BalancED Wellness Conference Feb. 19 th to Feb. 22 nd , 2019 Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai, California Day 3 – Thursday, February 21 11:45am – 1:15pm Workshop
BalancEDWellness Conference
Feb. 19th to Feb. 22nd, 2019Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai, California
Day 3 – Thursday, February 21 11:45am – 1:15pm Workshop
Taking the Next Step Forward Along Our Healing Pathway
Turning Burn-Out into a Burn-Thru
WorkshopFacilitated by
♦ Randall M. Levin, M.D., F.A.C.E.P. - Life♦ Chair, ACEP Wellness Section
♦ 2018-2020♦ [email protected]
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Information presented at this workshop is based on my story, my personal journey from
Burn-out to Burn-ThruRandall M. Levin, MD, FACEP-Life
***No financial conflict of Interests to Disclose
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Workshop ObjectivesAttendees at this workshop will be able to:• Define one’s purpose for entering the medical profession• Define what the burning-out process means to them• Describe ways to counter those factors which contribute to
their burn-out• Create a narrative of their own story
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
♦ Describing the Indescribable♦ “During surgery I feel totally immersed in what is happening. The
more difficult the surgery, the more tense the feeling. Sometimes I feel as if the scalpel, the patient, and I are completely connected as a whole. This is often associated with a sense of reverence. I can’t describe it – it is beyond words. For me, this entire experience is prayer – not something I do or say, but something I feel”
Prayer Is Good Medicine: How to Reap the Healing Be3nefits of Prayer, L. Dossey, M.D., 1996, HarperCollins
But…
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
-- Sometimes you feel that you are unimportant and lost. You can not find your place in the universe --
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
-- Sometimes you don’t know what to expect --
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
-- Sometimes you barely are able to hold on --
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
-- Sometimes you may feel that you are only there to “clean up the mess” --
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
-- Sometimes you only want to get away from it all, it doesn’t matter where, just anywhere --
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
But, with a little help from a compassionate empathetic relationship ………..
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
… You will be able to look deep into the mirror of your inner self to heal and “paint a self portrait” of your true inner spirit …
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
If we maintain a healthy pathway to our inner spirit, we can connect to our purpose, our strengths, and
our possibilities
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
My JourneyQuestion: If I am truly healed through my pathway
why did I burnout ?…Fact #1: Maybe my “Spiritual Healing” and, thereby
in-turn connecting to my spirit, I realized that I was working in a toxic environment – Feeling Trapped
Fact #2: Western medicine has “need” to see data for a treatment modality before being tolerated by colleagues -- Isolation
Fact #3: Medicine is based on the ability to disprove (scientific method) – Awaiting disaster
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Fact #4: Why base one’s practice acceptance on “evidence based best practice” (recent push) only Vs a practice outcome based on integrative medicine including beliefs/expectations – Loss of Control
Fact #5: Hospitals and Insurance Companies controlling physicians practice – Feeling of being caught in a whirlpool of indifference
Fact #6: Paternalistic practice of medicine – Loss of Connection
Fact #7: Physical/Mental exhaustion – Lack of enthusiasm
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Fact #8: Changing Group Dynamics –Unresolved resentment
Fact #9: Changing Hospital Dynamics –Unresolved Anger
Fact #10: Changing leadership role – Lost of ability to offer input
Fact #11: Medicine is not a perfect science –Do no Harm, Self imposed pressures of a perfectionist
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Fact #12: Unable to let down guard – Feeling of impending doom
Fact #13: Purpose conflicting with reality – DepressionFact #14: Loss of protective safety nets – Feeling of
desperation
Burn-out
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-ThruBurn-out
How do we feel about our true selfIf you take away the defenses, who are we
Definition of Burnout (Maslach)- Slow over a period of months to years,
collection of symptoms associated with emotional exhaustion, cynicism, low self worth
(Versus Compassion Fatigue - acute response to a specific event or patient)
My definition of Burnout: A blockage of who we are as healers (our inner spirit); our altruistic calling
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
- lack of intensity - lack of enthusiasm- sleep disturbances- getting by with minimal energy- loss of desire to do one’s best- poor performance- unable to get along at work/withdrawal- outward expression of discontent- tardiness, absenteeism- poor concentration
A blocked spirit: Work-place symptoms:
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
- lack of joy (blocked from altruistic calling)- Sunday night anxiety- Unable to enjoy “relaxation time”- Unable to enjoy “spiritual time”
- cannot separate reality of one’s chaos from the peaceful reality ofone’s spirituality
- Unable to enjoy vacation time
A blocked spirit: Personal-life symptoms
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
- Anger/headaches/intestinal symptoms- Indifference- Feeling of impending doom- Feeling of resentment- Depression/anxiety/guilt- Substance abuse/aggression/defensive- Marital/relationship break-ups- Realizing Burnout is evolving but can’t
break away from the suction pulling you down
Home relationship problems
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
However, with negativeinfluence of Outside Factors
80%Self Factors
20%
Spirit
loss
guilt
work place
worry
Our potential abilities based on
our true inner spiritual strength
Schematic Interpretation
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Outside Factors80%
Self Factors20%
Spirit
loss
guilt
work
worry
Burnout
Burnout
We lose our ability to cope due to our compressed inner
spirit
Schematic Interpretation
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Outside FactorsSelf Factors
Spirit
loss
guilt
work
worry
Burnout
Burnout
When we reach burnout we can expand our spirit back to it’s normal ring of influence through true healing
grieving
acceptanceinner peace
Healing environment
Spirit
XAgain reaching
maximum potential based on our own individual spirit …
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Unique Spirit
1/2
indifference
However when “Antigens” block our “receptor sites” – We lose Connection to Others
anger
co-dependency
self abuseUnique
Spirit 1/2
BLOCKED
Personal relationships
Breakup Breakup
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Healer spirit
indifference
However when “Antigens” block our “receptor sites” – We lose Connection to Others
anger
resentment
self abusePatient
spirit
BLOCKED
BurnoutBurnout
Healer/Healee
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Healer spirit
indifference
However, the “Antibody” of a Healing Modality – Prevents and Opens the Blockage of our inner Receptors
anger
co-dependency
self abuse
compassion
Now able to receive
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Healer spirit
indifference
The Antibody Response – Prevents Blockage of Soul Receptors, but to be partially healed leaves the connectedness weak
co-dependency
self abuse
Patient spirit
X
XAreas of bonding
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Unique spirit 1/2
Unique spirit 1/2
By dealing with other parts of one’s spirit and allowing for openness to greater healing for self and others
co-dependency
self abuse
Strength Building
Healthy living
Patient spirit
Healing
Areas of bonding
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Unique Spirit
1/2
Unique Spirit 1/2
The more complete the healing the tighter are the bonds to self and others
self abuse
Healthy living
Patient spirit
Healing
Individual Strengths
Areas of bonding
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Unique Spirit #1
By reconnecting to our inner self and others, we can complete the puzzle and start to realize the beauty and the possibilities
which surrounds us
Unique Spirit #2
Unique Spirit #3
Unique Spirit #5
Unique Spirit #4
Putting the Well-Being
puzzle together
receiving
receiving
receiving
receiving
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
Unique Soul #1
1/2
As we weather through the storm of burnout, we will see a clearer pathway to our potentials ahead
Unique Soul #1
1/2
Unique Soul #2
Unique Soul #3
Unique Soul #4
Putting the Well-Being
puzzle together
receiving
receiving
receiving
receiving
Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru
We all have our stories, will you share yours?
Thank You