BalancED - ACEP › globalassets › sites › bed › bed...BalancED Wellness Conference. Feb. 19. th. to Feb. 22. nd, 2019. Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai, California. Day 3 – Thursday,

BalancEDWellness Conference

Feb. 19th to Feb. 22nd, 2019Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai, California

Day 3 – Thursday, February 21 11:45am – 1:15pm Workshop

Taking the Next Step Forward Along Our Healing Pathway

Turning Burn-Out into a Burn-Thru

WorkshopFacilitated by

♦ Randall M. Levin, M.D., F.A.C.E.P. - Life♦ Chair, ACEP Wellness Section

♦ 2018-2020♦ [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-Thru

Information presented at this workshop is based on my story, my personal journey from

Burn-out to Burn-ThruRandall M. Levin, MD, FACEP-Life

***No financial conflict of Interests to Disclose


Workshop ObjectivesAttendees at this workshop will be able to:• Define one’s purpose for entering the medical profession• Define what the burning-out process means to them• Describe ways to counter those factors which contribute to

their burn-out• Create a narrative of their own story


♦ Describing the Indescribable♦ “During surgery I feel totally immersed in what is happening. The

more difficult the surgery, the more tense the feeling. Sometimes I feel as if the scalpel, the patient, and I are completely connected as a whole. This is often associated with a sense of reverence. I can’t describe it – it is beyond words. For me, this entire experience is prayer – not something I do or say, but something I feel”

Prayer Is Good Medicine: How to Reap the Healing Be3nefits of Prayer, L. Dossey, M.D., 1996, HarperCollins

But…


-- Sometimes you feel that you are unimportant and lost. You can not find your place in the universe --


-- Sometimes you don’t know what to expect --


-- Sometimes you barely are able to hold on --


-- Sometimes you may feel that you are only there to “clean up the mess” --


-- Sometimes you only want to get away from it all, it doesn’t matter where, just anywhere --


But, with a little help from a compassionate empathetic relationship ………..


… You will be able to look deep into the mirror of your inner self to heal and “paint a self portrait” of your true inner spirit …


If we maintain a healthy pathway to our inner spirit, we can connect to our purpose, our strengths, and

our possibilities


My JourneyQuestion: If I am truly healed through my pathway

why did I burnout ?…Fact #1: Maybe my “Spiritual Healing” and, thereby

in-turn connecting to my spirit, I realized that I was working in a toxic environment – Feeling Trapped

Fact #2: Western medicine has “need” to see data for a treatment modality before being tolerated by colleagues -- Isolation

Fact #3: Medicine is based on the ability to disprove (scientific method) – Awaiting disaster


Fact #4: Why base one’s practice acceptance on “evidence based best practice” (recent push) only Vs a practice outcome based on integrative medicine including beliefs/expectations – Loss of Control

Fact #5: Hospitals and Insurance Companies controlling physicians practice – Feeling of being caught in a whirlpool of indifference

Fact #6: Paternalistic practice of medicine – Loss of Connection

Fact #7: Physical/Mental exhaustion – Lack of enthusiasm


Fact #8: Changing Group Dynamics –Unresolved resentment

Fact #9: Changing Hospital Dynamics –Unresolved Anger

Fact #10: Changing leadership role – Lost of ability to offer input

Fact #11: Medicine is not a perfect science –Do no Harm, Self imposed pressures of a perfectionist


Fact #12: Unable to let down guard – Feeling of impending doom

Fact #13: Purpose conflicting with reality – DepressionFact #14: Loss of protective safety nets – Feeling of

desperation

Burn-out

Healing Pathway Leading to Burn-ThruBurn-out

How do we feel about our true selfIf you take away the defenses, who are we

Definition of Burnout (Maslach)- Slow over a period of months to years,

collection of symptoms associated with emotional exhaustion, cynicism, low self worth

(Versus Compassion Fatigue - acute response to a specific event or patient)

My definition of Burnout: A blockage of who we are as healers (our inner spirit); our altruistic calling


- lack of intensity - lack of enthusiasm- sleep disturbances- getting by with minimal energy- loss of desire to do one’s best- poor performance- unable to get along at work/withdrawal- outward expression of discontent- tardiness, absenteeism- poor concentration

A blocked spirit: Work-place symptoms:


- lack of joy (blocked from altruistic calling)- Sunday night anxiety- Unable to enjoy “relaxation time”- Unable to enjoy “spiritual time”

- cannot separate reality of one’s chaos from the peaceful reality ofone’s spirituality

- Unable to enjoy vacation time

A blocked spirit: Personal-life symptoms


- Anger/headaches/intestinal symptoms- Indifference- Feeling of impending doom- Feeling of resentment- Depression/anxiety/guilt- Substance abuse/aggression/defensive- Marital/relationship break-ups- Realizing Burnout is evolving but can’t

break away from the suction pulling you down

Home relationship problems


However, with negativeinfluence of Outside Factors

80%Self Factors

20%

Spirit

loss

guilt

work place

worry

Our potential abilities based on

our true inner spiritual strength

Schematic Interpretation


Outside Factors80%

Self Factors20%

Spirit

loss

guilt

work

worry

Burnout

Burnout

We lose our ability to cope due to our compressed inner

spirit

Schematic Interpretation


Outside FactorsSelf Factors

Spirit

loss

guilt

work

worry

Burnout

Burnout

When we reach burnout we can expand our spirit back to it’s normal ring of influence through true healing

grieving

acceptanceinner peace

Healing environment

Spirit

XAgain reaching

maximum potential based on our own individual spirit …


Unique Spirit

1/2

indifference

However when “Antigens” block our “receptor sites” – We lose Connection to Others

anger

co-dependency

self abuseUnique

Spirit 1/2

BLOCKED

Personal relationships

Breakup Breakup


Healer spirit

indifference

However when “Antigens” block our “receptor sites” – We lose Connection to Others

anger

resentment

self abusePatient

spirit

BLOCKED

BurnoutBurnout

Healer/Healee


Healer spirit

indifference

However, the “Antibody” of a Healing Modality – Prevents and Opens the Blockage of our inner Receptors

anger

co-dependency

self abuse

compassion

Now able to receive


Healer spirit

indifference

The Antibody Response – Prevents Blockage of Soul Receptors, but to be partially healed leaves the connectedness weak

co-dependency

self abuse

Patient spirit

X

XAreas of bonding


Unique spirit 1/2

Unique spirit 1/2

By dealing with other parts of one’s spirit and allowing for openness to greater healing for self and others

co-dependency

self abuse

Strength Building

Healthy living

Patient spirit

Healing

Areas of bonding


Unique Spirit

1/2

Unique Spirit 1/2

The more complete the healing the tighter are the bonds to self and others

self abuse

Healthy living

Patient spirit

Healing

Individual Strengths

Areas of bonding


Unique Spirit #1

By reconnecting to our inner self and others, we can complete the puzzle and start to realize the beauty and the possibilities

which surrounds us

Unique Spirit #2

Unique Spirit #3

Unique Spirit #5

Unique Spirit #4

Putting the Well-Being

puzzle together

receiving

receiving

receiving

receiving


Unique Soul #1

1/2

As we weather through the storm of burnout, we will see a clearer pathway to our potentials ahead

Unique Soul #1

1/2

Unique Soul #2

Unique Soul #3

Unique Soul #4

Putting the Well-Being

puzzle together

receiving

receiving

receiving

receiving


We all have our stories, will you share yours?

Thank You

Documents

BalancED - ACEP › globalassets › sites › bed › bed...BalancED Wellness Conference. Feb. 19. th. to Feb. 22. nd, 2019. Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai, California. Day 3 – Thursday,