Episode best if WATCHED on YouTube ;)

In this much anticipated episode, I finally open up about my lifetime battle with OCD. How its devastation shifted from childhood "just right" rituals to religious and sexuality obsessions to relationship OCD, and how naming it led to therapy, medication, and a gentler way to live. I share the tools that helped and why this CAA community matters so much to me.

Resources from this episode:

• When are intrusive thoughts normal vs abnormal: A short blog article “What are intrusive thoughts and are they normal?” by Dr. Lauren T. Edwards
• Basics about OCD
• OCD 20-question quiz
• Listen to Podcast ‘We Can Do Hard Things’ by Treat Media and Glennon Doyle, Episode: “The Truth of OCD: Therapist Alegra Kastens on Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder”
  • Apple Podcasts link
  • Spotify link
• Podcast ‘Armchair Expert’ by Dax Shepard, Episode: “Alegra Kastens (OCD Specialist)”
  • Apple Podcasts link
  • Spotify link
• Podcast ‘Speaking of Psychology’, Episode: “OCD myths and realities, with Dean McKay, PhD, and Uma Chatterjee“
  • Apple Podcasts link
  • Spotify Podcast link
• Ways to find more information/mental health resources:
  1. Check your personal insurance to determine mental health benefits and coverage
  2. Look into your employer’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) if available, to see what mental health resources they may offer
  3. Find a Therapist that fits your needs: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

You can now text me! Leave your email if you need a response!

Pre-AA Matters is a 12-week program designed to teach you the inner skills of being a CAA, and help you thrive in AA school. You’ll learn how to regulate your stress, navigate setbacks, communicate with confidence, and build the emotional resilience that will carry you from Pre-AA → CAA.

Our January 2026 cohorts are enrolling now. Learn More

Use code AAPODCAST50 for $50 off registration.

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for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

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Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

What if the most powerful tool you carry into patient care isn’t a device or a protocol, but the way your brain has been trained to pay attention? I sit down with one of my mentors, Dr. Cassie Ferguson, pediatric emergency physician, medical educator, and architect of The Good Doctor well‑being curricula, to unpack how neuroplasticity, mindfulness, and self‑compassion can make medicine more humane and more sustainable.

CAAs, have you ever searched for wellness resources that truly understand what it means to be a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant? You're not alone. Wellness Wednesday are candid conversations about the unique challenges and opportunities facing CAAs in their pursuit of sustainable wellbeing.

Whether you're a practicing CAA, AA student, or prospective applicant, this episode marks the beginning of a community-centered approach to wellness that finally names and validates your experience. Welcome in.

Connect with Dr. Ferguson on Linkedin

Attention AA Program Leaders and Educators. Learn More about bringing CAA Matters to your AA program HERE

You can now text me! Leave your email if you need a response!

Pre-AA Matters is a 12-week program designed to teach you the inner skills of being a CAA, and help you thrive in AA school. You’ll learn how to regulate your stress, navigate setbacks, communicate with confidence, and build the emotional resilience that will carry you from Pre-AA → CAA.

Our January 2026 cohorts are enrolling now. Learn More

Use code AAPODCAST50 for $50 off registration.

Stay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter-
for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

Curious about what it truly means to be a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA)? You're in the right place! From nearly two decades of experience, I share a clear and comprehensive breakdown of the CAA profession. Think of me as your older sister or best friend, guiding you step-by-step through the essentials—from what CAAs actually do to how much money we make, no topic is off limits. Whether you're an aspiring AA student or simply exploring a career in medicine, this guide equips you with the insights you need to understand the CAA profession.

In Part 6 I'm pulling back the drape to share what it's really like hosting a shadower as a CAA.

FREE SHADOWING GUIDE

Other Popular Episodes in this Series

• Pt. 5 How to Land + Leverage Those Darn Shadowing Hours
• Pt. 4 How Much Do CAAs Make?
• Pt. 3 Where Can CAAs Work?

Totally New to the Pre-AA Journey? Start Here with AspiringCAA.com

Previous episodes with Sarah Whitfield, CAA HERE and HERE

Sarah's IG

Sarah's Linkedin

You can now text me! Leave your email if you need a response!

Pre-AA Matters is a 12-week program designed to teach you the inner skills of being a CAA, and help you thrive in AA school. You’ll learn how to regulate your stress, navigate setbacks, communicate with confidence, and build the emotional resilience that will carry you from Pre-AA → CAA.

Our January 2026 cohorts are enrolling now. Learn More

Use code AAPODCAST50 for $50 off registration.

Stay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter-
for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com or on IG @awakenedanesthetist