Taking Care of Ourselves to Better Care for Our Patients: Heeding the Adage, "Physician, Heal Thyself," is No Mean Task (Orthopaedic Risk Manager‪)‬

It seems that physicians are more frequently expressing the sentiment that their joy in the practice of medicine is vanishing. The pressures of practice, liability concerns, and increasing requirements and regulations are some contributory factors. How do we as physicians cope? How can we provide the best care for patients if we do not care for ourselves? We physicians are often reluctant to seek help. We can become our own expert of what ails us. But ignoring the symptoms of substance abuse or denying it as a possibility can lead us to become isolated and fearful of discovery. Even those closest to us might not recognize a problem developing because of our secrecy and unwillingness to talk about ourselves.