Doctors: Heroes & Healers
March 2019
Being a Hero
Discovery of Penicillin appears to be that milestone in Medicine which marked a shift in the psyche of doctors. The feeling of being able to avert death, which had always loomed so close, had been empowering. Doctors since have felt and even been treated like "heroes". Armed with antibiotics, so many advanced surgeries were being successfully completed. And we were able to "fix" the human body in increasingly sophisticated ways.
Pharmaceuticals have become our super-weapons and medical training is not much different than training for the armed forces. There is pride associated with being a warrior, a hero. Sacrifice and martyrdom is endorsed and even memorialized.
What is the down side then? Medicine has always been a "noble" profession. And while helping the sick feel better was the ultimate goal, somehow "curing the disease" has become the new goal. And again why is that bad?! some may ask.
The down side as I see it is the "myth" that human existence can be without any suffering. So when I hear people making claims of finding the cure of this or that, it seems naïve. As we are also learning from several scientific studies that our bodies suffer from all kinds of trauma, psychological, physical and chemical. We can minimize this to some extent, eliminating trauma is like becoming un-human. Human condition is an ever evolving state of being, where we break down physically and psychologically and re-build and grow. This is how nature evolves. And hello! we are part of nature.. in case anyone forgot!
The "Hero" psyche was also accompanied by "God - complex", it served the Ego and created a feeling of superiority - narcissism like behavior is much prevalent as well. As while that is bad enough, not being able to "cure" also led to more sense of failure and loss to many. Many who became doctors to find cure of cancer or other deadly diseases are left in despair when they failed to achieve their goals.
Most people who to commit to the path of being a doctor are usually academically gifted and their sense of identity to a great extent also resides in their intellectual abilities. No wonder there is also a high incidence of suicide and depression in this profession. Failure is a "bad" word here, failing is not an option.
Sacrifice is the other side of the life of a hero. I still remember when I was a resident in Internal Medicine, I had just given birth to my son and was still nursing him. After taking all of my annual vacation as maternity leave I restarted my training. The first "attending doctor" (my teacher) I encountered at that time told me that getting pregnant during residency shows "lack of dedication" to my medical training. I remember feeling so hurt and let down by a fellow doctor. Instead of understanding the extra pressure I have now being a mother as well, he demeaned my decision to have a child and made me feel that I am in a way "not a hero" for choosing to have a family.
This is one of the examples how sacrifice is expected and glorified for those who choose the path of medicine, as heroes - don't have needs, they are not meant to think for themselves.
Self-care.. what? what is that?!
No one understands the concept of "boundaries" in Medicine. Okay let me explain more.. having boundaries is knowing what your needs are and honoring them, making time for them.
So that's the plight of the path of heroism. Whether we feel like heroes or not, we certainly do suffer trauma from losing patients, failing at attempts to cure and control disease and also not able to meet expectations of our patients, not being able to give more of ourselves to this profession. I relate so much to the other more well known armed forces, especially when it comes to PTSD, from having seen death so many times and so closely.
How does this mind-set serve the ones we care for? As to the one who is sick, suffering and vulnerable - a doctor is usually aloof, clinical, cold, elitist, disconnected, unapproachable, emotionally unavailable I would say.
Discovery of Penicillin appears to be that milestone in Medicine which marked a shift in the psyche of doctors. The feeling of being able to avert death, which had always loomed so close, had been empowering. Doctors since have felt and even been treated like "heroes". Armed with antibiotics, so many advanced surgeries were being successfully completed. And we were able to "fix" the human body in increasingly sophisticated ways.
Pharmaceuticals have become our super-weapons and medical training is not much different than training for the armed forces. There is pride associated with being a warrior, a hero. Sacrifice and martyrdom is endorsed and even memorialized.
What is the down side then? Medicine has always been a "noble" profession. And while helping the sick feel better was the ultimate goal, somehow "curing the disease" has become the new goal. And again why is that bad?! some may ask.
The down side as I see it is the "myth" that human existence can be without any suffering. So when I hear people making claims of finding the cure of this or that, it seems naïve. As we are also learning from several scientific studies that our bodies suffer from all kinds of trauma, psychological, physical and chemical. We can minimize this to some extent, eliminating trauma is like becoming un-human. Human condition is an ever evolving state of being, where we break down physically and psychologically and re-build and grow. This is how nature evolves. And hello! we are part of nature.. in case anyone forgot!
The "Hero" psyche was also accompanied by "God - complex", it served the Ego and created a feeling of superiority - narcissism like behavior is much prevalent as well. As while that is bad enough, not being able to "cure" also led to more sense of failure and loss to many. Many who became doctors to find cure of cancer or other deadly diseases are left in despair when they failed to achieve their goals.
