The Hidden Cost of Putting Yourself Last as a Caregiver

As working caregivers, we often focus so much on caring for others that we forget one critical truth: caring for ourselves is not optional. In this episode, we sit down with psychiatrist, coach, and financial wellness advocate Dr. Billina Shaw to explore the often-overlooked physical, emotional, mental, and financial impacts of caregiving. Through personal stories, professional insights, and practical wisdom, Dr. Shaw helps us understand why self-care is a necessity—not a luxury.We also dive into the connection between mental health and financial wellness, the challenges caregivers face in the workplace, and how shifting our mindset around money can reduce guilt, shame, and stress. Whether you're currently caring for a loved one or preparing for the possibility in the future, this conversation offers valuable perspective and encouragement for the journey ahead.Episode Highlights[1:40] - Meeting Dr. Billina Shaw and exploring the health impacts of caregiving[2:23] - A personal family story that reveals the physical toll caregiving can take[4:49] - Why self-care is non-negotiable for caregivers[6:25] - Navigating grief, loss, and creating meaningful family rituals[8:20] - Why so many caregivers struggle to ask for help[10:24] - The connection between caregiving, mental health, and workplace performance[13:58] - Understanding the financial impact of caregiving and family caregiving costs[16:30] - How financial wellness and mental wellness influence each other[20:21] - The most important financial question every caregiver should ask[25:15] - Dr. Shaw's powerful advice for caregivers: invest in yourself[27:29] - How to connect with Dr. Shaw and continue the conversationLinks & ResourcesDr. Billina Shaw's Website: https://freelyflourishfinancial.com/Connect with Dr. Billina Shaw on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-billina/Text "GROW" to 55444 to subscribe to Dr. Shaw's newsletter and receive financial wellness insights and resources.About Dr. Billina ShawDr. Billina Shaw is a Yale-educated, triple board-certified psychiatrist specializing in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, as well as addiction medicine. She holds degrees from Yale University, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Throughout her career, she has served in leadership roles across government, private organizations, and her local church.Dr. Shaw is also the Founder & Coach of Freely Flourish Financial, a financial wellness practice inspired by a powerful realization from her clinical work: money isn't just math—it's a combination of numbers and meaning. Recognizing that practical financial knowledge alone rarely creates lasting change, she developed her proprietary Aligned Health & Wealth™ framework to help individuals strengthen both their mindset and financial strategy. Through this work, she empowers clients to move from feeling anxious and stuck to living with greater purpose, peace, and prosperity.If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.