Meet Dr. Nadria Lyn, Mom to daughter, Yara (7), ER Doctor, Health and Life Coach, Wife to Omar and most recently the Founder of Dr. Nay Mindset and Wellness, LLC. She and her family currently enjoy living in Fayetteville. In our Q&A with Dr. Nadria, she shares how her experience as an ER Physician opened her eyes to a need to address mental health conditions and chronic disease beyond the ER. “Unfortunately, the way healthcare is currently practiced did not allow me to address the root cause of patients’ issues and help foster change in a meaningful way.” Dr. Nadria also shares her latest book and Podcast recommendations along with her favorite Mom advice!
Q & A
What is your background? Tell us about your career.
I am a Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Physician in practice for over 10 years. I spent the last 7+ years serving full-time in the Piedmont Fayette Emergency Room. A few years ago, I realized that I could expand my impact by venturing into the world of coaching and using my expertise to provide more personalized guidance to women who want to live their healthiest and most fulfilling lives. For that reason, I obtained my certification in health and life coaching. In the last several months I have transitioned to a more flexible ER schedule to allow time for building my coaching practice.
As an ER Physician, what called you to become a Wellness and Life Coach as well?
I began to recognize that a large percentage of patients that I cared for in the ER fell into one of two categories. Firstly, there were those who did not actually have a physical ailment but instead complained of one as a guise for the mental and psychosocial struggles they were dealing with – usually anxiety, stress and overwhelm from the many demands of their lives. They typically had few if any coping mechanisms and felt like they had exhausted all possible resources or simply did not know where to turn for help. On the other hand, there were the patients with true chronic diseases and the many complications of those, that were largely the result of unhealthy lifestyle practices. It became evident to me that both scenarios could be reduced and sometimes avoided with focus on implementing healthy lifestyle practices, shifting mindsets, and practicing self–care. I too had suffered from major depression and had employed healthy lifestyle habits to create change in my life. Unfortunately, the way healthcare is currently practiced did not allow me to address the root cause of patients’ issues and help foster change in a meaningful way. That caused me to start looking outside of the medical field and I was led to coaching which allows me to have the kind of impact that I hoped for. I can merge my own experience and my medical expertise to help clients in a more holistic way to address the underlying cause of theirmental or physical disturbance and thereby decrease the burden on our healthcare system.
What is the best thing about your job?
Being able to watch the transformation in a client as she goes from disempowered and stuck to feeling confident and empowered. Each small shift andeach small win that she achieves through the work of coaching creates a larger impact on her belief in the possibility of change. Once you change your belief, you change your world. That is what makes it all worthwhile.
What is your best “working mom” tip?
Don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. I’m an A type personality and before having a child felt the need to always be in control. Having the schedule of an ER physician forced me to relinquish that control. There is no way I could keep up with my schedule and do and be everything for my child. I had to learn to be okay with asking for help. That has allowed me to maintain my career but also be fully present with my child when I am not working, without always feeling completely depleted and empty.
What is your favorite “mom hack”?
The way I go about teaching my daughter to make choices, is not based on how she feels in the moment (the natural tendency for children), but by considering the long-term consequences. Whenever I ask her to do something and she fusses and resists, I don’t argue. I simply and calmly tell her the choice is hers (assuming it won’t endanger her, of course). I point out the potential consequence of making one decision versus the other. Then I walk away and let her brew over it. Because she is equipped with the knowledge and understanding of the downstream effect of her decision, she usually ends up making the “right” one. That way she does not feel forced into doing something because Mommy said so, and instead feels like she was a participant in the outcome and her voice mattered. She may not realize it now, but I am empowering her to make thoughtful and wise decisions in the future.
What do you love about Peachtree City and the surrounding areas?
I consider it a blessing to live here. I love how serene it is, without all the chaos of the big city,which makes coming home feel like a true opportunity to recharge and refresh. All the beautiful trails and lakes inspire me to get outside as often as possible. I love to run, and it is not unusual for me to be mid run and literally stop to take in the beauty around me. I also feel like I have the best of twoworlds living in Trilith – the conveniences of a city at my doorsteps without sacrificing the perks of nature.
What TV show are you loving right now? Book? Movie? Podcast?
The Mel Robbins podcast – I love how authentic and relatable she is, and her topics of discussion are all relevant to personal growth.
I am currently reading Outlive by Peter Attia. It is a very in depth look at the causes of chronic disease, the impact of lifestyle on health and future approaches to treatment and prevention of disease.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our Moms?
I would like every woman reading this to know that she is capable, worthy and enough. At the risk of sounding cliché, selfcare is not selfish. If you are not living your best or healthiest life, know that you deserve more and you can decide to create the life you desire. When we are mentally strong, physically healthy, and alive to our dreams, we can shape our futures and our world.
Nadria Lyn, MD
Certified Health and Life Coach
Founder, Dr. Nay Mindset and Wellness, LLC
Website: coachdrnay.com
Email: nadria.lyn@coachdrnay.
Phone: 404-354-1654