Most people who to commit to the path of being a doctor are usually academically gifted and their sense of identity to a great extent also resides in their intellectual abilities. No wonder there is also a high incidence of suicide and depression in this profession. Failure is a "bad" word here, failing is not an option.
Sacrifice is the other side of the life of a hero. I still remember when I was a resident in Internal Medicine, I had just given birth to my son and was still nursing him. After taking all of my annual vacation as maternity leave I restarted my training. The first "attending doctor" (my teacher) I encountered at that time told me that getting pregnant during residency shows "lack of dedication" to my medical training. I remember feeling so hurt and let down by a fellow doctor. Instead of understanding the extra pressure I have now being a mother as well, he demeaned my decision to have a child and made me feel that I am in a way "not a hero" for choosing to have a family.
This is one of the examples how sacrifice is expected and glorified for those who choose the path of medicine, as heroes - don't have needs, they are not meant to think for themselves.
Self-care.. what? what is that?!
No one understands the concept of "boundaries" in Medicine. Okay let me explain more.. having boundaries is knowing what your needs are and honoring them, making time for them.
So that's the plight of the path of heroism. Whether we feel like heroes or not, we certainly do suffer trauma from losing patients, failing at attempts to cure and control disease and also not able to meet expectations of our patients, not being able to give more of ourselves to this profession. I relate so much to the other more well known armed forces, especially when it comes to PTSD, from having seen death so many times and so closely.
How does this mind-set serve the ones we care for? As to the one who is sick, suffering and vulnerable - a doctor is usually aloof, clinical, cold, elitist, disconnected, unapproachable, emotionally unavailable I would say.
Being a Healer
It's important to take a deep breath (a pause) before talking about healing. What is healing? Google says healing is "the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again." What is sound? or healthy? it's like saying being "normal" again. The idea of normal is so subjective, so being sound or healthy seems no different.
Healing is felt more than seen.
Healing is feeling safe to be vulnerable.
Healing is being heard.
Healing is being acknowledged.
Healing is having hope.
Healing is acceptance.
Healing comes in so many forms.
Healing is also listening to your favorite tune, or seeing a beautiful photograph.
Healing is being creative.
All that lifts your spirits is healing.
Let's talk about the science of healing. Science supports the mind and body connection. Science also supports that we are at core all energy.
It doesn't require medications or new age therapies even. Healing is even more tangible concept now as we have learnt from quantum physics that we are all Energetic beings.
That we are all connected.
Some of us have felt connected all our lives and have been more sensitive to this part of ourselves. Empathy is perhaps one of the basic ways to experience this first hand. And it doesn't take any effort really. It's a perspective. It's also means being open and allow the flow of your own energy to another.
I feel it is the noblest of all deeds we can do as humans, be there for one another.
We are all healers.
Isn't that ground breaking?!
Is medicine not a profession of healing?
I tend to question that when I see many medical professionals shrugging off emotional state of patient.
But wait, I am not trying to bring my colleagues down with this. I am acknowledging the lack of attention that goes into addressing emotional state of our patients. Many of us are trying our best on our end. We talk about lack of time and also not having all the tools. I will come back to this a little later.
What I do believe that we are not acknowledging as much is "the influence" we have on our patients' psyche. I have been in so many situations when I wasn't able to provide a tangible solution and still be supportive. That is indeed a very important role we have in this relationship.
I know people who have been traumatized by a bad prognosis which has lead them to fear this profession. Prognostication needs be done with sensitivity as no one knows tomorrow.
Let us also "honor the experience of being sick". Well, this is talking about our patient's symptoms as that, not "complaints".
This is another concept that is foreign to the doctors, as they have never had their own experience of vulnerability acknowledged and how do we expect them to know how to do this for anyone?!
We need to unlearn this traumatic conditioning which we have all experienced in some shape and form, during medical school, training and even at job at times. When I bring up "self-care" with the doctors-in-training, to open their minds to prioritize their own health and needs, I am often met with a surprised expression.
Yes, understanding our own needs!
Having Boundaries!
Having priorities which enable you to be in your best self possible.
We have seen enough studies demonstrate - over-worked and sleep deprived doctors' abilities similar to that of an intoxicated individual. This led to shortening of the over-night calls for the doctors in training however, ones who are out of training need to also know to protect their time.
Boundaries are good.
"Healing ourselves first" will enable us to be healers for each other. Not a medical degree.
In old times, people who were the greatest healers also were known to honor their need to connect with the Divine and find the quiet time. There was the aura of respect around their needs. No one demeaned them for wanting time off to re-charge.
So what is healing?
Is this making sense?
Nurture ourselves - not sacrifice our needs.
Find time to be creative and have fun, fill our own cups first.
