The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new physician wellbeing challenges to the medical profession, while extending many of the individual, cultural and systemic issues that already contributed to physician burnout and poor mental health. Doctors and those in training are taught to put the needs of others ahead of their own – often to the detriment of their own well-being. Self-compassion can play a vital role in supporting physician wellness and overall work satisfaction.
I am my own worst critic. And I am not alone. Self-compassion is something that did not come easily to me, and requires daily practice.
In this article, we will define self-compassion, explore the consequences of a lack of self-compassion, examine relevant epidemiological data related to physicians, and provide five ways to bring self-compassion into your life.
Self-compassion is the act of treating oneself with kindness, understanding, and forgiveness during moments of suffering or failure.
Dr. Garcia (pseudonym) had been a practicing physician for over 20 years. Despite her extensive experience and success in her field, she often found herself feeling like a fraud. The inevitable challenges of clinical medicine sometimes hit her hard.
She would constantly compare herself to her colleagues and feel like she wasn’t living up to their standards. She often berated herself for perceived errors, or that she could have “done better”.
Even when sleep-deprived, overworked, under-rested, or over-patiented, she was hard on herself.
This self-criticism and self-doubt began to affect her work and she found herself becoming increasingly burned out. It wasn’t until she started practicing self-compassion that she was able to overcome these feelings of imposter syndrome and find joy in her work once again.
Self-compassion is the act of treating oneself with kindness, understanding, and forgiveness during moments of suffering or failure. It involves recognizing that all human beings experience difficulties and that these experiences do not define our worth or value as individuals. Self-compassion involves three key components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness.
Self-compassion involves recognizing that all human beings experience difficulties and that these experiences do not define our worth or value as individuals
Studies show that self-compassionate physicians appear to be more engaged and feel less exhausted due to work demands and as such, are more satisfied with their professional life than those physicians who exhibit less compassion toward themselves in uncertain and challenging times.
A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that physicians who reported higher levels of self-compassion had lower levels of burnout and depression. Conversely, physicians who reported lower levels of self-compassion had higher levels of burnout and depression.
In the context of healthcare practice, a recent systematic review of empirical studies has shown mindfulness (one of the components of self-compassion) to be associated with reductions in burnout, distress, anxiety, depression, and stress.
A lack of self-compassion can have serious consequences for our mental health. Research has shown that a lack of self-compassion is associated with increased levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. It can also lead to feelings of shame, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome.
Studies have shown that physicians are at increased risk for burnout, depression, and suicide compared to the general population. A survey conducted by Medscape in 2022 found that 62% of physicians reported feeling burned out. Another study found that physicians are more likely to experience depression than the general population, with a prevalence rate of 28-40%. Additionally, research has shown that physicians who practice self-compassion have lower levels of burnout, depression, and anxiety.
Too often, as physicians, we are short of self-compassion, but great at showing compassion to others.
Self-compassion is the act of treating oneself with kindness, understanding, and forgiveness during moments of suffering or failure. It involves recognizing that all human beings experience difficulties and that these experiences do not define our worth or value as individuals.
Being too harsh on ourselves is linked to adverse mental health and burnout.
We have provided 5 ways to bring self-compassion into your life.
Be kind to yourself and see the benefits.
With Love.
Dom
