Introduction

 How do you manage time, yourself, your personal and professional relationships?

Doctors are an at risk group for stress related problems. We are very bad at seeking help

The team and therefore the patients suffer when we are below par. To spend time assessing our stress is educationally valid and ultimately of benefit to our patients.        

1.      Symptoms of stress  

Firstly recognize the symptoms of short and long-term stress within you:

• Depression                                                          
• Frustration
• Irritability/Over-reaction
• Aggression/Anger
• Helplessness
• Reduced effectiveness
• Burn-out

2.      Causes of stress

These often relate to workload, changes (clinical, organizational), family stresses, conflict, time management, patients, partners, staff, money etc.

There are 5 main causes of increased stress and anxiety

3.      Know the limit of your stress.

Eventually performance fails to rise with increasing stress, you become less efficient and more stressed

1.      Consider a stress diary (see worksheet section).

• ·        Divide the day by hours

• ·        Record events occurring in each hour

• ·        Rate them from 1-10 on stress and benefit to you

• ·        Reflect on a weeks worth, either as group or individually

• ·        Try to change events that score as high stress and low value!

2.      Alter your working day if possible to avoid stresses.

For instance most surgeries run late. By the end of your surgery you may be late and feel pressure upon yourself (stress value 9), this leads to you working less well (benefit to you 0). Try adding in a half hour break in the middle of your surgery. By the end of surgery you will either finish at the same time as before but no longer be late, or have half an hour to deal with distractions that might normally interfere with your surgery (e.g. telephone calls, signing prescriptions etc.). 

3.      Identify key stressful events and analyse them further: 

• Why was it stressful?

• How did you react?

• What was the outcome?

• How could you have reacted differently?

• What changes could you make?

4.      Become aware of your thoughts as they happen (reflect-in action cf reflect-on action).

•  What are you thinking?

• How are you reacting?

• Identify your negative thoughts. Review them rationally and challenge them. Counter them with positive alternatives

5.      Manage your time better

Break down problems into manageable chunks and review them rationally. Does it matter? Is it really a problem?

6.      Review your attitudes

“Try and see the point of view of those with whom you are in conflict.” 

Use the resources below