Physician Burnout Treatment: What Are My Options?
Takeaway: Burnout is increasingly widespread amongst medical providers. While the causes of physician burnout are complex and can include factors beyond any one individual’s control, there are things you can do to heal from physician burnout. Here, I’ve rounded up some of the top physician burnout treatments and resources, along with suggestions for preventing physician burnout.
What is physician burnout?
Professional burnout can impact anyone in a high-stress, high-stakes career. However, national studies using the Maslach Burnout Inventory suggest that burnout rates are significantly higher amongst physicians compared to people in other fields. As a clinical psychologist who specializes in physician burnout, I know this from first-hand experience.
All medical professionals are at risk for burnout, including primary care physicians, surgeons, ER physicians, hospitalists, ob/gyn physicians, and more. Furthermore, providers on the front lines are considered the most at risk of experiencing physician burnout.
Although burnout is not a clinical diagnosis, there are some common factors that define burnout.
Physical and emotional exhaustion are a primary part of physician burnout. Working long hours, being on call, a high pressure work environment, and intense patient cases are just a few of the factors contributing to the chronic exhaustion that leads to burnout.
Another facet is cynicism (also sometimes called depersonalization). Burned out physicians might feel like they are just going through the motions or feel constantly jaded and pessimistic. You might find yourself constantly feeling resentful, sarcastic, and “imposed upon” by patients. You might have thoughts like “What’s the point?” or “I hate my patients”, etc. This can make it hard to be present and connected with oneself and others, and if burnout goes unaddressed for long enough, patient care can suffer as a result. Feeling cynical, pessimistic, and jaded can also contribute to other common symptoms of physician burnout such as compassion fatigue, depression, and anxiety.
Finally, healthcare providers experiencing burnout also begin to have a reduced sense of accomplishment. When this goes on for long enough, you likely feel deeper losses in happiness, meaning, and purpose in life. This can be incredibly distressing since many physicians enter the medical field for a couple common reasons: 1) desire to help others, and 2) having innate tendencies to thrive at peak performance in stressful circumstances. However, the constant stress and exhaustion that maintain burnout can make it hard to feel connected to why you entered the field of medicine in the first place.
Common physician burnout symptoms
While exhaustion, cynicism, and loss of happiness and meaning are some classic characteristics of burnout, they are not the only signs that providers experience.
Many providers also experience impacts on their physical well-being such as frequent headaches, sleep problems, muscle tension, lack of physical energy, and stomach problems.
Aside from physical symptoms, physicians experiencing burnout are also at risk for mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, and more. Stigmas about mental health struggles within medicine and fear of professional repercussions often make it even harder for physicians experiencing depression or anxiety to seek help.
These unfortunate barriers to seeking help likely contribute to physician suicide rates being tragically higher than the rest of the population as well. Studies suggest that suicide rates among male physicians are 40% higher than males who aren't medical providers, while rates are 130% higher for female physicians.
Other signs can include difficulties with healthy boundaries, loss of interest in hobbies and personal interests, and negative effects on personal relationships such as your spouse, kids, friends, and community. I discuss symptoms of physician burnout in more detail here in this blog post.
Contributing factors for job burnout in physicians
Physician burnout is complicated, and there isn't just one factor that leads to burnout in health professionals. Individual, organizational, and societal influences all play a role in physician wellness too, for better or worse.
Working as a physician is inherently stressful. The daily realities of being a doctor involve a brutal combination of high-stakes responsibility for your patients and little to no control over outcomes once patients leave your office. All this, paired with the sheer fact that you’re caring for sick, struggling people all day, is a recipe for sapping your energy on all cylinders–physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
The grueling pressures of medicine, with its long hours and demanding responsibilities, can make it really easy for physicians to put their personal desires and priorities on the back burner. Medical training, plus the types of workaholic personalities that medicine often attracts, can all reinforce habits that make it difficult to maintain healthy work-life balance. All of this creates an ideal recipe for physician burnout.
