Is This You?
exhausted doctor
You've always seen yourself as a coper.
Now you lie awake at 3 am dreading another day at work and what crisis will hit you next.
Your health is starting to suffer.
You dream of going off sick but the guilt would be enormous.
You're not alone. I can help.
I have been an NHS doctor for 27 years.
I understand what it is like to feel committed and care about your work as a doctor but it is now overwhelming.
I believe it is possible to turn things around and recreate the meaning in your work.
Together we can make a plan
Being a doctor has become exhausting. Burnout is a record high. Work can even damage your physical health.
Asking for help as a doctor can be very hard. It is also hard to say no for many of us, or create boundaries that protect our own health.
Patient needs are bigger than ever, especially working in areas of high socio-economic deprivation.
The guilt that gets in the way of making changes for yourself can be huge.
FROM EXHAUSTION TO FEELING ENERGISED AGAIN
I can help you overcome this challenge.
The usual support channels
Have you looked at these options and found they are not really what you need?
Going off sick
– seems too drastic –
Practitioner Health
– you don’t need clinical help –
Workplace 'Wellness' Initiatives
– they don’t work –
Advice to leave on time
– feels unrealistic –
Being told not to feel guilty
– you still do –
'Resilience'
– you are already resilient enough –
Help is available
It becomes impossible to see where the solutions are or even where to begin.
It is very hard to say no.
You worry about your future career.
Asking for help feels extremely hard.
Doing anything differently makes you feel so guilty.
You are not alone.
Together we can make a plan and get through this.
Breathe. You can do this.
Try these
Some self-help strategies
Strategy 1
Start small when it comes to creating new boundaries. Think of three small things that you can say no to this week.
It is best to begin with something easier and build on your success.
Strategy 2
Guilt is a very common challenge for doctors. Asking yourself what expectations you are putting on yourself. Are these realistic?
What would you say to your loved ones if they were in your shoes?
Strategy 3
50% of doctors find it hard to ask for help. You are not alone. Some of us hold false beliefs that it makes us weak or not good doctors.
What is going to happen if you carry on as you are?
What are the potential benefits to you of reaching out?
Who can you start with? There is almost always someone.
Let’s Talk
Specialised guidance and support
While these strategies offer some relief, they can only take you so far.
Working together with someone will help design support and strategies tailored to YOU and you alone.
That’s where I can help.
I have been exactly in your shoes. In working together we’ll develop a much deeper understanding of the challenges you face than you can achieve on your own. We’ll also be able to see the opportunities, the ‘quick wins’ and develop a long term plan for your future.
If you recognise yourself, then a conversation with me is totally free and without obligation.