Category: Psychiatry

How a nurse’s journey through trauma inspires hope and kindness

A former ICU nurse and close friend told me tonight that she wanted to start the new year on a positive note. I nodded, trying to absorb her optimism, but deep down, it felt like an impossible belief to hold onto. Earlier in the evening, I finished wat…

Mindset matters: a doctor’s New Year resolutions

My exact pre-new year’s ritual varies from year to year, but always involves a period of reflection and goal-setting. Some of these New Year resolutions and intentions have become long-running habits (daily practice with a foreign language app, keeping…

Breaking the emotional flatline: Reclaiming empathy in medicine [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Join us as we explore the emotional toll of high-stakes health care with physician, speaker, and thought leader Pamela Buchanan. Discover her insights on the “emotio…

Doctors reveal the unspoken toll of shame and sacrifice in medicine

It’s capitalism, it’s greed, it’s the hospitals, it’s all those things, but for me, it’s sadness, it’s loss, it’s crying myself to sleep. Lest I sound ungrateful, I am appreciative of the income and career it h…

Is perfectionism something to strive for or heal from?

I used to pride myself on being a perfectionist and high achiever, and I held onto those identities tightly. Today, my diplomas are stored in a box at the bottom of a closet. I recycled the majority of my race medals, and reviewing my CV contributes to…

The hidden grief of Black fathers after pregnancy loss

In the United States, as many as 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage (before the end of the twentieth week of pregnancy) and approximately 1 percent in stillbirth (after the twentieth week, including time of delivery). Parents who experi…

Navigating the ashes: Supporting emotional strength amid the Los Angeles wildfires

As an employee assistance program (EAP) therapist at a hospital, I am often called upon to help people navigate the emotional fallout of life’s most challenging moments. The wildfires devastating Los Angeles bring a unique layer of grief, stress,…

You are already at the table: Letting go of perfectionism in health care

A few years ago, I decided to pursue a PhD. Why … isn’t it obvious? Being a psychotherapist who helps health care professionals navigate burnout and imposter syndrome, raising three teenagers, and holding multiple certifications in everything fro…

How slowing down and finding peace can transform your career

While a new year offers new beginnings, it’s not about scrapping everything and starting fresh. Instead, it means sitting still and quiet long enough to truly appreciate life lessons and use them as fuel for growth. So, here’s what I’…

How slowing down and finding peace can transform your career

While a new year offers new beginnings, it’s not about scrapping everything and starting fresh. Instead, it means sitting still and quiet long enough to truly appreciate life lessons and use them as fuel for growth. So, here’s what I’…