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On Health for Women

How Being a “Good Girl” is Hazardous to Your Health

On Health for Women

Aviva Romm

Arts, Alternative Health, Health & Fitness, Medicine

4.81.4K Ratings

🗓️ 14 December 2022

⏱️ 42 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

From a young age, we’re taught to be "good girls." We’re told to be polite, to be nice, not to interrupt, and to say thank you—even when we don't mean it. As little girls, we're best "seen", not heard and told that if you question authority or speak your mind, then you're bossy, too loud, or even a bitch. And while we know this is all nonsense as adults, so many of us still hold onto these beliefs and habits, which cause us to remain silent at board meetings, apologize to the other person when they cut us off in the checkout line, and remain silent in the doctor's office when we know something is wrong. It's "good girl syndrome", and it can seriously affect our health and even our safety, as you'll learn in this episode! In the episode, I share: An essential lesson in self-advocacy I learned in 3rd grade that has and continues to serve me powerfully in my life and work The science behind the "fawning" stress response and how so many of us do it without even noticing "Good Girl Syndrome": what is it, why we develop it, and how it can even be damaging to our health Why it's good for your health to be a "bad patient" My experience being the "good girl" in medical school and how that led to a major shift How channeling my inner "bad girl" saved my patient's life The power of the Wonder Woman pose and the tools necessary for women who are struggling to advocate for themselves And so much more! This episode is a MUST for every woman who needs empowerment to finally get her doctors to listen, to speak up to her boss, or to embrace her own inner Wonder Woman, power, and confidence. And remember to head over to my Instagram page to join in the convo on this episode. Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation.

Transcript

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0:00.0

From this stuff, your mother never told you to the stuff your doctor never learned.

0:09.2

On health is what happens when a midwife, plus a Yale trained MD, shares about all things

0:14.3

women's health.

0:15.6

From periods to menopause, sex to reproductive health politics, motherhood to mental health.

0:21.2

Join me for taboo-busting conversations that demystify and destigmatize our bodies, all

0:26.8

while bridging the gap between conventional medicine and wellness.

0:30.4

Along the way, we'll be exploring the science and wisdom of how our bodies work, what makes

0:34.8

us well, what gets in the way, and how we can live our best lives on our terms.

0:40.4

When it comes to women's health and wellbeing, there's nothing we won't talk about.

0:44.2

The new medicine for women is here.

0:46.0

I'm Dr. Revivaram, welcome to the podcast.

0:56.8

Welcome back to On Health.

0:58.5

This is Avivaram, and I'm so thrilled to be here with you and talk about something that you

1:02.9

might be seeing a little bit more in the world of online psychology on Instagram.

1:08.8

There are a lot of pop psychologists, some do a great work, who have cropped up, especially

1:14.4

since the pandemic, some with millions of Instagram followers.

1:18.1

It's quite an astonishing phenomenon, and it's really one that says we're all really needing

1:23.6

some good mental health support in this time.

1:26.9

One of the themes that's come up really recently is this idea of being a good girl, and

1:31.6

how being a good girl is really not to our benefit.

1:35.1

It's an adaptive response, and keeps us from really owning our power as mature women.

1:41.3

It's something that I've been on about for years, and wanted to share today an article that

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