There are also the bureaucratic responsibilities that medical providers have for patients' health and wellness that patients so often aren’t even aware of: burdensome electronic health records, the crazy-making mazes of navigating insurance processes, the fears of litigation and legal landmines, etc. These administrative and bureaucratic pressures are one of the top contributors to physician burnout, which can then increase the likelihood for medical errors and poorer patient outcomes. Burdensome policies at specific healthcare organizations, as well as the nightmares of local and national politics, can also negatively impact physician well-being.
Many medical providers also experience secondhand traumatic stress from their jobs. Though any healthcare worker can witness traumatic events, those working in emergency medicine may be at a greater risk. One study found that job satisfaction may be a predictor of secondary traumatic stress symptoms, further highlighting the importance of reducing burnout in physicians. Physicians experiencing vicarious trauma from their jobs may especially benefit from specialized therapy to help emotionally integrate ongoing exposures to trauma at work.
Sadly, burnout cuts across all levels of training and career stages for physicians–medical school, residency training, and beyond. Research shows that nearly half of all physicians experience burnout at some point in their careers. Up to 50% of students in medical school are experiencing burnout, and around 10% report experiencing suicidal thoughts. These trends seem to worsen in residency, with upwards of 75% of residents experiencing physician burnout, depending on the specialty. And once done with training, studies sadly show that at least a third or more of physicians report burnout symptoms, with the numbers trending even higher for certain specialties. Without proper education and intervention around the signs, risks, and contributing factors of burnout, physicians will continue to suffer.
Environmental and structural factors play a big part in creating burnout. However, there are also individual differences that could contribute to burnout. Many physicians enter the field out of a selfless desire to serve others. While that is admirable, it can also make it difficult to prioritize your own needs. When you derive meaning and self-worth from helping people, you may be more inclined to neglect yourself in the process, which can be a tragic and inevitable recipe for physician burnout.
Strategies to treat and reduce burnout among physicians
It is possible to address burnout in a meaningful way, despite all the barriers stacked against you. Here, I've rounded up different strategies, tools, and resources that can help you combat physician burnout and get more fulfillment from both your work life and your personal life.
Prevention is just as important, so I've also included some considerations for preventing physician burnout altogether.
Remember, each of these are singular tools in your burnout recovery toolkit. None of these strategies will solve burnout alone. However, when used in combination, they put you on the path to healing.
The most important takeaway is this: you must prioritize yourself. As we've discussed, burnout is born from the combination of a high-stress career, structural factors, and personal vulnerabilities.
While you might not be able to control some of the larger factors at play, you do have some power. These strategies are small ways to help you find meaning and happiness outside of your role as a physician.
Physician burnout treatment approaches
Like many health-related issues, there is no one size fits all approach to treat physician burnout. It's important to find what works for you. Here are a few suggestions to help you start your burnout recovery journey.
Identify that you're experiencing burnout
The first step to address physician burnout is acknowledging that you are experiencing burnout. While this seems simple, it can be much easier said than done. There can be stigma around medical professionals struggling with mental health, so it can be difficult to be honest with yourself and others about how you're feeling. Ask yourself honestly whether you are experiencing some of the common symptoms of physician burnout, and based on that self-awareness, start taking the necessary steps to recovering.
Focus on physical well-being
Taking care of your physical body is a key strategy for reducing burnout. As a physician, you're aware of the benefits of physical activity. Consistent physical activity has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and increase energy levels.
I know that it can feel challenging to find the time or energy when you’re already so burned out. Nonetheless, moving your body in any way (no matter how small) can be a powerful way to take care of yourself. It can be as simple as going for a walk around your neighborhood. The important thing is to find an activity that you enjoy and that you can do consistently.
Prioritize your hobbies
Having an intense, high powered career can leave little time or energy for pursuing your passions outside of work. Beyond the time constraints from a busy schedule, having your identity wrapped up in your work can push hobbies to the back burner.
However, reconnecting with activities you enjoy outside of work is an important component of burnout recovery. Whether that’s hiking, painting, or just tending to your houseplants, anything you find relaxing and pleasurable can make a difference. Hobbies can help you reconnect to your purpose beyond your career and create more balance in your life.
Sometimes, physicians can struggle to know what their hobbies are after experiencing burnout for so long. In those cases, specialized therapy for physician burnout can be a powerful first step to reconnecting to yourself.
