Our stories

Kindness for physicians

Kindness for physicians: Good for everyone

At a recent Physicians Anonymous meeting, we discussed an article on random acts of kindness. Researchers gave 84 random people in a wintry Chicago park free hot chocolates. They were then given the choice to gift it to another or keep it for themselves. Guess what happened?

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Female doctor in mask Burnout in women physicians

Burnout in women physicians

Women physicians still face disproportionate challenges within their medical careers compared to men. Unsurprisingly, those women who face more work-related stressors report less satisfaction with their careers, and more burnout occurs in female doctors.

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gratitude for physicians - thank you doctors

Gratitude for physicians

This blog explores the science of gratitude for physicians, how it may tackle burnout, and gives some suggestions for gratitude practice.

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Physician gratitude practice

Physician gratitude practice

In a previous article, we explored the evidence base for gratitude. In this article, we illustrate 7 physician gratitude practices that may help on a level. We also note that no one intervention is a panacea for the core systemic issues causing the current epidemic of physician burnout and moral injury.

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physician peer support programs

Successful physician peer support programs

If there is anything positive to come from this pandemic, it is the realization of the importance of peer support. Physician peer support programs with an emphasis on preventing burnout and growing community have are being piloted and implemented in different ways and organizations around the country.

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Physician Suicide Prevention and Wellbeing Resources

Global physician suicide prevention and wellbeing resources

Physicians Anonymous humbly hosts this living document of global resources for physician support.

Search: Scroll down to your country or press Ctrl+F and enter your keyword to search.

If you would like to add resources or your country please Contact us or leave details in the comments below.

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overcome cognitive distortions

Cognitive distortions in medicine – part 2

Cognitive distortions are exaggerated or irrational thoughts that we have. In Part 2 of this article, by learning to tackle common cognitive distortions, you will be empowered to manage your amazing mind and smooth over the bumps in the road of a career in medicine.

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Cognitive distortions in medicine

Cognitive distortions in medicine – part 1

Extreme stress tends to bring out more of these cognitive distortions, and modern medicine is a rich source of stress for doctors and medical students. We give 6 examples of classic cognitive distortions as applied to medicine, and discover ways to challenge them with more realistic thinking.

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Christmas in hospital as a physician

Christmas in hospital as a physician

T’was the night before Christmas, and all through the ER, everyone was stirring, shouting, vomiting, and hemorrhaging. Except for the mice, who very sensibly stayed away, because it was chaos.

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Coaching for resident burnout prevention

Coaching for resident burnout prevention

This article explores why residents are at even higher risk of burnout and mental health deterioration than the average physician population. We then look at the evidence base for resident burnout prevention programs and consider why postgraduate education providers should seriously consider investing in these. Mindfulness and Coaching programs are examined as having the most evidence-base.

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Trauma hospital ER

Why I quit medicine: Not COVID but COVID didn’t help

I recently decided I was going to leave my role as an Emergency Medicine (ER) doctor in the UK National Health Service (NHS). As service after service reaches its full capacity and beyond, the people who rely on these services do not know where to go for the help they need. All of these factors led me do decide that I no longer wanted to commit my daily energies to a system that was causing me to burn out.

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UK Primary Care Burnout Story

A primary care burnout story

If there was one thing that helped me deal with my own burnout, it was hearing another General Practitioner (GP) stand up in front of a lecture theatre of 200 people and say that they had been burned out too. 

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Trauma hospital ER

The trauma of medicine

The life of a physician is one of the most stressful professions. In this article, I’ll discuss the trauma of medicine and what can be done about it.

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First day as a doctor

My first day as a doctor

“Welcome to the Trauma Surgery Unit” said Prof. “As it’s New Year’s Day we’re expecting a quiet one.” Prof’s sense of irony (i.e. sarcasm) was legendary. That night (first shift) a young man came in. “Stabbed chest. Resus!” came over the PA system, and everyone moved.

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how to get sober if you’re addicted to medicine

How to get sober if you’re addicted to medicine

In Part 1, we made the case that a career in modern medicine meets the diagnostic criteria for addiction. Medicine can be unhealthy, yet we carry on or feel unable to make healthy changes. In Part 2, we explore how to get sober if you’re addicted to medicine.

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addicted to medicine

Addicted to medicine

Are physicians addicted to medicine? in this article I will argue that medicine can be so intoxicating, even if it’s bad for us, that doctors can become addicted to it. Before too long, a medical life becomes a way of life until we don’t know any different.

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physician rehab

Empathy in recovery part two: Rehab and beyond

“For the first time in ages, I didn’t feel alone anymore that night. Despite the craziness that had happened in the days prior, I felt calm.

In this, our second Guest Physician blog by Dr Henry Harris, surgeon, alcoholic in recovery, and proudly Approved Physicians Anonymous Mentor, Dr Harris shares his experience of rehab as an alcoholic physician.

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