Here's some other information on managing stress Beyond Jogging Roy W. Menninger, MD's list of ways physicians can take better care of themselves Suggestions for how to cope with the stress of being sued. They are published here by permission of the author, Flora Johnson Skelly. The very characteristics society values in physicians, because they make better doctors, also make doctors unusually susceptible to the negative effects of stress, experts said. This is manifested in traits such as attention to detail, hyperconscientiousness, deep commitment to the patient, and the ability to absorb and contain anger and other negative feelings. Symptoms may include physical reactions such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and respiratory problems.
Quiet people become quieter, loners become more isolated.
Markedly increased family tensions also are common. Frequently, said Dr. Menninger, any or all of the above symptoms are accompanied by denial by the physician, that anything is the matter. For Dr. Menninger's thoughts on how physicians can take better care of themselves, see Beyond Jogging. Return to summary at the top of the page Healthy relationships as stress buffer Another theme sounded by experts attending this conference was that strong intimate relationships can serve as an important buffer against negative effects of stress. Walton E. Byrd, MD, clinical director of Springbrook Northwest, an addictions treatment center in Newberg, Ore., said the quality of physicians' relationships affects not only their likelihood of becoming chemically addicted but also their chances of a successful recovery.