Do you need help healing from burnout as a healthcare professional? Are you wildly frustrated with the healthcare system and its lack of emphasis on TRUE health and well-being? Did you enter medicine because you thought you could really make a difference and help people? Are you slowly and painfully realizing these ambitions aren’t possible within the current healthcare system?
My guest this week Dr. Siri Chand Khalsa struggled with this exact same disappointment. After 20 years of practicing medicine in the traditional setting, trying to innovate from the inside, she finally hit a breaking point. She left corporate medicine to pursue alternative healing modalities.
In this episode, you will learn all about the ancient study of Ayurveda and how this system can be used to facilitate true healing.
We talk about:
- How the current medical system is incongruent with the concept of TRUE health
- Daily choices you can make to nourish your body
- How to take advantage of the positive energy of the earth to facilitate healing
- How to use the principles of Ayurveda to recover from burnout.
Use the audio player above to listen, or tune in on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
Studying Ayurveda While Healing From Burnout
Siri struggled through her pre-med days and experienced stress-induced health issues. She was introduced to Ayurveda when she took a break from school and worked at a metaphysical bookstore. Studying Ayurveda during this break helped her in healing from burnout. Learning about Ayurveda provided her with clarity on what she wanted to pursue in medicine and science. She wanted to incorporate this ancient healing system into her practice, even though this is not normal in the Western environment and paradigm.
Coming from a background that fostered curiosity, Siri initially became interested in Ayurveda to find an alternative cure to her stress-related health problems. She appreciates that Ayurveda originated from a long history of case studies that built up its ancient knowledge system.
Leaving corporate medicine
At some point, Siri realized that the system would never meet her in the innovation that she wanted to deliver. Even when it was fiscally responsible, no one would have discussions with her about remodeling and how care was provided. Management kept trying to push directives that were unfair and she ultimately had to make a move to prioritize her career and mental health. Healing from burnout wouldn’t be possible for her if she stayed in the traditional corporate setting.
“This healthcare system is SO broken. I really thought, all those years ago when I was starting out that I was going to be able to make a difference and be a leader in change. So [coming to this realization] was really painful for me. “
Healing from burnout during COVID 19
After she decided to leave her clinical practice, Siri experienced a great loss with the sudden death of her father. During this time, she underwent a depressive phase that took her around eight months of deep healing work in order to recover. By the time she had plans in place to set up her ideal practice COVID-19 emerged. She contracted COVID-19 twice and because of the pandemic, her plans did not push through. Due to these frustrating events, she underwent intensive healing through what she learned in Ayurveda to cope. After all her healing from burnout, she now says that she is the happiest she has ever been.
What is burnout?
Burnout is a complicated and multilayered process. The symptoms of burnout: depersonalization and moral injury happen on an epigenetic, biochemical, and cellular level in the body. Overlooking the physical aspects of burnout and solely focusing on the mental aspects, is a disservice to patients. Burnout comes from a “confluence of biochemical processes.” and as such, healing from burnout is multi-dimensional.
Healing From Burnout Through Ayurveda
Siri faced so many challenges that affected her health. During this time she turned to the knowledge she learned from her studies on Ayurveda for healing from burnout. She looked up and applied the techniques from various literature that she read. She stressed that the habits a person forms in their life play an important role in his or her day-to-day well-being. Also based on Ayurvedic principles, she learned to appreciate herself more, unlearn harmful patterns, and found ways to maintain the necessary balance in life.
“Agni,” is an Ayurvedic principle that speaks about the person’s internal metabolic fire which has a connection with their digestive health. People need to be aware and take advantage of the positive energy of the Earth for the benefit of healing from burnout. Morning sunshine is a great way to harness this healing energy. Tending to ourselves, creating rhythmicity, connecting to nature, and finding community has significant value in wellness.
Healing from Burnout for Medical Professionals
If you are a medical professional dealing with burnout, being honest with yourself is the first step to take. A person must be able to recognize the burnout they feel and experience. Reach out to a coach or mentor to help them look into what could be changed. Sometimes healing from burnout requires changes in your thoughts and habits and other times it requires removing yourself from more toxic work environments!
