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- Page navigation anchor for RE: A valuable guide to mental healing in physicians.RE: A valuable guide to mental healing in physicians.
I greatly admired the brutal transparency and honesty of Dr Graham, whose article "Physician Heal Thyself" depicts so vividly the stepwise process which can lead to a feeling of such apparently incurable hopelessness. It was similarly a delight and relief to read of the stepwise healing process, assisted by a supportive family and the Physician and Family Support Program.
I encourage all doctors to read this article, even those who think they are immune to a mental breakdown. Outward impressions and bravado can be very deceptive. The toolkit suggested in the article is a very basic and sensible approach to bolstering mental health, not only for the individual, but also for a colleague who may seem vulnerable and could do with timeous guidance.
Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for RE: thankyouRE: thankyou
Thank you for writing so honestly about this difficult situation and problem- your last sentence says it all and is something my husband said to me that really put the demands of patients in perspective . If we don’t take care of ourselves we can’t care well for others or our family. I wish you health, calm and happiness
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Tim Graham. Physician, heal thyself. CMAJ 2021;193:E1601-E1602.
- Page navigation anchor for Doctors with depressionDoctors with depression
re: depression in doctors: Dr. Tim Graham has done the profession a great service by recounting his history of depression, from which I too have suffered for many years, punctuated by suicidal ideation and one near miss. Readers might be interested in this YouTube clip of a short talk I gave describing my own experience and discussing things sufferers can do to help themselves: Seek help, limit alcohol, exercise, get outdoors, take time for yourself (including meditation), keep a gratitude diary, congratulate yourself for any small achievement, forgive yourself, care for something (person, pet or plant) and socialise.
Dr. David Howe
Parrsboro NS
902-254-2346Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Tim Graham. Physician, heal thyself. CMAJ 2021;193:E1601-E1602.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Physician, heal thyselfRE: Physician, heal thyself
Thank you for sharing your journey - it is incredibly moving Dr. Graham. Your words break through so many barriers that the system and perhaps we ourselves unknowingly set up. We experience your courage in telling this story, how desperate you became and how with the help of your wife, family and supports that you were able to find your path again. Physicians and learners who might be in a dark place can hear that there is help, that this suffering is real and that you don’t have to go it alone. Thank you for unflinchingly standing up and speaking out. This beautiful narrative is an incredibly powerful message about the importance of our health and well-being and in so doing it effectively negates stigma.
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Tim Graham. Physician, heal thyself. CMAJ 2021;193:E1601-E1602.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Physician Mental HealthRE: Physician Mental Health
This was a gut-wrenching, open and honest article that, as other comments have mentioned, is very likely to save lives. Thank you for putting your story out into the world.
I had always taken the term 'monkey mind' to be a pretty common concept in Buddhist meditation practices going back hundreds of years and took your comments within that context. That said, I am so often wrong and every day learn that I know so little about so many things in this world that perhaps I should, just to be safe, add the term to the list of words to avoid.
Regardless, your article is very important. All the best to you and your family.
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Tim Graham. Physician, heal thyself. CMAJ 2021;193:E1601-E1602.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: The lies we live byRE: The lies we live by
Thank you Tim for baring your soul and heart. As a psychiatrist I always try find core beliefs that cause the first domino to fall. Your article exposed some of them. One core belief in particular is worthy of attention because it is a blatant lie. The belief is that if we just try hard enough we can have it all. I can't and nobody can, without paying a price,often not worth the prize. The industrial complex invites us to participate in all four domains of it's machinations -clinical, academic, research and teaching. Any attempt to do them all well, is a set up for burn out. It is still sad that doctors leave residency with a hidden belief that somehow they need to and can do it all. We need to stop lying to ourselves and our profession. (Oh right, and then in addition to all of that we are meant to have a nourishing, fulfilling, joyous personal life...assuming there is anything left over.) But I digress. I have known 8 physicians who killed themselves. Enough already.
I uncoupled myself from this lie years ago and accepted that the siren voice of self-sacrifice was not worth listening to. It was liberating to give myself permission to accept who I was and what was worth getting out of bed for. I stopped heeding the voices of those who believed there was something wrong with me because I didn't follow the path that so many others did. In the presence of my own clear messages the self-doubt, self criticism and feelings of unworthiness diminished....
Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.References
- Tim Graham. Physician, heal thyself. CMAJ 2021;193:E1601-E1602.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Physician, heal thyselfRE: Physician, heal thyself
I commend Dr Tim Graham for writing so candidly about his struggles with burnout. Acknowledging the need for help and then getting it is hard for any physician. More so if it is for mental health issues. I concur with Dr Graham’s analysis as to why and how physicians “burn out”.Thanks for being so brave and sharing this dark phase of your life with the rest of us and your valuable insight on this topic. It generally gets swept under the rug as physicians are expected to hold it all together at all times.
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Tim Graham. Physician, heal thyself. CMAJ 2021;193:E1601-E1602.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Physician, Heal ThyselfRE: Physician, Heal Thyself
Heart-wrenching, so courageous. Thank you for telling your story. Resonates on so many levels personally and amongst my colleagues. What will it take to make self-care a non-negotiable aspect of our lives, in our profession and our society? We can only teach our patients that which we practice...
Thank you again.
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- V8Z 5T8
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Physician, heal thyselfRE: Physician, heal thyself
Superb courageous article-should be widely circulated including the popular press
and physician websites.
I wish the author and his family continued good health and happiness.
Sincerely, Keith Meloff MD FRCPC(Pediatrics and Neurology)
TorontoCompeting Interests: None declared.References
- CMAJ 2021 Oct 18,193:E1601-2.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Physician, heal thyself.RE: Physician, heal thyself.
This article is extremely well done, much appreciated, and lifesaving. With so many seemingly unsolvable problems in health care at the moment, it could not be more timely. Sometimes medicine seems like the only part of life - it isn't, and we all need to recognize that many other parts of our lives are more important. Thank you Dr. Graham for pointing this out so effectively and empathetically. Best wishes.
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Tim Graham. Physician, heal thyself. CMAJ 2021;193:E1601-E1602.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: The profound and important bravery in sharingRE: The profound and important bravery in sharing
Thank you, Tim, for your openness, bravery, and willingness to share your experience and journey back to a better place. Having trained around the same time in the same place, I know that the support and mentorship for professional, clinical and academic excellence was there, but you are so right... overt sharing about how to build personal resilience and wellness into a deliberate personal practice just wasn't a part of the conversation.
Over the last two decades, there have been too many stories about colleagues who didn't make it out of that dark place, and the lessons learned have been inferred by others 'shocked' at the inexplicable losses.
Your story is an important first-person contribution, as it highlights the learnings that can come from a close call, and the many components of a successful recovery plan. Thank you for sharing, and I hope that many good thoughts and responses come back to you and contribute to your awareness of your many great contributions.
Best to Samina and your kids. A fellow ER doc... Adam
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Tim Graham. Physician, heal thyself. CMAJ 2021;193:E1601-E1602.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Thank you for your honestyRE: Thank you for your honesty
This is such a brave reflection of your struggles - and gives such good insight and advice for those that have shared your challenges. Thank you.
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Tim Graham. Physician, heal thyself. CMAJ 2021;193:E1601-E1602.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Physican Mental HealthRE: Physican Mental Health
Thank you Dr. Graham for your disclosure. Your story echoes much the same of my experience over the last 15yrs. It took quite a bit of coverage but like you i was able to ask for help. I had a great family doctor who worked hard to look after my mental health while i tried to run a solo practice, support my wife and my three boys. It was a struggle trying to work through the side effects of antidepressants and hypnotics; many times i felt like giving up and downing all of them. I persevered nevertheless, and with intense counselling from the Physician Support Program Psychologist i am in remission… not cured. Many times the symptoms return when I am worn down but I am able recognize it early to make the necessary changes to manage my mental health.
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Tim Graham. Physician, heal thyself. CMAJ 2021;193:E1601-E1602.
- Page navigation anchor for RE: Physician, heal thyselfRE: Physician, heal thyself
Dr. Tim Graham thank you for this great article about selfcare.
Thank you for having the courage to share your story. Glad that you got the needed help.
I am writing in response to the quote " Monkey Mind". I had thoughts of whether other words could have been used rather than this quote.
As you might be aware "Monkey" has negative connotation in some of our minority communities. Words do matter.Again, thank you for your courage.
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- Tim Graham. Physician, heal thyself. CMAJ 2021;193:E1601-E1602.