fbpx

Emotion Makes Us Human, Even When Treating Other Humans

Emotion Makes Us Human, Even When Treating Other Humans

Diana Londoño, MD writes that emotions is what makes us human. It is not a weakness to acknowledge and process them, she writes, but the essence of our humanity.

I have often found myself (as a med student, resident, or beyond), wondering why, in a place we call healthcare (riddled with huge emotions), we have not been taught, or are not allowed, to discuss our own emotional response to what we witness.

It could be because I was raised in Mexico. We tend to be a very expressive culture, with a rich language that includes double meanings to common words, a play on words, big emphasis on humor to many situation, and a welcoming place to voice an array of emotional states.

However, in medicine, many times I felt as if we were taught to push through motions, move on, never get too involved, and continue.

I can see a benefit to not getting caught up with every pain, sadness, anxiety of every patient, as this will leave us drained.

However, our interactions with patients, our struggles, our patient complications we experience, sexism, racism, abuse, implicit bias, exhaustion from long hours produces a plethora of feelings we don’t seem to have a place to discuss in healthcare.

 

In #medicine, many times I felt as if we were taught to push through motions, move on, never get too involved, and continue. Click To Tweet

 

We make so much time to discuss research, complications, metrics etc, but even within those meetings there is zero built in time to check with each other.

I often wonder why.

Why is this ok?

Do we truly think we don’t have time, this is not a place, all our experiences are not affecting us in some way?

 

All unprocessed emotions and feelings have a way to show themselves in one way or another.

Whether we then use drugs, alcohol, eating, social media, buying material things, we find a way to distract ourselves from dealing with our emotions and keep on marching.

Again, a good solider has no time to step out of the marching line and rest.

We have a goal to reach, a metric to achieve.

Stopping to take care of us somehow states we are not a team player, others are waiting and marching and we must continue.

The irony is that in a team, we need to make sure everyone is well before we can continue.

 

The irony is that in a team, we need to make sure everyone is well before we can continue. Click To Tweet

 

This holiday season, I hope we stop and think about all the things we are feeling and check in with ourselves.

Holidays tend to bring up many feelings, anxiety, dread, excitement, hope, peace or a mix of all.

Check in with yourself and colleagues because we have done 20 months of COVID and I am still waiting to see where is the discussion of how we all are? How are we coping? What are we doing?

I hear lots about metrics on appointments, closures, changes, or staff. But healthcare has not left a place for us to discuss what makes us human: our emotions.

I hope these holidays it will give you pause to embrace what makes us human in medicine. Emotions are not a weakness. Acknowledging them, finding out what they are, expressing them is so important as again, they will find a way to surface.

Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on SoMeDocs? Find out what we’re looking for here and submit your writing, or send us a pitch.

Share

Earn CME

This learning experience is powered by CMEfy - a platform that brings relevant CMEs to busy clinicians, at the right place and right time. Using short learning nudges, clinicians can reflect and unlock AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sherita D. Gaskins-Tillett, MD

11/02: A Weekend For Me

A Weekend For Me is a time-out for professional women to rest, reconnect with themselves, define their priorities and vision a life that they love.

Affiliate ad

Earn CME

This learning experience is powered by CMEfy - a platform that brings relevant CMEs to busy clinicians, at the right place and right time. Using short learning nudges, clinicians can reflect and unlock AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.

Tweet Me

More from SoMeDocs

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get updates and learn from the best

The True Art of Medicine

The Crafting Doctors

Doctors do some incredible work outside of the exam room. Some even craft! Take a peek at some of our highlighted doctors, here, in this series.

David Norris, MD, MBA

Negotiate as a Physician and Win

Catch this 8-part series, hosted by physician & business consultant David Norris, MD, MBA & produced by Dana Corriel, MD. Learn to be a stronger negotiator with these important tactics.

My “Go To” Spices for Indian Food: Beginner’s Guide

The Doctor’s Food

In honor of our upcoming virtual Lifestyle Medicine conference, we thought it would be fun to share some of what doctors eat (and prepare!), released regularly. Bottoms’ up!

Want More?

Be a part of the healthcare revolution.
Don't miss a thing SoMeDocs publishes!

Disclaimer: SoMeDocs assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, claims, or content of the individual experts' profiles, contributions and courses. Details within posts cannot be verified. This site does not represent medical advice and you should always consult with your private physician before taking on anything you read online. See SoMeDocs' Terms of Use for more information.

follow us

© 2023 SoMeDocs. All Rights Reserved.

Support A Platform that Celebrates Real Doctors

For just $10 a month, you can help keep this openly accessible site available to all & help us sponsor in more doctors.

Interested in the must-read, unique content from our magazine?

I acknowledge that this site is not to be used for medical advice.

Play Video
Our Founder Answers Your BURNING Question

SoMeDocs

“Why should I become a member of SoMeDocs if I already have my own space online?”

What We Bring to the Practice of Medicine

We feature books!

And they’re written by experts!

Site SoMeDocs Logo, square

WANT TO STAY IN THE LOOP?

DON'T MISS A SINGLE CONTENT PIECE.