🎧 NerdMDs StackBytes Episode Summary:

In this deeply personal episode of NerdMDs StackBytes, Dr. Adam Carewe opens up about the emotional complexity that followed his departure from a major leadership role at Kaiser. Expanding on his Substack essay, “The Middle Part: What I Didn’t Share When I Left Kaiser”, Adam reflects on the period of uncertainty that came after the leap—the “middle part.” This raw, unscripted episode dives into identity shifts, quiet unraveling, and the hard-won journey back to clarity and creativity. It’s a powerful listen for anyone navigating a transition and wondering why the in-between feels so hard.

🔹 00:00 – Intro & Personal Setup

Dr. Adam Carewe introduces the episode as a deeply personal unpacking of a difficult chapter in his life. He sets the stage by referencing his recent Substack post and promises to speak candidly about what came after his big decision to leave Kaiser.

🔹 01:55 – Leaving Kaiser: Clarity vs. Reality

While Adam felt aligned with the mission and team behind his new venture in stealth, he quickly learned that clarity on a big vision doesn’t shield you from emotional upheaval. “I thought the hardest part was the decision. It wasn’t. The hardest part was what came after.”

🔹 03:42 – The Drift: Emotional & Mental Disarray

He describes a fog of micro-anxieties and identity loss that crept in post-departure. With no full-time job for the first time in his career, Adam felt scattered and unsatisfied—like his brain had “a hundred browser tabs open.”

🔹 06:13 – The Wake-Up Call

A pivotal conversation with his wife brings the emotional buildup to a head. He takes the GAD-7 screening tool and finally admits to himself that this isn’t just a rough patch—it’s clinical anxiety. “That only works when the engine is fine. This time, the wiring needed attention.”

🔹 08:22 – Facing Mental Health: SSRI & Rebuilding

Adam starts sertraline and notices a major improvement in sleep, focus, and overall mood. The fog lifts, and for the first time in months, he feels ready to create again and meaningfully re-engage with healthcare innovation.

🔹 10:20 – Noticing the Signs: When Silence Speaks

He recalls how friends checked in when he stopped blogging and podcasting—a subtle but powerful reminder that absence can be a symptom. “Sometimes mental health challenges don’t shout. They whisper.”

🔹 12:05 – Closing Reflections: Hope for the Middle Part

Adam shares a message of encouragement for anyone in their own “middle part.” Support, vulnerability, and timely nudges can be transformational. “Problems still exist, but they feel solvable again. And fun feels a lot better than anxious and worried.”

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Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Poland’s Secretary of State for Europe