The ADHD Social Playbook Being Authentically You with Dr. Jessica Ching [Part 1]
Jul 8, 2025
Dr. Jessica Ching, a researcher focused on physician mental health and authenticity, delves into how masking and compartmentalization can lead to burnout. She shares personal stories, including the impact of a colleague's suicide on her research. The conversation highlights the importance of authentic living and reintegration in preventing burnout. They also discuss the challenges of self-alienation among physicians and the parallels with neurodivergent experiences. Jessica emphasizes the need for psychological safety to foster authenticity in healthcare settings.
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Colleague's Suicide During COVID
- Dr. Jessica Ching describes a close colleague's suicide early in the pandemic and the surreal aftermath.
- The university response felt brief and people reverted to routine while still overwhelmed and without vocabulary to process it.
Compartmentalization Needs Reintegration
- Compartmentalization helps professionals function but becomes harmful when reintegration doesn't occur.
- Debriefing or processing emotions prevents prolonged compartmentalization and reduces burnout risk.
Build Regular Debrief Routines
- Create routine debriefs and emotional check-ins after stressful events to process feelings and reintegrate experiences.
- Use institutional supports like drop-in coaching or documented coaching to bypass stigma and improve access.