I know what I’m about to say is unpopular, and maybe even controversial within our field — but I need to say it. I’ve been a nurse for 18 years. I care deeply about my patients, and I care about the future of this profession. But I’m …
Category: Psychiatry
Why the fear of being forgotten is stronger than the fear of death [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Retired surgeon, psychotherapist, and author Patrick Hudson discusses his article, “Why we fear being forgotten more than death itself.” The conversation explo…
Why coaching is not a substitute for psychotherapy
Professional coaching can contribute to personal growth and development by providing encouragement and support using a handful of simple techniques designed for deepening exploration in a co-created working relationship. Focuses can be wide ranging and…
Why doctors stay silent about preventable harm
The first rule of being a doctor is not “do no harm.” It’s “mind your own business.” You won’t find it in the ethics textbooks. It’s not part of any formal curriculum. But ask around—quietly, privately—and most…
Why gambling addiction is America’s next health crisis
The next major health epidemic in the U.S. will not come from a pathogen. This plague has a potential patient population in the tens of millions, limited effective treatments, and is not widely studied in the medical community. I’m referring to s…
When did we start treating our lives like trauma?
When I was working full time in emergency medicine, I didn’t think much about the systems in my personal life. I had just enough clarity to show up for the next shift, keep my kid fed, work out, stay married, and try to remember where I parked th…
Medicalizing burnout misses the real problem
The solution to the physician burnout crisis isn’t more diagnoses or interventions. The antidote isn’t more modules, surveys, screenings, or questionnaires. What’s needed is cultural healing: One that we have so far been unwilling and…
Why some doctors age gracefully—and others grow bitter
“Some people learn. Some don’t. For the former, growing old is a joy. For the latter, it is hell.” I’ve seen both. In exam rooms, break rooms, ORs, and coaching sessions. One physician softens—more present, less defended. Another hard…
How the cycle of rage is affecting physicians—and how to break free
Disclosure: This should not be considered as evidence-based mental health literature. These are the observations of a surgeon with extensive experience being angry. Introduction Many physicians are finding themselves strained from ongoing sociopolitica…
Why ADHD in adults is often missed—and why it matters [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Anesthesiologist Maire Daugharty, who expanded her expertise by earning a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, discusses her article “Why ADHD…
