Why You May Have Missed Your Own Burnout Diagnosis: Thoughts from a Physician Coach for Introverts in Healthcare

Introverts in Healthcare,

Know yourself.

You’ve had years of medical training. 

Perhaps even decades of clinical practice. 

Your medical knowledge and skills are on point.

You’re a finely tuned diagnostic machine.

And yet, you may have missed your own diagnosis:

Burnout.

As an introvert, inner awareness is your game.

So, how could this happen?

3 Reasons You Might Have Fallen into Burnout as a Introvert in Healthcare

First, there’s a reason sage advice recommends you don’t treat yourself, friends, or family. 

It’s tough to remain objective when you’re immersed in the experience or have a stake in the outcome of the event. It’s easy to lose perspective when you are IN the situation.

For example, based on your training, 36 hours without sleep and only 4 trips to the bathroom in that time might seem somewhat reasonable to you. 

It’s not.

Second, knowing isn’t always the same as KNOWING.

What do I mean by this?

We all do it. We read facts, we understand how the facts relate to others, and yet, we somehow ignore that the same truths apply to us. It’s the unspoken “that can’t happen to me” stance.

This could show up as negative mental health effects resulting from excessive social media use or becoming reliant on frequent alcohol or drug consumption to cope with the daily grind. You may think you’re always in control. But you’re human, just like the next person – even if the healthcare system implies you should be more.

Third, you’ve been too busy caring for patients to learn about the earliest stages of burnout.

It’s easy to spot the mangled wreck on the side of the road, but you may have not noticed the slight thumping in the back of the vehicle that told you the ball-bearings were going bad and the wheel could lock up any minute – even when you’re going 70 miles per hour. 

In this case, what you don’t know CAN hurt you.

The point is, you’d probably recognize end-stage burnout in yourself and others. When systems just shut down and complete mental and physical exhaustion show up, it’s hard to miss.

But what about before that?

Questions to ask yourself if you think you might be suffering from burnout:

There are 12 stages of burnout.

Get to know the earliest signs. Awareness helps you see the struggle in others. More importantly, self-awareness lets you see what’s happening in your own world.

So, how do you know if you’ve missed the diagnosis?

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Do you find yourself feeling like you must always perform faster and better to prove yourself?

Are you working progressively longer hours or taking work home?

Have you started compromising your basic needs, like nutrition, sleep, hydration, and movement?

Is feeling stressed, slightly panicked, or ‘on-edge’ a regular component of your day?

Have you started feeling ‘outside’ of yourself, or as if you’ve become a different person?

Are feelings of irritability, resentment, and cynicism becoming more commonplace for you?

If you find yourself mentally nodding ‘yes’ to the items on this list, it’s time to get honest about what’s happening.

Diagnosing Clinician Burnout

Burnout is sneaky.

The earliest symptoms can be mistaken for passion, drive, and commitment. All seemingly desirable traits to possess as a clinician.

However, once you start down the path, it becomes easier and easier to justify why you’re feeling the way you do. You may blame and shame yourself for not being stronger and more resilient. Worse yet, you may hide what’s happening and not seek support when it’s truly needed.

We all know a missed diagnosis can have the potential for devastating consequences. After all, the list above only describes what you might be experiencing in the first 6 stages of burnout. There are 6 more stages. The harm of burnout is real.

Put yourself in the imaginary patient’s seat.

What are your signs and symptoms telling you?

So You Think You Might Have Burnout

As you know, catching most any condition in its earliest stages makes it easier to help your patients get back on track. 

You aren’t any different. 

If you’re noticing these earliest stages of burnout and prefer to avoid the ‘mangled wreck on the side of the road’ phase, it’s time to get proactive. 

I’d like to help you take that first step toward changing the dynamic. 

Prioritizing your needs as an introvert, playing to your strengths, and creating boundaries are an important part of drawing your line in the sand when it comes to burnout. But, we don’t stop there. Adding in creativity, play, and all the goodies that nourish you as a WHOLE person is essential to your well-being.

Whether you’re just curious or know you want an ally to help you reestablish yourself as a priority in your own life, come find me here to get more info on how I can help.

PS. If you answered ‘yes’ to the majority of the questions above, head to my blog ‘How Introverts in Healthcare Experience The 12 Stages of Burnout’ for a detailed break-down of the 12 Stages of Burnout for Introverts in Healthcare.