Can mindfulness help physicians with mental health?
More than 40% of physicians report experiencing burnout. A survey conducted by Medscape, which included nearly 5,000 physicians found that 65% said their burnout had increased during the pandemic; this increase can affect physician health and patient safety. Some physicians have turned to meditation and mindfulness to manage their burnout in a more balanced and thoughtful manner.
A Medscape article points out that the causes of burnout are "linked to external rather than internal factors," and that asking doctors to meditate to manage their burnout can feel like blaming the victim. While changes to the healthcare system will reduce physician burnout, these changes occur slowly. Meditation and mindfulness give physicians control over how they react to daily stresses brought on by the healthcare system.
Ten years ago, Dr. Jill Wener considered herself burned out. She began a daily meditation practice and found that "the meditation gave me what we call adaptive energy; it filled my tank and kept me from feeling like I was going to lose it at 10 o'clock in the morning."
Dr. Nadine Kelly, a retired pathologist, health integration coach, and yoga instructor, founded YOGI M.D. In this Medscape commentary, Yogi MD: How to Minimize Stress in 3 Minutes, she describes a quick tip on weaving mindfulness into a busy day.
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