Signs of physician burnout in yourself
Burnout can be difficult to diagnose because physicians often fail to recognize their own symptoms until the later stages. Complicating matters, burnout mirrors the symptoms of depression even though depression doesn’t always accompany burnout. Although not an absolute, physicians typically follow a four-stage buildup to burnout: fatigue, hindrance, frustration, and withdrawal. This progression might begin with increased fatigue and exhaustion resulting from seemingly endless to-do lists – especially if additional tasks hinder proper completion of a job. Eventually, these barriers can cause frustration, dissatisfaction and a sense of failure, leading to overwhelming feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, indifference, and withdrawal.
If you relate to any of these stages, you may be at risk of, or are currently dealing with, physician burnout. Appropriate courses of action for each respective stage can mitigate the effects of burnout and restore a sense of control.