Self-Care & Mental Wellness: Deana Panza On The Top Five Selfcare Practices That Improve Mental Wellness

An Interview With Maria Angelova

Meet yourself with some compassion. I know it can be super hard but you are a human just trying to do their best. Try to remember that and cut yourself a little slack.

Let’s face it. It seems that everyone is under a great deal of stress these days. This takes a toll on our mental wellness. What are some of the best self-care practices that we can use to help improve our mental wellness and mental well-being? In this interview series, we are talking to medical doctors, mental health professionals, health and wellness professionals, and experts about self-care or mental health who can share insights from their experience about How Each Of Us Can Use Self Care To Improve Our Mental Wellness. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Deana Panza.

Deana is a licensed therapist, speaker, mental health coach and educator. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and received her Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies from Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and his team at the Trauma Research Foundation. For nearly a decade, she has been helping people reconnect with their most authentic selves so that they can live the life they dream of.

Thank you so much for doing this interview with us. It is a great honor. Our readers would love to learn more about you and your personal background. Can you please share your personal story? What has brought you to this point in your life?

I actually started out in fashion marketing and public relations in New York City. And, while I loved that work, I was looking to touch people in a different way and I realized that what I really loved about that work was figuring out why people were drawn to certain things. I’ve always been interested in people’s why and getting to truly know people for what makes them unique and interesting. So, after a move to Atlanta, some jobs in the tech industry, a few years as a yoga and meditation teacher, some crisis counseling volunteering, and graduate school, I finally became the mental health counselor that I think I’ve somehow always wanted to be. Thankfully, I come from a super supportive family that has always shown me and supported me through figuring out who I was and what I wanted to do with my life.

What is your “WHY” behind what you do? What fuels you?

I love learning and understanding why people are the way that they are. I think humans are just so interesting; the way we evolve, adapt, find joy, show up in relationship, treat ourselves. I love it all and I know that we all do these things in a completely unique way. It’s truly an honor for me to be invited into the depths of my client’s unique lives and to help them understand their “Why.”

Sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake or failure which you now appreciate has taught you a valuable lesson?

I didn’t always know this was what I wanted to do. I was in fashion marketing and public relations for a while in New York originally. Then, I realized it wasn’t all I had hoped it would be. I was underpaid, over worked and crying from exhaustion at the end of most nights. I finally realized that what I enjoyed about it all was understanding why people were drawn to certain things over others. And, that finally lead me to mental health. I wouldn’t exactly call it a failure or a mistake, more of a detour. But, I also think it was necessary. There are so many skills that I learned and so many things that I learned about myself during that time that I use in the work that I do now.

You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

I’m stubborn and it’s made me relentless at getting to where I am and getting what I want out of my career. I’m also a hard worker and I think those two went hand in hand while I was going through my masters program, working 3 jobs, and interning. That was a really challenging time in my life and I couldn’t have gotten through it all without those two characteristics. Lastly, I’m definitely a boundary setter. I haven’t always been but I believe in practicing what you preach and I know that setting boundaries with myself and others has created the space that I needed to grow personally and professionally.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting new projects you are working on now? How do you think that will help people?

I am currently working on a podcast and a few online courses for people. While they are in no way a replacement for therapy, both of these projects will help make mental health information and tools more accessible for people that might not have the resources or access to attend therapy.

OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, about the interface between self-care and mental health. From where you stand personally or professionally, why are you so passionate about mental well-being?

As a therapist, I spend time working one on one with clients to help them get to a place where they feel good about their own mental well-being. Therapy is one of the biggest acts of self care that we can do for our mental health.

Based on your research or experience, how exactly does self-care impact our mental wellness?

Our mental health is directly linked to how we care for ourselves. If we are continually giving ourselves to others or other things in our lives we will eventually burn out. Just like we fuel our body with movement and food, our mind needs to be refueled as well.

Here is our primary question. Can you please share your “Top Five Selfcare Practices That Each Of Us Can Use To Improve Our Mental Wellness”?

1. Check in with yourself every morning. Our capacity is different from day to day. What we need is different from day to day. Check in with yourself each morning and see what you need.
2. Set boundaries with yourself and with the people in your life. This protects and respects you and your needs while showing other people how to do the same.
3. Move your body. I’m not saying go to the gym or go on a run. But, move your body and find the types of movement that feel good for you. Maybe it’s dancing or going on a swing or maybe it’s playing kickball. Whatever it is, find a way to make it happen. Our emotions call us to move our bodies but in modern day we don’t always do that. Move your body and help yourself complete that emotion cycle.
4. Find the right therapist for you. It might be super challenging, take patience, and need some trial and error when you find the right person it will be worth it.
5. Meet yourself with some compassion. I know it can be super hard but you are a human just trying to do their best. Try to remember that and cut yourself a little slack.

Can you please share a few of the main roadblocks that prevent people from making better self-care choices? What would you suggest can be done to overcome those roadblocks?

One major roadblock is when people set their goals too big. Our strongest, most consistent habits are built by starting small. Deciding to sit down and meditate for 30 minutes out of the day is asking a lot. Where is this 30 minutes coming from? But, if we start with 2 minutes or 5 minutes or even 1 minute and slowly increase. Now, we’re gonna be more likely to stay consistent and find the time to build this into our life.

Another is when people just do what the fad is or how society’s marketing wants us to believe we should “self care”. We are unique individuals and our self care should follow suit. What works for me might not work for you and that’s okay. We’re allowed to be different. And, understandably, a fake mask might not refuel us and keep us feeling balanced. We need to tune in to what we actually need to feel our best and feel free to go out and get it for ourselves, and this might change as we change throughout our lives.

Lastly, a huge roadblock that people can hit is coming back after they have a bad day and they miss the mark on their self care. We are only human. We aren’t always going to get it right and that’s okay. Allow yourself to have this human experience, learn a little something about yourself from it and try again tomorrow.

In one sentence, what would you say to someone who doesn’t prioritize their mental well-being?

If you’re not making yourself a priority, why should anyone else?

Thank you for all that great insight! Let’s start wrapping up. Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does this quote resonate with you so much?

Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” I love this quote because it speaks to out continued evolution and growth as a human. But, it also offers compassion for who we once were. I always say, “we did the best with the information that we had at the moment.” Compassion for our past and our past selves helps us heal and grow.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? They might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)

I should probably say someone who is really prominent in the mental health field but I’m honestly more interested in having lunch with someone who I think has had a really interesting life, like Patty Boyd.

I truly appreciate your time and valuable contribution. One last question. How can our readers best reach or follow you?

They can check out my website, deanapanza.com and follow me on Instagram and TikTok @deanapanza.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.

About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.