Five Signs You Might Need to Focus on Emotional Healing … For Single Mom Physicians and Healthcare Executives
Jan 04, 2024
Emotional healing is the journey to recovery on an emotional and mental level from adverse life experiences. You can't keep tough times from appearing in your life. When you are emotionally healthy and balanced, you deal with those difficult situations that inevitably pop up, and you can move on with your life.
It's essential, especially for single moms in the demanding fields of healthcare leadership and medicine, where professional and personal lives so often overlap.
Recognizing the need for emotional healing can be challenging. Unlike a physical injury like a broken bone, which is visible and palpable, emotional distress can be silent yet equally debilitating.
Here’s how to identify the signs and take action:
- Limited Emotional Range
You have access to 34,000 different and unique emotions. That's what psychologist Robert Plutchik believed. He stated that most of us only experience eight primary emotions most of the time. These are anger, sadness, disgust, trust, fear, joy, surprise and anticipation. Brene Brown teaches similarly.
If only a couple of those are usually present, you probably need more emotional balance. This could indicate that you aren't properly processing situations and human interactions.
As a leader in healthcare, you’re trained to maintain composure. However, if you find yourself experiencing a limited range of emotions, it might be time to seek emotional balance.
Actionable Step: Begin a daily practice of emotional journaling to explore and express a broader spectrum of feelings.
- Low Self-Esteem and Self-Image
This is an offshoot of what we just talked about. You constantly look down on yourself. Despite your education, you might even suffer from “Imposter Syndrome.” It’s kind of ridiculous. You trained for this but … Everyone has times when they doubt their abilities. That's only normal. We recover and move on. The emotionally unhealthy person usually has a low sense of self-worth, even when there is evidence this isn't the case.
In a field that often highlights performance, it’s easy to harbor self-doubt.
Actionable Step: Establish a routine of self-affirmation and seek mentorship from peers who understand the unique pressures of healthcare leadership.
- Trust Issues
A history of professional or personal betrayals can lead to a lack of trust. A lack of trust can also come from emotional imbalance. You must love yourself and truly believe you can overcome a bad relationship experience, or you'll never trust others.
Actionable Step: Engage in team-building exercises and therapy to rebuild trust in both personal and professional relationships.
- Inability to Move Beyond Negative Experiences
Healthcare is rife with high-stakes situations that can lead to negative experiences. Life can be difficult, at times seemingly impossible. It might look like you'll never recover in the middle of the most trying hardship. You will. Don't embrace and hold onto negative emotions. Practice gratitude for the great things in your life. Lean on your support network and get whatever help you need if you can't seem to let go of negative emotions.
Actionable Step: Utilize peer support groups and professional counseling to process these events constructively.
- Constant Anxiety and Stress
Chronic stress is a killer and has been directly linked to many common causes of death. A constant display of stress and anxiety could mean you're not always responding to life correctly where your emotions are concerned.
There is no miracle pill you can pop to always enjoy perfect emotional balance. You will have ups and downs, experiencing difficult times that hurt you emotionally.
For you to live your best life and for those that you love, you need to learn to recognize a negative life experience, give it its due, and then move on. Consider seeking help if you often display these signs of poor emotional health.
Chronic stress can compromise your ability to lead effectively and care for your family.
Actionable Step: Implement stress-reduction techniques like mindfulness, regular exercise, and a work-life balance that includes quality time with your children.
Building a Path to Emotional Wellness
As a single mom physician or healthcare executive, your well-being is crucial not only for yourself but for those in your care, both at work and at home. Recognize the signs of emotional turmoil, take proactive steps to address them, and seek professional help if necessary. By doing so, you create a healthier environment for yourself and set a powerful example of resilience and self-care for your family and your colleagues.
Calling all remarkable women physicians and single moms!
Join our thriving Single Mom MD community today and unlock the support you need to conquer financial challenges, master time management, embrace a positive mindset, and excel in parenting.
Together, we'll elevate each other to new heights of success and fulfillment. Don't wait - your empowered future starts here!
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