Episode 109: The Busy Brain Cure With Dr. Romie Mushtaq
How does one unlock a focused and stress-free mind? Dr. Lara Salyer sits down with Dr. Romie Mushtaq, a neurologist turned wellness pioneer, who brings a wealth of experience from her journey through medicine, corporate wellness, and mindfulness practice. As the author of “The Busy Brain Cure” and a recognized leader in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Mushtaq sheds light on the epidemic of “busy brain syndrome”—a cluster of symptoms including difficulty focusing, anxiety, and insomnia, which she attributes to chronic stress and neuroinflammation.
Dr. Mushtaq introduces her “brain shift protocol,” an eight-week program aimed at breaking the stimulant-sedative cycle trapping many adults in reliance on caffeine, alcohol, or prescription medications for energy and stress management. The protocol provides practical strategies to help individuals regain control of their mental well-being without depending on substances or undergoing major lifestyle changes.
The episode also tackles broader systemic issues contributing to physician burnout, such as the burdens of electronic health records and the relentless pressure to meet productivity targets. Dr. Salyer and Dr. Mushtaq highlight the importance of leadership that prioritizes compassion, mindfulness, and effective communication as tools for creating a more sustainable and joyful practice environment.
About Dr. Romie Mushtaq:
Dr. Romie is a board-certified physician who brings together more than two decades of leadership in neurology, integrative medicine, and mindfulness. She is an award-winning speaker working with Fortune 500 companies, professional athletes, & global associations. Her brainSHIFT programs improve mental well-being and help to build a culture of wellness. Dr. Romie serves as Chief Wellness Officer for Great Wolf Resorts. Her expertise is featured in the national media, such as NPR, NBC, TED talks, and Forbes. Her first book, “The Busy Brain Cure” is being published by Harper Collins in January 2024. You can learn more at drromie.com or join the brainSHIFT movement @drromie on social media.
In This Episode We're Talking About:
- How to tackle the pressing issue: “Busy Brain” syndrome
- The dangerous glorification of stress and burnout, which has far-reaching consequences for leaders and their teams
- The “brain shift protocol,” an eight-week program aimed at breaking the stimulant-sedative cycle
Quotes:
- “We doctors have added to the complex mental health problems. We all know about the opioid crisis. But there’s another one that we’ve been ignoring. And I call that the stimulant sedative cycle. It’s that in the West, in order to show up as a professional, whether you’re a doctor or the high performing leaders I work with for a living, or just a human, it’s like in order to have energy all day, I need to be caffeinated. And in order to forget work, or take the edge off, I need alcohol or some other sedative at night. And when that fails, what do doctors do? We have an ADHD crisis in adults today.” (25:54 | Dr. Mushtaq)
- “There’s a pattern of neuroinflammation that isn’t discussed in the mindfulness, emotional resilience literature where you learn about the limbic system. It’s the chronic neuroinflammation that is happening in the hypothalamus that’s disrupting the circadian rhythm and causing a downstream effect in the brain, mental health, and body. And this is what I call the busy brain.” (28:37 | Dr. Mushtaq)
- “We came up with the eight-week brain shift protocol to help people find focus, tame anxiety, and sleep again, essentially to heal the burnout and restore their circadian rhythm.” (29:45 | Dr. Mushtaq)
- “Do not feel hopeless that you can’t change the system. You could save one colleague’s life by just saying, “Hey, Lara, it’s me, Romy. Are you okay? I want you to know I’m here without judgment and you’re not alone.” Just to say I am here and you’re not alone is making an impact in the medical system.” (34:46 | Dr. Mushtaq)
Links for this Episode:
Connect with Dr. Romie Mushtaq:
Website: https://drromie.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrRomie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/
Connect with Dr. Lara Salyer:
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
Catalyst Kit: https://rightbrainrescue.com/p/catalyst_kit
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
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About The Catalyst Host, Dr. Lara Salyer:
I worked as a family physician for 15 years until burnout changed the trajectory of my career. I realized I wanted to start a holistic functional medicine practice in my rural hometown and made it happen. In addition to practicing functional medicine, I now mentor practitioners who are looking to change their paths in healthcare by using what I refer to as the “Catalyst Roadmap”. I share each step of this framework with listeners so that they may apply it to their careers, relationships, personal goals, and projects.
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