with strangers, you have probably way more friends. I feel like you're more connected on a social level than someone like me who tries to like, you know, make a podcast to talk about their feelings.

That's, I mean, that's an interesting take. I mean, I guess I'm an extrovert. I think I can have introvert moments. But I think overall, I enjoy the company of people and socializing. And for sure, I would say like everyday interactions are very cathartic experience for me and right like having my work environment still be in person, of course, very, like mentally engaging and healthy for someone like me. So maybe you're right on that. I didn't actually think about that until you just said that.

I think you can measure your level of extrovert, Nick isms by like, how many wedding invitations Have you gotten? Like how many? I don't know how many strangers Do you talk to you on a given day?

Right, right.

Yeah.

Amateur theories.

Mm hmm.

I I'm picking up on it. I'm

good theory. Yeah, I don't know. You seem to be doing fine. If you need therapy. Let me know. I will. I'm gonna grab the roulette wheel.

Oh, oh, my god. I didn't realize it was a real thing.

It's a real thing. It's not, you know, not the fanciest thing. Okay, I'll give you a spin and we can talk about something random.

Yes. Big money. Big money. Big money.

is just that just no whammies no. whammies splurge? What do you usually splurge on? Ooh,

ah, me

waste your money.

Yeah, I know. It's definitely food. I mean, so boring. Right, but it's definitely food.

That's what I spent my money on. I especially in pandemic times. Yeah, I

can't remember the last time I spend money on clothes, which I wish I could because like I always say like, I don't have any clothes. But I always feel like so wasteful buying clothes and I don't really like online shopping. Like I like physically knowing how it fits on my body before it like enters my home You know? And I guess the other things that I've spent a lot of money on our I don't like home home things. We bought a carpet we bought a rug we bought a TV a man. But that's all just because of like moving and stuff. So

probably most normal, normal

normal things, mostly food and before that probably live music concert tickets before pandemic time. So yes,

yeah, please come back. Live music. I can't wait. Please. What kind of food are you splurge on lately?

Ah ha lately? Probably. Sushi. We've been eating a lot of sushi. And I've been enjoying it a lot, but it is expensive.

Mm hmm. Yeah, I have to have a outdoor sushi date sometime.

Yes, yes. I'm gonna plug another business which is the the neighbors of views kitchen because it's a just so everyone knows. It's a ghost kitchen concept. So imagine a warehouse full of rooms that are kitchens that are all their individual restaurants. So only takeout or delivery or pickup type of experience. So they do sushi in pizza boxes. And they're like, fun, creative. They're not like very traditional roles. They're like very like, you know, the fun ones with all the little little crunchy things on top and deliciousness. So

the special rules Yeah,

they're called I the letter. I ate the number sushi. I ate sushi.

Ooh, okay, I ate sushi. Yeah, they're

great.

We'll link them down below and tell us again about V's kitchen. Anything else you want everyone to check out

Yes, these kitchen very important everybody who loves an empanada even if you haven't ever tried an empanada because you were too scared. I don't know why you'd be scared. But exciting fusion in Latin American mixed with Asian ingredient empanadas. They're called Bondi. And they're on Instagram as L-A-B-O-N-D-I-E-GO IG la Bondi go, or on Yelp as just Bondi, if you live in the valley, come visit us. They're always there at a socially appropriate distance to give you delicious things.

Yes, all you people in North Hollywood studio city. This is where you should be getting your food. Totally. There's

this random warehouse in Van Nuys off suppose COVID a, but delicious things are happening there. I promise you.

And I've taste tested before the grand opening so I can attest. Delicious. We'll eat again. We'll eat all the time.

Awesome.

Thanks for coming on. Emily. Any any last words? Oh

my god.

I don't know. I'm

so happy that you you invited me on here. But she I didn't. I was nervous at first. But it's been fun. This is a this is my own little cathartic experience for for the week with with friend overs over like a zoom like thing. So thank you and keep doing what

you're doing it. We'll do it again. Thank you. Hey, if you've made it this far in the podcast, you must you must like it right. You must have enjoyed listening. I hope so. So if you listen to this episode, why don't you take a screenshot on your phone, or take a picture of the podcast on your device. and tag me on twitter on Instagram, tag Therapy Roulette on Twitter. We're just at Therapy Roulette and on Instagram, we're at Therapy Roulette pod, tag us listening to the episode and then we'll be sure to repost it, give you a big thumbs up and be like, Oh my god, you're the best fan ever. And it's fun for me to see how many different people out there. Listen to me talk. It's you know, really makes me feel good ego boost. Please post on social media that you like the podcast and the more you post the more you talk about it to friends and family, the bigger the podcast will grow. And that's the whole goal of this just spreading the word about mental health. Thank you for doing your part. And thank you so much for listening. I'll be back with a new episode next week 

Therapy Roulette: Consent to Vent / Trauma disguised as comedy / Therapy Roulette: Consent to Vent / If you don’t have problems, then you’re likely repressing sh*t and you should find a therapist / (Who’s not me)


Intro - Mental Health Tips for Frontline Workers
Interview w/ Emily, an Essential Worker and Registered Dietician