Use stress management techniques
There are a number of in-the-moment stress management techniques that can help alleviate burnout and increase resilience among physicians. Mindfulness meditation, grounding skills, and breathing techniques are all examples of small ways you can manage your stress. Many of these can be used at work or home, making them a valuable resource to combat burnout.
Try therapy for burnout
One of the most effective ways to address physician burnout is through therapy or counseling. Therapy provides a safe and supportive space to talk through the challenges you are facing and to work on developing strategies to manage stress and improve your well-being.
As a clinical psychologist who specializes in providing therapy for medical professionals, I’ve seen firsthand how helpful therapy can be for physicians like you. Working with a burnout therapist can help you process the stress–including potential secondary traumatic stress–and other common symptoms of physician burnout that may be contributing to your suffering.
Many physicians are hesitant to seek therapy because they worry about the stigma attached to seeking mental health support. However, it is important to remember that therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Therapy can also help you understand your own patterns and beliefs that may make you vulnerable to burnout. From here, you can implement changes that help you care for yourself in a meaningful, sustainable way.
Practice gratitude
Part of burnout is feeling disconnected from your work. You might worry that you're no longer having an impact, which can leave you feeling cynical and distant. Acknowledging those feelings is important. In response, it can be helpful to also remind yourself of all the good you do. Intentionally reflecting on the parts of your job (and the rest of your life) that you enjoy can help you have a more balanced mindset.
Acknowledging your own limits can also be a part of an intentional gratitude practice. When you’re able to own what you’re capable of–and make peace with what you don’t have control over–you can reduce the extent to which you’re carrying the burden of external and systemic pressures.
Connect with your spirituality
Attending to your spiritual health is another important part of healing from physician burnout. Everyone has a spiritual life, regardless of whether they ascribe to a faith system or not. It can be defined as a connection to something larger than oneself and can encompass a wide range of beliefs and practices.
By attending to your spiritual health, you may also cultivate a deeper sense of connection to something bigger than yourself, whether it be a higher power, nature, or a sense of interconnectedness with others. This can provide perspective, grounding, and resilience that can be helpful in managing the demands of your work to help reduce your burnout.
Set new boundaries
As a physician, you face tons of demands on your time and energy–long hours, high-stress situations, and constant pressure to perform at your best. Without clear boundaries, it can be easy to become overwhelmed and feel like you have no control over your work or personal life.
Setting healthy boundaries can help you establish limits on your time and energy, which can help you better manage the demands of your job and reduce burnout. This can involve setting limits on your work hours, delegating tasks when appropriate, learning to say "no" when you need to, and much more.
Can your employer be flexible with work schedules? Can you ensure that you have a lunch break every day? Do you need to work on setting emotional boundaries in and out of work to prevent compassion fatigue? Determine where you can take back control.
Setting boundaries does not mean you are being selfish or unprofessional. In fact, setting healthy boundaries can actually make you a more effective and efficient physician, as you'll be better able to manage your time and prioritize your responsibilities. It's important to communicate your boundaries to your colleagues and supervisors–and to be willing to negotiate when necessary.
Engage in physician burnout coaching
Physician burnout coaching programs can be a powerful tool in your armory against burnout. Physician coaching programs are designed to provide individualized support and guidance to physicians by providing a safe and confidential space to identify sources of your burnout and develop strategies for managing these challenges.
Several physician-specific coaching groups exist, but one of the most successful physician burnout coaching programs out there is TheHappyMD. TheHappyMD is an evidence-based coaching program designed to help doctors recover from physician burnout. It offers one-on-one coaching and community support to help physicians manage the unique dilemmas of physician life that contribute to burnout, including long work hours, exhaustion (physical, emotional, and spiritual), crumbling work-life balance, and compassion fatigue.
Some of the benefits of this program include improved resilience, increased job satisfaction, improved work-life balance, increased self-awareness, better communication with patients, and reduced stress and burnout symptoms. The program also provides a supportive community of like-minded physicians who can offer guidance and encouragement to help each other overcome burnout.
By working with a physician coach, doctors can gain a better understanding of their personal values and priorities, which can help them make more informed decisions about their careers and personal lives. Physician burnout coaching programs also have the potential to improve patient care and ultimately lead to a more sustainable healthcare system.
