The Next Big Idea Daily

A Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine

Nov 12, 2024

Jessi Gold, an assistant professor and practicing psychiatrist, shares her insights on the urgent need for emotional vulnerability in healthcare. She reflects on a personal burnout experience that sparked a reevaluation of medical practices. The discussion highlights the detrimental effects of perfectionism and the importance of self-checks for healthcare workers. Jessi emphasizes self-compassion as a powerful tool to combat burnout and advocates for open conversations to create supportive environments in medicine.

09:44

Episode guests

Jessi Gold

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast highlights how healthcare workers often suppress their emotions due to a stigma around vulnerability, contributing to increased burnout rates.

It emphasizes the importance of self-compassion in countering perfectionism among healthcare professionals, helping them to address feelings of inadequacy and enhance their well-being.

Deep dives

The Hidden Struggles of Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers often mask their true feelings behind the standard responses of 'fine' or 'okay,' which fails to reflect their emotional state. This tendency is exacerbated by a culture that stigmatizes vulnerability and equates success with the absence of emotions, leading to high rates of burnout. Before the pandemic, burnout rates among healthcare professionals were already concerning, with studies revealing figures as high as 50%. The pandemic further intensified these challenges, emphasizing the crucial need for healthcare workers to acknowledge their emotional exhaustion and prioritize self-care as a necessary component of effective patient care.

Intro

2min

Understanding Burnout and the Importance of Self-Check for Healthcare Workers

5min

Navigating Burnout: The Power of Self-Compassion and Vulnerability

3min

As an assistant professor, practicing psychiatrist, university wellness leader, and regular media expert, Jessi Gold was used to constant busyness. But when mental exhaustion led her to commit an unthinkable error during a patient session, she was forced to reevaluate everything that the medical system taught her.

📖 How Do You Feel?: One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine