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Healing the healers: When doctors prioritize themselves

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned in two decades of practicing medicine, it’s this: we cannot pour from an empty cup. Yet too often, physicians delay our own healing until some undefined “later,” convinced that self‑prioritization is selfish. At Physicians Anonymous, we’ve discovered the transformative power that unfolds when doctors choose themselves—not as an act of self‑indulgence, but as a professional and moral imperative. Here’s what happens when healers heal themselves first. 

Reconnecting to purpose

When doctors prioritize self‑care, we rediscover the core reasons we entered medicine: 

  • Renewed passion: A colleague who once dreaded Monday mornings described how a week of true rest reignited her excitement for patient care. The small joys—a child’s relieved smile, a colleague’s guiding wisdom—return when fatigue lifts. 
  • Enhanced empathy: Emotional reserves are finite. By tending to our own needs—physical, mental, and spiritual—we rebuild the capacity to lean in empathetically, to sit with suffering without shutting down. 

This reconnection to purpose isn’t fleeting—it reshapes our daily experience, imbuing routine tasks with meaning. 

Improved clinical decision‑making

Chronic stress and exhaustion bias our judgments. When physicians rest and replenish: 

  1. Sharper cognitive function: Sleep‑deprived brains process information more slowly and make more errors. Even short periods of restorative rest improve alertness, memory recall, and diagnostic accuracy. 
  1. Balanced risk tolerance: Burnt‑out doctors swing between defensive medicine—ordering unnecessary tests—and overconfidence that downplays risk. Well‑nourished physicians calibrate decisions more judiciously, aligning care plans with evidence and patient values. 

Put simply: healing ourselves makes us better clinicians. 

Stronger team dynamics

Physicians who model self‑care send a powerful message to colleagues and trainees: 

  • Permission for others: When senior doctors carve out personal time—leaving on schedule, refusing after‑hours emails—they legitimize boundaries for the entire team. 
  • Open dialogue: Teams that prioritize well‑being cultivate psychological safety. Peers feel comfortable admitting struggles, asking for help, and sharing solutions. 
  • Collective resilience: A team of well‑supported physicians weathers crises—be it a pandemic surge or a critical patient loss—with shared strength rather than isolated burnout. 

Healing the healer thus becomes a communal act, reinforcing a culture where everyone thrives. 

Tangible health benefits

The abstract appeal of “self‑care” sometimes obscures its concrete health impacts: 

  • Reduced cardiovascular risk: Chronic work stress elevates blood pressure and inflammation. Mind‑body practices—yoga, meditation, or simply mindful walks—lower stress hormones and improve heart health. 
  • Lowered depression and anxiety rates: Regular mental‑health check‑ins and, when needed, professional therapy reduce symptoms of mood disorders that plague physicians at disproportionately high rates. 
  • Enhanced immune function: Adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, and moderated workloads bolster immunity—essential for physicians exposed to infectious diseases. 

These benefits don’t just apply to a few “holistic” colleagues; they’re universal and scientifically proven.

Patient perceptions and outcomes

Patients sense when their physician is at ease or under duress: 

  • Higher trust: Studies show patients report greater satisfaction and trust when doctors appear composed and attentive—states more accessible when physicians aren’t overwhelmed. 
  • Better adherence: A physician who communicates calmly and clearly fosters better patient understanding, leading to improved adherence to treatment plans and follow‑up. 
  • Fewer complications: Well‑rested physicians detect early warning signs more consistently, adjusting care quickly and reducing avoidable complications. 

When doctors thrive, patients reap the benefits too. 

Getting started: Practical strategies

Transformative self‑care doesn’t require luxury retreats or lengthy sabbaticals. Here’s a roadmap: 

  1. Schedule self‑care appointments: Block “me time” on your calendar—just as you would a patient visit. Treat it as non‑negotiable. 
  1. Adopt micro‑breaks: Between patients or meetings, take two‑minute breathing exercises or brief stretches. These small pauses reset the nervous system. 
  1. Leverage peer support: Join a Physicians Anonymous group or form local wellness circles. Accountability among peers makes it easier to honor boundaries. 
  1. Implement digital curfews: Silence non‑urgent work notifications after a set hour. Let triage nurses or on‑call colleagues handle emergencies so you can rest. 
  1. Pursue meaning outside medicine: Rekindle hobbies—painting, gardening, running—that replenish joy and provide perspective beyond patient charts. 

Consistency is key: small, daily acts of self‑care accumulate into profound long‑term change. 

Overcoming common barriers

Physicians often encounter obstacles: 

  • Guilt: The voice that says, “I should be working.” Counter it by reframing self‑care as a patient‑safety strategy. 
  • Time constraints: Start tiny. Even 60 seconds of mindful breathing beats none. 
  • Cultural pushback: Enlist allies. When you commit publicly—say, in a team meeting—you create a shared expectation that self‑care is normal. 

By anticipating resistance, you prepare sustainable strategies. 

A vision for sustainable practice

Imagine a healthcare system where: 

  • Physician well‑being metrics are reported alongside patient outcomes. 
  • Protected time for rest, reflection, and renewal is embedded in every contract. 
  • Well‑being champions in leadership roles ensure policies evolve in step with physician needs. 

This vision requires collective will—from individuals, institutions, and policymakers. But the payoff is immeasurable: a resilient workforce, safer care, and a rebalanced sense of what it means to heal. 

Conclusion: The ripple effect of healing

When doctors prioritize themselves, the impact ripples outward: 

  • Colleagues feel empowered to set boundaries. 
  • Patients enjoy more empathetic, accurate care. 
  • Healthcare systems benefit from reduced errors, turnover, and costs. 

Healing the healer is not an act of self‑indulgence—it is the foundation of sustainable medicine. At Physicians Anonymous, we witness every day the transformative power that emerges when physicians choose to care for themselves first. It’s time we all heed that call. 

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DR CORRIGAN

A recovering physician who left medicine after burning out and more. Overachiever. Impostor syndrome. Addict. Had never heard of Corrigan's Secret Door* until it was too late. Co-founded Physicians Anonymous with intention to solve physician burnout, mental illness, and addiction. Hopes to prevent future medical career disasters through peer support, advocacy, policy change, and innovation. * https://physiciansanonymous.org/corrigans-secret-door-and-other-stories/