"Real self-care is not a thing to do; it’s a way to be”
An interview with burnout expert and bestselling author Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, MD
I’ve written before about the serious problem of a ‘wellness’ industry that promotes ‘self care’ while ignoring the underlying issues that are causing so many of us to be exhausted, burnt out and even struggling with chronic illness. It takes systemic issues and makes them an individual problem for the ‘self’ to solve.
So we have a proliferation of self-help books, influencer-led retreats and boot camps, and products (red light lamps, essential oils, crystals, etc.) that make people feel like they are one consumer product away from feeling well. Few, if any, of these offerings are solutions. At best, they might be a band-aid. At their worst, they cause physical or emotional harm and drive people into financial debt.
Into this hellish swirl of commodified wellness steps
, a psychiatrist, best-selling author and a contributor to The New York Times. Dr. Lakshmin serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at George Washington University School of Medicine.Dr. Lakshmin has spe…