Hey, I’m K.J.
I’m an elder emo, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, a full-time DNP student, a fur mom, and a human who happens to live with social anxiety and generalized anxiety.
Like many people, mental health isn’t just something I treat professionally, it’s something I’ve navigated personally. I also have family members and friends who have struggled with their mental health, which is a big part of why I chose this career path.
At the same time, I have a genetic loading that puts me at increased risk for metabolic syndrome. As both a provider and a patient, I’ve become increasingly aware of how closely our mental and physical health are connected. We often talk about mental wellness and physical wellness as separate things, but the reality is they influence each other every day.
That’s where Panic With Your Gym Bro comes in.
This page isn’t about perfection, six-pack abs, toxic positivity, or pretending anxiety disappears after a workout. It’s about finding realistic ways to care for ourselves. It’s about movement that counts, coping skills that work for you, and small sustainable changes that can improve your quality of life over time.
Professionally, I hold bachelor’s degrees in psychology and nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in psychiatric mental health, and I’m currently pursuing my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. My DNP project focuses on improving evidence-based metabolic monitoring and weight management practices for individuals prescribed psychotropic medications. My hope is to help improve patient outcomes so people can experience the benefits of psychiatric treatment while minimizing risks to their physical health.
I believe in science. I believe in evidence-based practice. I believe mental health treatment and physical health promotion belong in the same conversation.
Most importantly, I’m just a normal person trying to figure it all out alongside everyone else.
I work two NP jobs. I’m in a full-time DNP program. I battle burnout. I don’t always get enough sleep. Some days my anxiety is louder than others. Some days my workouts are amazing, and some days my biggest win is taking the dog for a walk.
Panic With Your Gym Bro is a space for all of that.
If you’re an elder emo, an anxious human, a gym newbie, a mental health advocate, a healthcare worker, or someone simply trying to feel a little better than you did yesterday, you’re in the right place.
Because movement counts. Small changes count. Progress counts.
And you don’t have to do it perfectly. 🖤
#PsychiatricNP #DNPStudent #ElderEmo #WellnessJourney #MindBodyHealth
Panic! With Your Gym Bro 