In a career when we always strive for more, when is enough enough? Dr Jillian Reigert DMD MD one of our Physicians Anonymous Approved Coaches guest blogs on “enoughness”.
Doctors and those in training are taught to put the needs of others ahead of their own – often to the detriment of their own well-being. Self-compassion can play a vital role in supporting physician wellness and overall work satisfaction.
A Physician’s Anonymous coach shares 7 days of their physician’s burnout diary, moving from resistance to connection and finding self.
“Welcome to the Trauma Surgery Unit” said Prof. “As it’s New Year’s Day we’re expecting a quiet one.” Prof’s sense of irony (i.e. sarcasm) was legendary. That night (first shift) a young man came in. “Stabbed chest. Resus!” came over the PA system, and everyone moved.
You should know: shame is a very, very bad master. And shame does not deserve your respect, because shame is a liar. Shame is also a huge problem in medicine.
In Part 1, we made the case that a career in modern medicine meets the diagnostic criteria for addiction. Medicine can be unhealthy, yet we carry on or feel unable to make healthy changes. In Part 2, we explore how to get sober if you’re addicted to medicine.
Burnout almost led me to take my own life. It destroyed my identity as a surgeon. My medical identity and my life were so enmeshed that losing medicine caused me to mourn my own death. From this low point, I have rebuilt. With lots of intensive therapy, and regular mindfulness and other wellness practices I’ve been able to rise from the depths.
The latest US Physician Burnout & Depression Report (2023) from Medscape finds that physician burnout and depression are worsening. More than half of physicians (52%) reported that they are burned out and nearly 1 in 4 reporting that they are clinically depressed.
Positive affirmations are a powerful tool that can help you fight burnout. If you are feeling overwhelmed by stress, try using positive affirmations to boost your self-confidence and self-esteem. With a little practice, you can start to see a difference in your mood, emotions, and overall well-being.
Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare heroes are often seen as invincible. We’re the ones who care, but who takes care of us?
In a world that constantly demands excellence, where the pursuit of perfection is the norm, there lies a secret joy hidden in the unlikeliest of places – the realm of mediocrity in medicine.
How an obsession with success can lead to physician burnout; and strategies for mitigation
Why do we need laws? After all, hospitals and healthcare businesses know all about the corporate risks of overwork! We argue that without legislation to force safety, nothing will change because little, if anything, has changed to protect healthcare staff from overwork.
I have so many regrets about my medical career that I don’t even know where to begin. And I am not alone. We all make mistakes, give suboptimal service, have off days, or (most often, in my experience), nature wins. The cancer progresses. The psychosis relapses. The diabetes complicates. So am I going to wallow in them and feel sorry for myself? Or is there another way of dealing with regrets in my career as a doctor?
As healthcare in many countries evolves into a profit-driven industry, physicians face increasing pressures to prioritize efficiency, productivity, and financial outcomes over patient care and personal well-being.
Addressing physician wellbeing is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive approach beyond individual interventions. A physician well-being ecosystem, designed to support and prioritize the mental and emotional well-being of physicians, is crucial for sustainable change.
This is part one of a guest blog by one of our senior mentors. She was a groundbreaker as a woman of color studying medicine in the 1970s. Here, she recounts her struggles in Pre-Med.
This is part two of a guest blog by one of our senior mentors. She was a groundbreaker as a woman of color studying medicine in the 1970s. Here, she recounts her first year at Med School far from home.
Protecting the Next Generation of Doctors. The practice of self-compassion has emerged as a valuable tool for medical students, offering support in navigating the pressures, setbacks, and self-criticism that can arise throughout their training. This article explores the importance of self-compassion specifically for medical students, provides an overview of relevant research and studies, and offers a practical guide to cultivating self-compassion in daily life.
AI art generation in the style of famous artists: can you guess who they are?
To prove that Physicians Anonymous is surfing the wave of high technology, we’ve been playing around with various AI models. Starting with image generators, we’ve been both impressed and horrified by the outputs.
