WEBINAR: PSYCHOTHERAPIST ANSWERS THE MEDICAL SPECIALISTS
Stress at the workplace is among the most significant problems of modern society and as far as medical specialists are concerned – in recent years it became widespread. The COVID-19 pandemics put the medical workers in professional circumstances in which they had to cope with extreme, sometimes unbearable burden, lack of diagnostics and treatment algorithms, environment with inherent danger of high degree, significant shortage of personnel…
All this resulted in the drastic increase of the professional burnout syndrome. “Astra Forum” Foundation initiated open discussion in which the medical workers had the opportunity to directly share how stress at their workplace impacts their quality of life and refer their question to the psychotherapist Teodora Milotinova. In the platform CredoWeb they discussed the topic about professional burnout and the manners to cope with the high stress levels, and announced the therapeutic groups for doctors that “Astra Forum” Foundation arranges regularly. The groups are being led by licensed specialists of the Bulgarian Psychotherapy Association.
Momchil Baev, doctor of medicine, chairman of the Foundation, clarified that everyone who works in healthcare, is situated in the city of Sofia and would like to joint the therapeutic group for “burnout” prevention could enrol as a participant. Up to 20 people could subscribe in the therapeutic sessions that would be divided into two groups. There is no age limitation of the participants.
Teodora Milotinova started the conversation with interpretation of psychotherapy.
“To me it is a knowledge, curiosity towards oneself. One who knows himself after getting to his or her sensitivity, could manage the processes in his life. Then he or she would not burn out and cross the borders.”
When we are not curious about ourselves the risk of getting in the trap of exhaustion is very high, she believes. “Psychotherapy is a space in which we search our own process yet in everyone’s case this process is very individual.”
According to specialist’s words, group therapy is a very special thing and everyone who got in touch with it, could not go away easily. Milotinova explained that during it we could learn a lot about other people and the others. Group therapy helps us be aware of the problems surrounding us, we get the notion they are not just our own, other people encounter the same difficulties.
She told that in the groups she leads every lecturer brings some cases to solve. “When he tells about some situation and gives example of his practice, the others help in searching for a solution. Everyone shares an opinion and this supports workers in the sector.”
THE STIGMA RELATED TO PSYCHIC HEALTH
Psychotherapy is still believed to be for “crazy people”.
The stigma related to psychic health is a serious and significant problem.
There is public unfavourable attitude accompanied by superstitions that brings about negative stereotypes and discrimination towards people looking for assistance in achieving psychic well being. Psychotherapy is rediscovering oneself, and it takes bravery and boldness, the psychotherapist added.
“The people going to a psychotherapist are people who try living in hygienic manner, while taking care after themselves. These are people who evaluate how important it is to be in harmony with themselves.”
SHOUTS IN “COMMUNICATION”
During the webinar, doctor Viktor Iliev raised the issue about shouting in doctors’ everyday work. He himself said he had often encountered this problem and is working on avoiding this manner of “communication”.
Teodora Milotinova explained that oftentimes we do not know the emotions and cannot control ourselves.
“Shouting is quite elementary, at prima vista, it is a manifestation of impotence. After helplessness arrives, next comes shouting.”
“Everyone chooses where to work. Probably no post-graduate student or student is aware of the environment awaiting him. He or she goes to a “Hospital” – place where there is pain. People go there because something hurts them, they suffer, they do not go there because they are happy (except for the OB departments)”, Milotinova declared.
She presented the example as if going to the battlefield and becoming surprised you are at the battlefield.
DOCTOR-PATIENT COMMUNICATION
Doctor Viktor Iliev defined communication between doctors and patients as short circuit. One party says “doctors behave in rude and unmannered way” and the other party “patients treat us aggressively.
Nevertheless, the psychotherapist reminded us that there is something essential we do not notice. “Being a professional in one sector does not make you a person that can communicate. The patient when going to the doctor is in regression. It is because the patient is there because of some suffering, some pain.
The situation is similar – as if a child going to a parent. The parent is responsible for child’s behaviour. Oftentimes the parent gets blamed for not teaching the child the right habits.”
The doctor should realize that he or she is also responsible for some reactions on behalf of the patients, Milotinova declared.
“Here it is psychotherapy’s turn. If one knows him- or herself, he/she exercises this process for his or her feelings – he/she would know the feelings of the others.”
The specialist in psychotherapy closed the event with message to the audience. “It is everyone’s personal responsibility to take care after him- or herself. We cannot expect someone else to do it for ourselves.”