Join a physician-specific support group
Joining a physician support group can be another powerful way to address physician burnout. Support groups provide a safe and confidential space to connect with others who are facing similar challenges in their professional and personal lives.
It can be incredibly healing and validating to give and receive support from other doctors like you who deeply understand the realities of physician life. Support groups can be a source of comfort, community, inspiration, and hope to help you feel less alone in your struggles. They can also serve as an act of ongoing self-care, just as things like exercise and good nutrition do.
Resources for even more physician burnout solutions
The American Medical Association has a resource page with pandemic-specific suggestions and solutions to address burnout among medical professionals. However, many are applicable for life beyond COVID-19. Many are organization-directed interventions that can have a significant impact on large groups of people.
The American Academy of Family Physicians also offers information about provider burnout. There are articles to help you learn more about burnout, as well as resources and suggestions for organizations.
The Physician Support Line is a free and confidential phone line that provides mental and emotional support to physicians. The line is staffed by volunteer psychiatrists to help physicians who may be facing challenges such as stress, anxiety, burnout, and grief. The program offers a safe and non-judgmental space where doctors can discuss their struggles. Physicians can call the support line 24/7 from anywhere, which makes it a convenient and accessible resource for them.
As mentioned earlier, TheHappyMD is an excellent physician coaching program for helping doctors struggling with burnout. The program, in addition to the website itself, has a wealth of tools and resources for improving your burnout including one-on-one coaching, online courses with CME credits, a community of like-minded physicians to learn and grow with, and a related book (Stop Physician Burnout: What to Do When Working Harder Isn't Working).
It’s well-established that financial stress and the changing financial landscapes within medicine are major contributors to physician burnout, stress, and anxiety. The White Coat Investor is a website and blog dedicated to helping physicians manage their finances, reduce debt, and achieve financial independence. By becoming more financially literate and taking charge of their financial health, physicians may be better able to manage work demands and achieve greater overall well-being. The White Coat Investor is a valuable tool for physicians who are looking to address and prevent burnout by addressing their financial health.
Lastly, your workplace may offer resources to help address burnout, but as my experience with physician clients in therapy has shown, the quality of these programs can vary. Many organizations have access to wellness resources and programs for their employees (e.g., peer support groups, gym membership discounts). It could be worthwhile to ask your hospital or health organization if they have resources for physician burnout.
Preventing physician burnout
It's crucial for individual physicians to prioritize own well-being. However, broader systemic change is also necessary to prevent and reduce physician burnout on a larger scale. If physician burnout isn't addressed in a widespread manner, doctors, patients, and the entire health care system may continue to suffer the consequences.
Burnout education must be a mandatory part of medical school, residency training programs, graduate medical education, and beyond. Medical schools and residency programs often neglect teaching students about caring for their own occupational and mental health, so this needs to be a priority in preventing clinician burnout.
Health systems, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations also need to prioritize physician satisfaction. Many organizations are seeing increased physician turnover, which can be both a cause and effect of physician burnout. Shifting policies, schedules, and benefits can all help alleviate stress amongst providers, which can then improve job satisfaction and even patient outcomes.
Physicians deserve to have a fulfilling, balanced work life that supports a healthy personal life as well. Patients are better taken care of when their physicians are healthy and thriving.
Get personalized physician burnout solutions from a therapist for doctors
As you can tell, burnout is a complex phenomenon with many different causes, symptoms, and potential solutions. Being informed is essential, though I know that all of the information and resources can be overwhelming.
When you're in the midst of burnout, it can be incredibly difficult to figure out how to start the path toward recovery. As a therapist for doctors, I've helped with dozens of providers in your exact same situation.
Physician counseling can give you the support you need (and deserve) to help you heal from burnout. Whether you're an early career attending or are a seasoned physician who has worked in the field for years, I'm here to help.
Together, we can explore the patterns or behaviors that may contribute to your burnout. While individual work isn't a solution for systemic issues, we can create real change that will transform your relationship with work and help you achieve the balance you crave. I encourage you to reach out today to schedule your complimentary consultation.