Many of us enter medical school having been top of our year group, or at least in the top few. Some of us may never have failed an exam. We start medical school, discover that we are no longer so unique, and find ourselves amongst student peers equally intelligent and high-achieving. I remember being totally … Continue reading Fear of failure. My story
Category: anxiety / depression
“Control the controllables” is what an ex-professional rugby player friend told me when I confessed to feeling anxious. I was reminded of this recently when listening to Patrick McKeown. He talked about a famous Irish rugby player who would get really anxious and lose sleep before a big match, despite many years experience. So what … Continue reading Anxiety: 8 keys things that have helped me
I rediscovered this blog that I wrote a while ago when considering whether or not to return to clinical medicine. I thought it worth posting as I have now returned to clinical practice. In a very small way, but this is something that I never thought I would ever do......This was the start of me … Continue reading Medicine – should I stay or should I go?
Since my breakdown awakening, I have become involved in a number of projects, all linked with health and wellbeing. One of these roles has been working as a GP Clinical Champion for Physical Activity for SE England. In this post (approved by Public Health England), I look at the health benefits of physical activity and … Continue reading Could Physical Activity be our Miracle Cure?
Mental ill-health in doctors is a global phenomenon. Doctors experience more mental ill health and addiction than other professional groups1. The numbers in the UK are high. A recent survey of 600 doctors by the Medical Protection Society (MPS), reported high levels of stress (75%), anxiety (49%), depression (32%) and suicidal feelings (13%) 2. There are higher rates … Continue reading New GP Health service
Winston Churchill famously talked about his “black dog”, a metaphor for the depression, which plagued him for much of his life. For me, the black dog conjures up images of the snarling, menacing, oppressive beast that haunted me when I was younger reading Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Hound of Baskervilles’. All the more sinister in … Continue reading Journeys with the Black Dog
A really inspiring post by Dr Kate Dyerson, a GP principal in Berkshire, who recently went through some struggles of her own. By taking action, she has come out the other side stronger. And thriving. Following on from the stories that other GPs have been brave enough to post I thought it might be time … Continue reading What helped me get back to work. And thrive.
