In her new book, How Do You Feel? One Doctor’s Search for Humanity in Medicine, Dr. Jessi Gold offers a thoughtful and highly relevant memoir on the importance of mental wellbeing for healthcare professionals and students through her own story and that of four of her patients. As caretakers of others’ health, it becomes imperative to also prioritize our own mental health and to recognize the sometimes unspoken costs of caring for others.
The current global context, including the distressing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, and Ukraine, and associated loss of life bring about a deep sense of uncertainty and helplessness – emotions that can infiltrate our professional and personal lives. The political divisiveness that surrounds us daily can contribute to heightened levels of stress and anxiety. The devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on the east coast, as well as other natural disasters in our country and around the world, can further contribute to our distress. These external pressures invariably impact our mental health, making it essential to acknowledge and address these feelings proactively. Further, while caring for people is also a grounding force, a thing that brings meaning to our work and our personal lives, it can take an inevitable toll. Pretending that this is not so, something that many of us have been taught to do, is not always the right thing for ourselves or those we are trying to care for.
So, it seems critical to recognize the warning signs that our mental wellbeing might be compromised. We might need help or to make a change in what we are doing to cope. Some crucial indicators include:
- Emotional Signs: Increased irritability, feeling perpetually overwhelmed, unexplained or lingering sadness, or a pervasive sense of dread.
- Physical Signs: Frequent headaches, changes in sleep patterns, unexplained aches and pains, or fatigue that just won’t go away or happens more frequently.
- Cognitive Signs: Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and indecisiveness that is out of character or inhibits your effectiveness at work or at home.
- Behavioral Signs: Withdrawal from your normal social interactions, acting out at home or at work, reduced productivity, and unexplained changes in eating habits.
When we see these things in ourselves or others, it is important to take note, and proactively make changes or seek support. Some things to consider are:
- Prioritize Self-Care: Make time for activities that invigorate you, whether it’s exercise, reading, simply taking a walk, spending time with people who nourish you, meditating, or anything that recharges your batteries. The best self-care is not the one that is prescribed, but the one that you will do.
- Seek Support: Do not hesitate to discuss your feelings with a trusted colleague, mentor, or mental health professional. Remember that WashU provides a variety of mental health resources for our students, residents/ fellows, faculty and staff. Please never, never let a fear of stigma get in your way of getting the help you or someone you care about needs – and the help we can all use at various times in our lives – the consequences are simply too high.
- Reflect and Process: Allocate time for introspection. Writing in a journal, mindfulness, storytelling, and debriefing with colleagues or others about difficult experiences can help process emotions and clarify thoughts. Sharing with others is a way to change the culture of silence and shame and make it into one of caring and support.
There will be an excellent opportunity to discuss these critical concepts further when Dr. Jessi Gold returns to campus on October 23, 2024. We will have a fireside chat at noon in Moore Auditorium. Dr. Gold and I will talk about these important issues and provide more insights into how we can better care for our own mental wellbeing while continuing to serve others. We will also have a limited supply of books available for signing. Register for the event here.
Stay well and take care.
Eva