Stress among doctors is an issue that is always rare in usual discussions. Understanding the stress doctors face and how it affects them can help us to understand behind-the-scenes factors that doctors deal with, and raise awareness of their heavy levels of stress. More importantly focusing on the job factors that create the most significant stress and the way that this stress can be managed can not only help the doctors but anyone who has a stressful job; particularly one that is stressful in the ways that doctor’s lifestyles can be stressful.

Understanding the risk factors

Doctors work many hours, and these tend to be stressful hours. Their shifts are long and filled with strenuous activity. They are often on-call even when not on duty so they may live with the feeling of always being on duty. This can make leisure time feel less relaxing and contribute to an experience of chronic stress.

Another burnout risk factor is the feeling that mistakes are risky – that real and lasting damage can come from a small mistake at work. Moreover, in the life of a doctor, any mistake could be a mistake that is remembered for years, a mistake that ruins lives.

Next risk factor is the concept of perfectionism. Doctors can face the risk of maintaining a perfectionistic attitude in their lives. While this type of thinking can simply be part of the territory for doctors, it can also be damaging in ways that are not always recognized. Perfectionists are people who will beat themselves up over receiving a low A; on a test when a high achiever with a healthier outlook may rightly congratulate themselves for receiving an ‘A’ in the first place.

Over time, perfectionists tend to be far more stressed and even perform more poorly because of this stress – the stress of never quite being enough. They may also succumb to procrastination and burn out more easily as well.

Another layer of difficulty that doctors face is the perception that they must have all the answers, that they should be infallible. If they talk to their colleagues about the stress they face or feelings of burnout, this shows a perceived weakness that many doctors don’t want to show. Out of fear of professional or personal ramifications, many doctors don’t discuss the challenges they face or seek help themselves when they may need support with managing stress. This lack of support can take away a line of defense against stress that doctors sorely face.

The need to face emotionally loaded or draining situations on a regular basis is something that doctors face constantly, and another job factor that puts people at an increased risk for burnout. They need to deal with patients who may be upset or scared, patients who are angry, and they must break the bad news to patients and their family members. This can be particularly taxing for compassionate doctors, and this constant part of the job can take a heavy toll.

Doctors are expected to deal with these emotionally heavy situations with grace and compassionate support, then go directly to the next patient (and the potential for loss) without slowing their stride. This requires a strong level of self-compassion and a supportive network for doctors themselves, but even with those factors in place, the emotional toll of being a doctor can be a big one.

Moreover, doctors can’t usually take a day off if they feel that they’re approaching a state of burnout. They can’t go on vacation and leave their phones off, most of the time. They don’t always have a high level of choice in their day-to-day lives, and this can be stressful as well. Jobs with a higher degree of autonomy – jobs that allow people to choose how they spend their time or freedom in structuring their schedule – tend to be less stressful jobs, but doctors often have their schedules dictated to them with unexpected surprises often appearing as well.

Even the choice to be in the field is one that can feel like less of a choice. Research studies have shown that nearly half of doctors would quit being doctors if they felt it was a viable option for them. This lack of choice can feel particularly stressful.

More to say, doctors face the kind of stress that is less common in a job, and they maintain a promise of confidentiality with their patients, so it may be more difficult to talk about the challenges of their job and their day. For one thing, they’re not able to share everything. But another factor is that their loved ones can’t always relate. This can make it difficult to find social support in the same way that many people find it.

The way forward

·        Minimizing Stressors: While not all types of stress are harmful, too much stress overall can take a toll and lead to chronic stress. This means that the stress of something exciting like a major trip or even a weekly volunteer job can add up.

This also means that the stress of the little things in life – losing your car keys, dealing with a messy home, enduring a draining friend – can also add to the overall stress in your life. Getting rid of them wherever you can leave you with more time and energy to devote to things you enjoy and can leave you with more energy to handle the stress you face at work.

·        Building a supportive network: Social support really helps with stress, especially the right kind of social support. If you feel that your life doesn’t contain enough of this, it’s important to make a change. You can find more people to create positive relationships with. You can work on strengthening the relationships you do have.

You can also join a support group or talk to a therapist; these things can be really helpful for stress management. If you find yourself uncomfortable talking about the stress you feel because you’re afraid of “showing weakness,” this is all the more reason to explore and get over those feelings so you’re able to receive support rather than just giving it.

·        Engaging with patients pragmatically: In the past, doctors were expected to have all the answers, but with the rise of the internet, many patients come in with answers of their own. This can often create more stress and work if patients don’t have accurate information, but it also shows a willingness to be a partner in their own care, which is something that can be encouraged. Doctors should encourage telling their patients what they can do in their lives to improve their health and well-being, enlisting their participation in their own care – this can actually take pressure off the both parties, in the long run.

·        Acknowledging mistakes: It is impossible and unreasonable to expect a doctor – a human being – to never make a mistake, but that’s the pressure that we all often put on ourselves, and those around us can sometimes contribute to this expectation. If you make a mistake, know that you did your best and then let it go and continue to do your best. This may take practice and is a goal that we always move toward, but it’s also important to remember.

·        Practicing self-care: One of the most stressful aspects of being a doctor is that you may not have enough time to take care of your basic needs, and if you don’t, you may be more stressed and less effective on the job. You need to become active in meeting your own physical needs – getting enough sleep, enough exercise, enough healthy food, and enough activities that can help you to manage stress.

Moreover, focusing on self-care and stress management can help you to relate to the challenges your patients face and learn to overcome them so you can better help your patients to do the same.

·        Practicing meditation: Important thing to remember is that the best type of meditation is the type that you will be comfortable practicing regularly. If you don’t already meditate, this is a habit that can help you to detach from the stress around you when you need to – something that is vital for doctors. It can also help you to build resilience to stress. You can try a daily prayer, a gratitude journal habit, a kindness meditation, or a guided imagery meditation at the end of the day, and they will all help if you simply practice on a regular basis.

·        Lifting your mood: Research on resilience and positive psychology has shown that lifts to your mood can broaden your perspective and help you to build resilience in multiple ways. Perhaps the best part of these findings is that doing something as simple as getting ice cream or writing in your gratitude journal – things that put you in a better mood – can bring lasting benefits in the way of personal resilience. Learn how this works and make it a simple and fun part of your daily routine.