Because if we continue to carry on as "heroes", glorifying our sacrifice of needs for family, sleep, down time, fun etc. we are just going to see our patients as energy drains. We are going to feel this burnout, lack of empathy. The buzz word is "compassion fatigue".
It's important to take a deep breath (a pause) before talking about healing. What is healing? Google says healing is "the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again." What is sound? or healthy? it's like saying being "normal" again. The idea of normal is so subjective, so being sound or healthy seems no different.
Healing is felt more than seen.
Healing is feeling safe to be vulnerable.
Healing is being heard.
Healing is being acknowledged.
Healing is having hope.
Healing is acceptance.
Healing comes in so many forms.
Healing is also listening to your favorite tune, or seeing a beautiful photograph.
Healing is being creative.
All that lifts your spirits is healing.
Let's talk about the science of healing. Science supports the mind and body connection. Science also supports that we are at core all energy.
It doesn't require medications or new age therapies even. Healing is even more tangible concept now as we have learnt from quantum physics that we are all Energetic beings.
That we are all connected.
Some of us have felt connected all our lives and have been more sensitive to this part of ourselves. Empathy is perhaps one of the basic ways to experience this first hand. And it doesn't take any effort really. It's a perspective. It's also means being open and allow the flow of your own energy to another.
I feel it is the noblest of all deeds we can do as humans, be there for one another.
We are all healers.
Isn't that ground breaking?!
Is medicine not a profession of healing?
I tend to question that when I see many medical professionals shrugging off emotional state of patient.
But wait, I am not trying to bring my colleagues down with this. I am acknowledging the lack of attention that goes into addressing emotional state of our patients. Many of us are trying our best on our end. We talk about lack of time and also not having all the tools. I will come back to this a little later.
What I do believe that we are not acknowledging as much is "the influence" we have on our patients' psyche. I have been in so many situations when I wasn't able to provide a tangible solution and still be supportive. That is indeed a very important role we have in this relationship.
I know people who have been traumatized by a bad prognosis which has lead them to fear this profession. Prognostication needs be done with sensitivity as no one knows tomorrow.
Let us also "honor the experience of being sick". Well, this is talking about our patient's symptoms as that, not "complaints".
This is another concept that is foreign to the doctors, as they have never had their own experience of vulnerability acknowledged and how do we expect them to know how to do this for anyone?!
We need to unlearn this traumatic conditioning which we have all experienced in some shape and form, during medical school, training and even at job at times. When I bring up "self-care" with the doctors-in-training, to open their minds to prioritize their own health and needs, I am often met with a surprised expression.
Yes, understanding our own needs!
Having Boundaries!
Having priorities which enable you to be in your best self possible.
We have seen enough studies demonstrate - over-worked and sleep deprived doctors' abilities similar to that of an intoxicated individual. This led to shortening of the over-night calls for the doctors in training however, ones who are out of training need to also know to protect their time.
Boundaries are good.
"Healing ourselves first" will enable us to be healers for each other. Not a medical degree.
In old times, people who were the greatest healers also were known to honor their need to connect with the Divine and find the quiet time. There was the aura of respect around their needs. No one demeaned them for wanting time off to re-charge.
So what is healing?
Is this making sense?
Nurture ourselves - not sacrifice our needs.
Find time to be creative and have fun, fill our own cups first.
Because if we continue to carry on as "heroes", glorifying our sacrifice of needs for family, sleep, down time, fun etc. we are just going to see our patients as energy drains. We are going to feel this burnout, lack of empathy. The buzz word is "compassion fatigue".
Healers Heroes
Yin Yang
Feminine Masculine
Right brain Left Brain
I dream of a world where we are able to decrease suffering by all means possible. Whether it's an innovative medication or advance robotic surgery.. hello AI! Where seeing a doctor is a healing experience. Where we are also kind to other fellow health professionals and support their life choices. Where we train doctors to honor their own self care needs and help propagate the mindset of a healer who is not afraid of getting armed when it's needed. When we don't chose one path over another 'coz we don't have to.
We are whole when we acknowledge ourselves as healers and heroes.
This is my call to action to all who relate to this. Please talk about this. Share your view points.
Thank you.
Yin Yang
Feminine Masculine
Right brain Left Brain
I dream of a world where we are able to decrease suffering by all means possible. Whether it's an innovative medication or advance robotic surgery.. hello AI! Where seeing a doctor is a healing experience. Where we are also kind to other fellow health professionals and support their life choices. Where we train doctors to honor their own self care needs and help propagate the mindset of a healer who is not afraid of getting armed when it's needed. When we don't chose one path over another 'coz we don't have to.
We are whole when we acknowledge ourselves as healers and heroes.
This is my call to action to all who relate to this. Please talk about this. Share your view points.
Thank you.
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