Audrey Pullman, MD Interview Published on: 23, Jan 2019
Where have you spent most of your childhood? Growing up, did you ever dream of becoming a writer?
Dr. Pullman’s Response: St. Louis, MO. No, I never dreamed of becoming a writer What is the most challenging part of being a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist?
Dr. Pullman’s Response: Grief is an emotional heartbreak and one size doesn’t fit all. In my practice, I have a new approach to treating grief which is creatively. Initially, my patients rejected this approach but became flexible throughout their treatment. The majority of my patients felt a sense of empowerment after learn these creative modalities. What is the best advice you give to people to help them move beyond death, divorce and other losses? Grieving is a highly individual process for each person and each one of us have to face our pain in our own unique way. Creativity allows you to express your grief in your own unique way. The best way to work through grief is to let it out. Cry, scream, and yell if you need to. These type of outlets provides a healthy emotional release and help clear out the cobwebs. Express your feelings through music, art, poetry, or journaling. Whether you express your grief with a safe person you trust or let it out in complete privacy, expressing your pain and feelings is the only true way to honor your grief and begin to work through it. How do you think your knowledge of grief work, stress management, and holistic work has helped you write books based on pieces of advice and how-to?
During my medical training I was taught to provide medications for every medical diagnosis. I became concerned when grief was treated like depression and it was recommended by my medical superiors to treat grief and stress with medications. Grief is a normal process and not based on chemical imbalances like depression. Therefore, I decided to write my first book based on my positive experience treating patients creatively instead of with only medications. How do you author books taking inspiration from your conversations with people?
It has been more than 10 years since I treated people with medications. I treated them creatively by finding their own unique creative fingerprint. These people gained a since of creative self-empowerment because we became partners in solving their problems. There stories are inspiring and empowering in helping other people in their lives. Whom did you meet before writing your book, "A Cool and Relaxed Life?"Several years ago my mentor invited me to a retreat in the California redwoods near Santa Cruz. The purpose of this retreat was to unwind, recharge and connect with leading-edge thinkers and renowned practitioners. Our individual rooms had no television or telephone. I met these wonderful individuals who enjoyed being surrounded by nature and had a Cool and Relaxed approach to life which inspired my book. Being a license Health and Wellness Coach, what techniques do you use to relieve stress?
Dr.Audrey Pullman’s Response: Every day I relieve stress using the Creative Self-Empowerment formula which consist of meditating, movement and positive affirmations.
The formula for creative self-empowerment
P= I M3H2=U X S
P – POWER OF STORY
I – INSIGHT
M3 – MOVEMENT, MIND REST AND MIND SHIFT
H2 – BOTH HANDS
U – UNIQUENESS OF YOU
S - SPIRITUALITY
The path of becoming a physician was a very stressful period my life. Taking exams on a weekly basis and being questions by your medical superiors on how to treat the most challenging patients. I had to use stress relieving modalities from my days as an actor and model in New York. The constant rejections from various job auditions took a toll on my mental well-being until I learned how to breathe effectively to reduce my stress levels. I wanted to share my experience with my medical colleagues and I wrote My Cool Breathing book.
How do you think your books will teach medical students, physicians and other health professionals on self-care and how to treat patients creatively?Dr. Audrey Pullman’s Response: I wrote this book to initiate a new conversation with the premise that there should be a balance meeting the challenging demand of contemporary medical training and physicians learning self- care practices. We work long hour and have limited time with our patients. Doctors are miserable, patients are miserable, and there’s no end in sight. We are stressed!!! We’re out of harmony and have lost our creativity.
In our modern world creative thinking has lost most of its connection with healing and spirituality. We look for answers outside ourselves in the world of science, modern medicine,pharmacology etc. Creative arts isn’t predominately nurtured for its healing potential. There is very little time in our left brained society devoted to the importance of meditation, reflection and introspection or the need for creative expression. Yet all these things are proving to be vital to wellness.
The holistic healing movement recognizes the role of spirit in the wellness model. The movement brought about a revival in using creativity to heal integrated with conventional medicine. Doctors and other health care practitioners are advocating for the therapeutic value of creativity. The purpose for this book is to provide a framework for you to begin on this creative journey, and the importance of creative arts in the field of medicine.
What do you enjoy more - addressing people with your motivational talks or addressing readers with your creative words of self-empowerment?Dr. Audrey Pullman’s Response: The goal is to get the message out and it doesn’t matter which platform I use. The message is Creative self- empowerment involves a process of discovering the uniqueness of you through a creative therapeutic process. During this process it will make you feel more alive and learn how to delve deeper into your mental psychic (subconscious) and explore the inner workings of your mind. This is a dynamic and compelling process that will help you find your true and authentic self.
According to you, how are your brain science techniques going to help people to learn how to become Dangerous Dreamers? What does the term "Dangerous Dreamers"mean to you?Dr. Audrey Pullman’s Response: Studies have shown if people shift their thinking through a higher level of thought it cultivate a sense of empowerment. Brain science is when one area of the brain is engaged, other components will be engaged. Mind, brain and body are unified whole. Creativity strengthen the number of neurons in brain regions that build confidence that you can achieve what you want in life. This higher level of expressions produce a positive mentallization of the mind.
These people have big ideas for success. Life limits itself with a negative mindset but with a higher level of thinking it brings clarity to our perception and increase our awareness of the unlimited power potential of the mind . To view life with a fundamental purpose is to perceive life on a higher hemishpere which comes from knowing one authentic self through the power of one’s mind. To understand the creative process is to understand oneself. You cannot separate yourself from expressing yourself, or from creation. As a human, we are born to create. We are here to expand yourself with your body, mind, and heart.
When you’re writing an emotionally draining scene, how do you get in the mood? How do you deal with the emotional impact of a book as you are writing the story?We create our “selves” through the Power of Story. If my writings becomes emotionally draining I turn it into a movie script. The Power of Story is writing a script on how you feel; expressing your emotions through words to see and understand what you are revealing through your story.
I have a special place in my home for quiet time. I practiced positive affirmations using biblical scriptures, meditating and exercising on a daily basis.
Do you ever get messages or letters from your fans?Yes! What is one of the most encouraging things a fan has ever said to you? Once you learn creativity it expands your awareness and provides clarity in your life.
What do you want readers to remember about your books? How do you handle literary criticism?Creativity is poetry in motion where you feel close to nature and the moon smiles at you, the sun warms your heart and the stars winks and gives you a twinkle of hope. Everything is possible to achieve through imagination, visualization and creativity. The key is to follow our heart.
If the criticism is a teaching tool I will learn from it. However, if someone is just being mean with no constructive feedback I would ignore it.
How did you end up being a Performance Enhancement Specialist? What inspired you to start writing?I did a medical fellowship in Sports Medicine. I worked with my mentor who trained semi-professional and professional athletes on how to improve their performance in sports.
I am a dangerous dreamer with a goal to change how medical schools train physicians. My goal is to have all medical schools to implement creativity to their medical curriculum. Therefore, I have written books explaining how to make non-compliant patients compliant through creativity. I teaches self-care for physicians and their patients and when I speak at various medical schools the university purchase my books for their students.
How do you think concepts such as Kindle, and e-books have changed the present or future of reading?These books are affordable, convenient and easy to take with you on travel.
How do you promote your books? What are you currently working on?I use All Authors, Facebook, Instagram and my work at various medical schools.
How do you lose weight through meditation, visualization, fasting and a higher level of thinking?
