There is an unwritten but well-known rule in medicine that we healthcare practictioners suck it up at all costs. No matter how terrible we think we have it, it’s no worse than those who came before us. They got through it so what’s our problem.
This way of thinking is literally killing some of the brightest minds of our society. In the United States an estimated 400 physicians commit suicide every year. Just this summer, two resident physicians in New York City jumped to their deaths in one week.
There is a certain level of rigor necessary for adequate medical training but I think there is room for modification to keep people well. I’ll save for another day my thesis on all the ways the US healthcare system needs to be reformed for the sake of both patients and clinicians.
What I will share is several strategies individuals can use to overcome the dysfunction in the current system in order to maintain personal well-being. It comes down to recognizing and availing ourselves of all our sources of help and encouragement.
Remember the evidence of your brilliance. I know that sounds like Oprah but hear me out.
A sense of overwhelm is often part of the process of getting better. Many times we have done so well on previous tasks (tests, projects, procedures) that someone saw fit to give us more responsibility. Among perfectionists, this may lead to a freak out about not immediately being able to do the new thing flawlessly.
That’s when we need to summon our rational side and remember all the other stuff we have done well in the past. Instead of focusing on what we don’t know, we need to focus on our established ability to acquire knowledge and skills.
Challenges that arise in the process teach us how to tap further into our personal brilliance. We ought to be excited to learn instead of scared of not knowing.
Have a support system. It’s awesome if your people are local but it’s most important that they exist. If they are geographically distant it’s especially important to keep in touch. Being a loner isn’t good for the spirit.
Remember there are different levels of support. The person with whom we complain about mutual work annoyances isn’t necessarily going to help us through the emotion of losing a patient. We need to identify who’s who before a crisis hits.
We all need an inner circle. These are the folks with whom we can share our highs and lows with minimal censorship. These are the people who laugh, cry and pray with us.
They let us feel what we feel until we don’t feel it anymore. We don’t have to worry that they think we are crazy because they know and love us however we are.
Allow yourself to recharge. While we are crafting our inner circle of support, frequent little reboots to the system help us prevent a complete crash.
Vacations are awesome but they don’t occur often enough to keep us from being drained before the next one. We need regularly scheduled restorative activities.
A lot of times we think a blank space in our schedule means we aren’t making the most of our time. The key is to recognize rest and relaxation are appropriate ways to allocate time. Scheduling a nap is totally valid.
Being able to power through is a good skill to have, but it is over-utilized in our society. Spending fifteen minutes every day taking a walk is likely more valuable to productivity and state of mind than forcing ourselves to use that same time to do anything else.
Be willing to invest in getting help. Sometimes the assistance we need requires more than self-encouragement, a quick lap around the neighborhood or a chat with a bestie.
Whether we are struggling with adjustment disorder or bipolar disorder, we shouldn’t talk ourselves out of getting the help we need. Sometimes it’s useful to speak with someone who’s not close to the situation or attached to any particular outcome.
We, as physicians, need to get over feeling shame for needing professional mental health services. If society is going to decrease the stigma of seeking mental health treatment, we need to drop the embarrassment ourselves. Being miserable and angry is not more professional than seeing a therapist.
When I realized I’d send me to talk to someone if I was my own patient, I had to get over myself and go see a counselor. I needed answers to why I was so dissatisfied with my life as a physician more than I cared about what others thought.
Honestly, therapy put a dent in my wallet and a serious cramp in my schedule, but it was totally worth it! That brief stint seven years ago got me over the hump to start seeking a more fulfilling life.
What it all really comes down to is prioritizing taking care of ourselves and allowing others to take care of us when necessary. As simple as it sounds, it’s very challenging for many of us who have spent a lifetime focused on taking care of others. However, for our own well-being we need to be up to this challenge.
How do you deal with the challenges of your work life? Who is your support network?
If you need help finding time for self-care, please click here to request an Essence of Strength complimentary clarity conversation.
Dr Jattu Senesie is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, certified success coach, physician satisfaction specialist and speaker. She blogs about issues of self care and well-being in an effort to help her fellow altruistic high achievers find satisfaction in their success as early in their careers as possible.
