09/08/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

I couldn’t understand why my latest blog posts never appeared on the front page of this blog. Then I looked up the FAQ support section for word press and fund out what settings to change. Problem solved!A doctor, GP,  feels stressed especially on emergency call days. We discuss various simple ways to reduce her stress. What works best? Stopping caffeine! Sometimes when you tell your patients ways to do things you may forget to take your own advice.Ask or seek help and you may find the solution is simpler than you thought it would be.Other things you can do to feel calmer? In between seeing patients, take a 30 second time out while you take a long slow breath in, breathing in relaxation and a slow breath out as you breathe out any tension. What helps you to be less stressed when you are doing a busy surgery? Please add your comments to the blog  and let others know what helps. 

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23/07/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

Summer is here at last and the school holidays have arrived!  How long does it take you to letthe stress of medical work drift away with the ebb and flow of the tide? As you relax in the sunshine can you let yourself really enjoy your days away from it all. Really nurture yourself. Not just  your body as you eat good nutricious foods and exercise more each day, but also give your mind a holiday too by reading a novel or two. Your spirit needs nurturing too at this time. Enjoy the countryside, appreciate your surroundings wherever you are.

Imagine you are a small child and be playful, laugh and have fun.  And when it’s time to return to your day to day life, you’ll be able to recall those lovely moments whenever  you are fed up with work, when a patient complains or your heart sinks when ‘you know who’ comes into the room.

Just take a second or two and re-connect with the joyful holiday feeling and let the stress just wash out of you with your breath. Take the ‘essence’ of your holiday back home with you and use a ‘drop or two’ just by closing your eyes for a moment and remembering your holiday.

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08/07/2008 by Susan E Kersley.

People who care for others like you may become overwhelmed because you don’t care enough for your own health and well-being.

If you feel lacking in some area of your general well being then put yourself in ‘patient mode’ and go and talk to your GP.

It’s difficult when you have symptoms and self diagnose, particularly if  you assume either the worst or the best scenario.If your body is telling you to slow down then listen to it and take some ‘time out.’This could mean anything from a few days to a few minutes.

So long as you have had the appropriate checks to diagnose or eliminate any serious reason for your feeling of overwhelm or exhaustion then look carefully at your day to day schedules.

Do you go away from your desk for a mid-day break?Do you eat  (proper food), regularly?Take a minute or two between patients to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to release any tension and say an affirmation to yourself.

For example ‘I am relaxed. I deal with whoever comes to see me calmly and efficiently’.

A reminder about Affirmations. These are positive statements said in the first person in the present tense as if what you want is already happening. How do you look after yourself? Please leave a comment on the form below.

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