According to the American Medical Association, over half of physicians report feeling stress and burnout. We know it’s a major issue that was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic for all caregivers in the medical field. Despite how common it is, many of us still view the stress of burnout as something unusual when it affects us personally. These thoughts and feelings can cause any number of disturbances in our lives, leading to actions that may make us behave in unpredictable ways.
Maybe you’ve talked yourself out of seeking help because your challenges don’t seem serious when compared to the issues others face. Maybe you think you should be able to manage issues around burnout on your own without support. The reality is, if you’re struggling, you should reach out for help. Each one of us is dealing with our own challenging issues and your difficulties aren’t less important. They deserve to be addressed.
Despite being common, burnout is often left unaddressed, causing depression, anxiety, and a lack of engagement that can impact performance, relationships, and even your physical health. You may even feel the desire to leave a profession you’ve spent a lifetime investing in, and that can have an impact on patients whose care you are passionate about. During the pandemic, a lot of people have left the medical field because of burnout, but there are other ways to address those issues and stay in the field you’ve trained for.
Getting assistance for issues like stress, anxiety, depression, family issues, addiction, and other issues can help get you back on track. In addition to resources offered through the My Mental Health Matters program, Providence offers a free, compassionate, and confidential telebehavioral health consultation service to Providence providers and affiliates that can be accessed anywhere. The Behavioral Health Concierge program provides same-day or next-day access to counseling and care navigation.
Addressing burnout is a process. You have access to resources and highly skilled practitioners who understand the demands of your profession. Together, you will be heard and respected in a confidential setting to improve wellbeing and begin the restoration process after burnout.