Though the person who tweeted that message seems like a tool. I see where he's coming from to a certain extent. My perception is also that ophthalmology is one of the less abusive medical specialties (that said, I'm an ER doc so I don't actually know anything about ophtho training) so if the culture is bad enough that it's damaging to mental health even without dying patients and terrible hours, it suggests there's really rot in the roots (which there is) I also think that could be a barrier to seeking help though too. In medicine, I think we are taught to diminish our suffering because it is very easy to find someone who has it worse. I made it 40 years before acknowledging my own suffering in any way and only did so because COVID made it inescapable.
I said on IG that the rot is on the inside. It comes from the outside (toxic culture, masochism etc), but it's so so so on the inside. Agree about being taught to minimize our suffering. similiar to military culture. I also think the culture of delayed gratification gets us into a lot of trouble: it will be better after medical school, it will be better after intern year, once I'm an attending, etc etc. It never gets better. You have to learn to set boundaries early on, otherwise, even when you do finally have some autonomy as an attending/independently practicing physician, you won't recognize it. I am glad you found your way.
Ooh, I hadn't thought about the role of delayed gratification in this, but that's very true. I do remember thinking in medical school "wait, my real life is happening now". I can't imagine being taught/having role modeled how to set appropriate boundaries in training, but wow, the impact would be incredible.
Yes, it feels to me that the activities that are encouraged in hospital wellness groups are extractive self-care. Like,how can we get you to take good enough care of yourself that we can get you to do even more than you're already doing.
As a person who has struggled with being authentic but not revealing exact trama (consistently a disaster each time I tried! Except once!) I appreciate your thoroughness and firmness!
Pamela I’m so glad it helped you ! And appreciate your use of thoroughness as opposed to just plain long winded 😂 I don’t have an editor here — wheeee. ❤️
Though the person who tweeted that message seems like a tool. I see where he's coming from to a certain extent. My perception is also that ophthalmology is one of the less abusive medical specialties (that said, I'm an ER doc so I don't actually know anything about ophtho training) so if the culture is bad enough that it's damaging to mental health even without dying patients and terrible hours, it suggests there's really rot in the roots (which there is) I also think that could be a barrier to seeking help though too. In medicine, I think we are taught to diminish our suffering because it is very easy to find someone who has it worse. I made it 40 years before acknowledging my own suffering in any way and only did so because COVID made it inescapable.
I said on IG that the rot is on the inside. It comes from the outside (toxic culture, masochism etc), but it's so so so on the inside. Agree about being taught to minimize our suffering. similiar to military culture. I also think the culture of delayed gratification gets us into a lot of trouble: it will be better after medical school, it will be better after intern year, once I'm an attending, etc etc. It never gets better. You have to learn to set boundaries early on, otherwise, even when you do finally have some autonomy as an attending/independently practicing physician, you won't recognize it. I am glad you found your way.
Ooh, I hadn't thought about the role of delayed gratification in this, but that's very true. I do remember thinking in medical school "wait, my real life is happening now". I can't imagine being taught/having role modeled how to set appropriate boundaries in training, but wow, the impact would be incredible.
A med school class on real self-care would be SO much more helpful than re- memorizing the Krebs cycle for the 5th time
But then we might start thinking for ourselves and harder to control , so that powers that be are not incentivized
Yes, it feels to me that the activities that are encouraged in hospital wellness groups are extractive self-care. Like,how can we get you to take good enough care of yourself that we can get you to do even more than you're already doing.
Yup, we just need like 200 of you ;)
You rock. I seriously think your substack is the best. Thanks for doing what you do Pooja!
Aw thank you Carissa. This means a lot to me ❤️
As a person who has struggled with being authentic but not revealing exact trama (consistently a disaster each time I tried! Except once!) I appreciate your thoroughness and firmness!
Pamela I’m so glad it helped you ! And appreciate your use of thoroughness as opposed to just plain long winded 😂 I don’t have an editor here — wheeee. ❤️