# Journey Through Chronic Stress, Burnout, and the Road to Recovery: Insights from Radiologist Robyn Tiger

In an engaging interview with Kevin Pho on the *KevinMD Podcast*, Dr. Robyn Tiger, a radiologist and physician coach, openly recounted how her personal losses and professional hurdles influenced her career and life goals. Her narrative—spanning the tragic loss of her father to suicide in her youth, confronting chronic stress and burnout, and mustering the strength to explore unconventional healing methods—provides deep understanding into resilience, mental health, and holistic approaches to medicine.

## From Grief to Strength: The Beginning of Dr. Tiger’s Journey
Dr. Tiger’s tale starts with a devastating childhood incident. At just seven years old, she faced the loss of her father to suicide, an event that significantly shaped her future. Battling feelings of guilt and inadequacy, young Robyn committed herself to comprehending the human mind and the field of medicine to avert similar tragedies.

This determination led her to a thriving medical profession as a radiologist. However, along her path, the unyielding pressures of her career, combined with unresolved emotional wounds from her childhood, resulted in her encounter with chronic stress, burnout, and various debilitating physical symptoms—including migraines, vertigo, paresthesias, and digestive troubles—that proved frustratingly unresponsive to standard medical care.

This difficult phase prompted Dr. Tiger to pause and consider: Might there be more to recovery than merely medications, laboratory tests, and imaging diagnostics?

## The Turning Point: Searching for Solutions Beyond Conventional Medicine
Despite seeking advice from various specialists and undergoing traditional treatments, Dr. Tiger found herself ensnared in a loop of medications paired with increasing physical and mental distress. This led to a crucial moment of introspection as she confronted her suicidal thoughts while recalling her father’s challenges. Gazing into her children’s faces, she promised that history would not repeat itself. This commitment drove her to explore avenues beyond conventional Western medicine.

Discovering practices like yoga, meditation, and principles of lifestyle medicine, Dr. Tiger underwent a transformative experience. These practices not only alleviated her physical ailments but also restored her sense of purpose and self-esteem. She emerged healthier, happier, and more balanced than ever.

## Reframing Healing Through Lifestyle Medicine
Dr. Tiger’s revitalized health and joy motivated her to redirect her career. She is now focused on empowering physicians and others with strategies to reduce stress, enhance well-being, and reclaim control over their lives.

Dr. Tiger asserts that chronic stress forms the basis of numerous physical and emotional issues. Contemporary medical training frequently neglects the connection between the mind and body, resulting in both practitioners and patients lacking the means to tackle stress comprehensively. This realization drove her to investigate lifestyle medicine, which highlights fundamental health components such as nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, and social connections.

Here are some practical methods Dr. Tiger recommends to alleviate stress and elevate well-being:

### 1. **Harmonizing the Autonomic Nervous System**
Chronic stress can excessively activate the “fight-or-flight” (sympathetic) response while the “rest-and-digest” (parasympathetic) system is often underutilized. Techniques like mindful breathing, somatic movements, and mindfulness practices can help restore equilibrium and regulate this system for improved mental and physical health.

### 2. **Dietary Influence on Mental Health**
Dr. Tiger emphasizes the significant role of nutrition in mood and stress management. Whole, plant-based foods—including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds—can naturally help stabilize emotions. Conversely, processed foods laden with saturated fats, chemicals, or sugars often worsen anxiety and depression.

### 3. **Exercise as a Therapeutic Tool**
Dr. Tiger advocates for movement customized to individual preferences and abilities. Physical activity unleashes endorphins, counters the impacts of chronic stress, and bolsters both physical strength and emotional resilience.

### 4. **The Importance of Restorative Sleep**
Sleep is crucial yet frequently neglected in the healthcare field, where overexertion and burnout are common. Dr. Tiger recommends prioritizing restorative sleep to enhance energy, focus, and emotional steadiness.

### 5. **Healing Through Connection**
Human relationships form an essential foundation for well-being. Studies, including insights shared by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, highlight the protective benefits of meaningful connections on mental and emotional health. Dr. Tiger underscores the necessity of fostering personal and professional relationships as a safeguard against stress.

## Assisting Physicians in Overcoming Burnout
Physician burnout has alarmingly become a pervasive issue, leaving many doctors feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and disenchanted. Dr. Tiger collaborates with physicians at various points in their careers—from newly minted residents to seasoned medical professionals—helping them reconnect with their purpose and achieve balance through practical, evidence-based approaches.

### A Genuine Transformation
Dr. Tiger recounted the tale of one