Fear is a powerful roadblock. Some doctors experience fear every day at work. This can negatively impact professional growth, as well as patient care. In a recent article and podcast, Dr. Pamela Wible interviews therapist Sydney Ashland about the “Top 10 Fears that Hold Doctors Back.” In this article I’d like to review these common fears, and expand on how to conquer them through the lens of my own personal experience.
10 Fears that Hold Doctors Back
Here are the top 10 fears that hold doctors back (from Dr. Wible’s article):
- Low Self-Confidence
- Financial Concerns
- PTSD/Guilt
- Family Responsibility
- Anxiety & Depression
- Health Issues
- Addiction
- Isolation
- Lack of Direction, Passion, Purpose
- Abuse Cycles
It’s important to understand these fears so we can recognize them in our loved ones, our peers, and ourselves.
Overcoming These Fears
So once we recognize these fears, how do we take proactive steps to overcome them? Here are a few tips:
- Building Confidence. Confidence is the result of success or even the enjoyment of trying something over and over again regardless of outcome. Make regular small achievable goals. Alternatively, know that most highly successful people have “failed” hundreds of times and keep trying.
- Seek Professional Help. If you are struggling with addiction, or experiencing feelings of guilt, PTSD, anxiety, or depression, reach out to a professional for help.
- Take Care of Yourself. Learn to just breathe. Deep breath in through the nose. Deep breath out through the nose. Repeat two more times. Use this at times of stress, sadness, anger, and more.
- Connect with Like-Minded Surgeons. Sharing your experiences with like-minded doctors and surgeons, and hearing their stories as well, can help you feel less isolated and help you regain your passion.
- Use the debt snowball. Dave Ramsey has a strategy that helps you stay motivated to pay off your debt. As with my 8 PRACTICEs methodology, personal and practice wellness is built off of the momentum and confidence created from paying off your smallest debts first.
The 8 PRACTICEs of Highly Successful Surgeons
I myself have dealt with my share of fears throughout medical school, training, and during my time in practice. Using these experiences I developed my signature methodology – The 8 PRACTICEs of Highly Successful Surgeons. This methodology helps doctors and surgeons of all specialties to find balance and rhythm in their daily lives and practices, and also overcome these common fears. Ultimately, it’s all about creating a lifestyle and practice that is sustainable and successful. If you’d like to learn more about the 8 PRACTICEs and how they can help you, feel free to reach out to me at any time.