Long hours, high-stakes work environments, and responsibility for life-or-death scenarios are part of an emergency physician’s everyday life. It’s a specialty that unsurprisingly has a high level of burnout.
A recent study of 9,100 physicians across 29 specialties from Medscape on burnout and depression reported that 65% of emergency physicians said they were burned out – the most of any specialty and a sharp 20% increase from 2018.
The survey also found that:
63% of women and 46% of men were burned out
65% of respondents said burnout had a negative impact on their relationships
24% of respondents reported having clinical depression
13% of respondents have considered getting professional help to reduce burnout
28% of respondents cited finances as a source that contributed to depression
If left unaddressed, job burnout can lead to consequences that include excessive stress, fatigue, heart disease, insomnia, and high blood pressure, according to Mayo Clinic. In fact, the Council for Disability Awareness lists mental health issues on its list of top 10 causes for disability.
These are all issues that could compound into more serious injuries and illnesses later in your career, which is why it is crucial for emergency physicians to have a true own-occupation disability insurance policy.
Here are five things you can do today to help you win your life back from burnout:
Admit the problem. A study of successful recovery from severe burnout published in Work & Stress found that admitting the existence of a problem is a critical first step in a 1 to 3 years-long recovery process.
Tell someone. According to the Cleveland Clinic, having a support system can combat burnout. Family, friends, or colleagues can listen to your challenges, help you out with responsibilities that may have fallen by the wayside, or keep you engaged in a social network.
Get financial peace of mind. With nearly 30 percent of physicians reporting finances as a source of depression, knowing whether your income is secure in the event of an injury or illness should be the last of your worries. When you submit a free quote request with Pattern, we’ll do the shopping for you and compare your best disability insurance policy options with no obligation to buy.
Develop good exercise habits. When physicians are looking after the health of others, sometimes their own health takes a backseat. A little bit of exercise can help combat burnout. According to a recent review of the role that physical activity has on mental health, there is enough evidence to suggest that physical exercise improves depressive and anxiety symptoms.
Get some sleep. A University of Michigan sleep psychologist explained there is a difference between being tired and being burned out. If catching up on sleep doesn’t address your feelings of burnout, there may be more underlying issues to address.
Want more tips for battling burnout? Check out Pattern’s blog on cultivating work-life balance.