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In honor of Suicide Prevention Month, I'm sharing a perspective on depression that could shift the way we view it—both personally and as a society.

My Story

One of the darkest periods of my life was a summer in college. From the outside, very few people knew I was struggling (even now).

It felt like someone else had taken over my body. Even on perfect Maine summer days when the sun was shining and everyone else seemed carefree, I felt like I was living in another world. Everything was heavy, …

In this podcast episode of 'Life Boost with Amelia,' host Dr. Amelia, an integrative health and life coach, shares her personal journey of recovering from a concussion and how she coped with over five weeks of physical inactivity. Despite being someone who loves staying active, Amelia discusses the unique challenges she faced and the surprising results of this forced break. Discover how she navigated the emotional and physical aspects of her recovery, the strategies she used to minimize stre…

In this episode of the Life Boost with Amelia podcast, Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston and Dr. Sonja Olson have a candid conversation about the current challenges in veterinary medicine, tailored for veterinary professionals and pet parents who are curious about the factors contributing to these issues. 

They explore topics such as burnout, rising costs, decreased trust among pet owners, and lack of diversity, discussing steps that can be taken individually and as a profession to address them. D…

Listen wherever you listen to podcasts

A concussion turned my world upside down, forcing me to pause like never before. In this raw story, I share how it knocked me into alignment and reminded me of the power of connection.

A Freak Accident

Hi friend. Six weeks ago, something happened to me that has changed things, shifted my perspective and, and I've been wanting to talk to you about it for a really long time. I actually have two minutes of a podcast recording from weeks ago when I tri…

Dear veterinary students and new grads,

In light of a recent article directed towards you by a well-respected leader in veterinary medicine that may have felt disheartening or discouraging, this is what I want you to know as a recovered burned out veterinarian. 

The way we're taught to achieve health and success doesn’t work…

IF you want it to be sustainable and to feel good.

That’s why our profession struggles with burnout. 

It’s not because of individual flaws or weaknesses.
It’s because …

Quick note: The message in this episode is not intended for those who are currently facing direct threats to their safety, rights, or well-being—for example, individuals fearing deportation, navigating systemic discrimination, or experiencing the impacts of harmful policy changes firsthand.

This message is for those of us who are feeling the weight of the world—angry, heartbroken, overwhelmed by the injustice we see—but who also hold some level of privilege, safety, or stability. If you'r…

 Burnout gets talked about a lot in vet med. But if we really want this profession to be truly sustainable, we need to get clear on what actually prevents it.

And here’s the thing:
It’s not complicated.
It’s just not the norm... yet.

As a veterinarian, I thought I was being proactive in preventing burnout. 

I knew that the profession struggled with a high burnout and suicide rate, so I prioritized healthy habits and even listened to stress management and positive-mindset books and podcasts on m…

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt the tension or negative energy in the air before anyone has even said or done anything?

Whether we’re conscious of it or not, we’re constantly influenced by the energy around us.

One of the things I had to learn the hard way is how important it is to have strategies to protect my energy - so I don’t absorb the stress or negative energy from people around me.

As an empath, I’m very sensitive to the energy and emotions of other people (and a…

If you’ve been trying to lose weight or eat healthier—but it always feels like an uphill battle—this is for you.

You might be sabotaging your results without realizing it, and it’s not because you’re doing anything wrong. It’s because the way we’ve been taught to think about health, food, and weight loss is actually getting in the way—and even disrupting the natural peptide pathways (like GLP-1) that help you feel satisfied.

My body has always been my teacher—I had just been programmed not to listen for the first three decades.

It was my body that eventually gave me the wake-up call that I was burned out. I was exhausted despite healthy habits, experienced random crippling abdominal pain and severe heartburn, and had brain fog every afternoon.

I used to think, "Once my body is healed, everything will be better." Just like I used to think, "If I didn’t have to do this job that is making my life so stressful, everyt…