Do doctors need more support than they have now?
Part of the ‘culture’ of the medical profession is that you are strong enough to deal with whatever you see or hear. But is that true?
Surely as human beings doctors as much as anyone will be more affected by some patients than others. There will be someone about whom you feel particularly upset about, or concerned about as if they were more to you than only a patient passing through your clinical hands.
Have you ever stopped and wondered why it might be that this happens with some and not with others? It can be to to with what Sigmund Freud called ‘transference.’ This happens when something about that person or something they told you connects with something or someone in your own life. You may not be aware of the connection but know that some patients seem very interesting or raise particular concerns for you while others seem to be boring and you are not very interested in what has been happening to them.
Counsellors are always supported by regular supervision from someone there to help them to sort out what issues are the client’s and what are their own. This sort of support could be very useful for doctors too and if you experienced it you might find it difficult to know how you managed before. It is not to do with your standard of practice but about having someone to offload on to, without the fear of recrimination, from a person with whom you don’t have to keep up the front of perfection. Some doctors are beginning to recognise its value.
Perhaps it would be more acceptable for doctors if it had a different name. When you experience the power of support and encouragement rather than demands and intimidation you will be more able to coach your patients to do whatever they need to do, rather than reaching for the prescription pad or becoming exasperated with them.
When someone listens to your concerns and acknowledges them as legitimate, you will become a better listener to your patients and hear more of their underlying issues and be able to empower them too. You will be able to convey to them that they can make a difference to their own lives when they take responsibility for it. Every small change you as an individual make will eventually help to change the system. Take courage and start to care for yourself, much more.
