What happens when seeking care starts to feel like proving your pain is real? Sheena explores Black women’s experiences of medical dismissal, racial bias in pain assessment, mental health assumptions, and maternal health disparities. This conversation offers practical appointment language and asks healthcare teams to examine how they listen, assess, document, and follow up. Black women deserve thoughtful care without having to perform credibility. Educational content; not individual medical advice.

Sources & Further Reading

• KFF: Five Facts About Black Women’s Experiences in Health Care
• Hoffman et al. (2016): Racial Bias in Pain Assessment and Treatment Recommendations
• CDC/NCHS: Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2024
• CDC Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms

This episode provides general education and does not replace individualized medical or mental health care.

You remember everyone else’s appointments, anticipate their needs, and keep things moving. But where do your own needs fit?

In this episode of Brains, Pain & Purpose, Sheena explores what happens when caring for others becomes a pattern of neglecting yourself. From postponed healthcare and invisible responsibilities to guilt, resentment, and losing touch with your identity, this conversation makes room for the person behind the caregiving.

We talk about: • Recognizing when your needs keep getting pushed aside • Setting practical boundaries without abandoning the people you love • Asking for specific help—and allowing yourself to receive it • Caring for others while managing your own illness or pain • Making one realistic change to support yourself this week

Whether you’re a parent, healthcare professional, family caregiver, or the person everyone relies on, your needs belong in the plan.

Explore more at brainspainpurpose.com, and follow the podcast for new episodes every Tuesday.

This podcast provides general education and does not replace individualized medical or mental health care.

Some pain stays hidden beneath your clothes—but it can affect every part of your life.

In this personal episode of Brains, Pain & Purpose, I share my experience living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS): the pain, embarrassment, clothing worries, and emotional weight that others may never see.

From a painful flare while marching in the Ole Miss band to the challenges of wearing white as a registered nurse, I reflect on moments when I kept showing up while quietly hurting—with a little humor along the way.

If you live with HS, love someone who does, or want to better understand life with an often-hidden condition, this conversation is for you. You deserve compassion, support, and space to tell your story.

Listen, follow Brains, Pain & Purpose, and share this episode with someone who needs to feel less alone.

Explore more at brainspainpurpose.com.

This episode shares personal experiences and general education. It is not a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care.