Okay so how has six months of the year gone by so quickly? It’s scary how fast the days pass you by. But nevertheless it’s been half a year of journeying with patients and simultaneously working on myself. Accountability is the word that comes to mind when I think about what is necessary for growth;Continue reading “How accountability is key”
Tag Archives: mindfulness
The unnecessary death
Part of my job as a doctor involves routinely asking people how much alcohol they drink and whether they smoke. People reluctantly tell me that they drink heavily, or binge drink. But before they do, they pause for a second and hesitate, as if they are wondering if they should answer the question or not.Continue reading “The unnecessary death”
Reflections on reflecting
It’s been almost two months now since I started this blog. And it’s been even more therapeutic than I ever imagined it could be. If I’m being completely honest, whenever I would see a mental-health consultation show up on my schedule for the day, my heart would sink a little. I would feel anxious thinkingContinue reading “Reflections on reflecting”
How to deal with grief and other feelings
When my grandpa died a few months ago, peacefully in his own home and in the presence of his family, I was sadder than I expected to be. For weeks I would randomly burst into tears and I didn’t understand why. He had what I would have considered a ‘good death’ so I didn’t knowContinue reading “How to deal with grief and other feelings”
How to survive
I’m loathed to watch the news these days. It’s depressing. There is either coverage of politics, a celebrity mishap that I don’t care about, weather-related events, or a tragedy. As much as I try to avoid the news, it ends up finding me. Articles end up plastered all over my Facebook and Instagram feeds. PerhapsContinue reading “How to survive”
What does love look like?
Minor surgery is a part of my job that I really enjoy. Unlike standard consultations where you have to allow for time to improve or manage a condition, minor surgery gives you the immediate satisfaction of fixing something right then and there. Recently I did minor surgery on a person who suffers from a developmentalContinue reading “What does love look like?”
How to respond to anger
A lot of people might think that doctors are well-respected and that patients are always appreciative and grateful for their care. And I mean for the most part it is true. But it isn’t uncommon to encounter an angry patient either. Now when someone behaves in an unsavoury manner towards you, your first instinct isContinue reading “How to respond to anger”
How to listen
“Don’t ever change,” a patient said to me as he walked out of my consulting room. For a second I was a bit puzzled and didn’t know what he meant by that. But then I remembered a couple of months ago my colleague had told me about this particular patient. He had mentioned to themContinue reading “How to listen”
When you don’t know
Over the years, I’ve gotten comfortable with telling patients, “I don’t know”. But it’s something that I’ve had to practice and constantly work on because as a doctor, you pride yourself on knowing. So it’s uncomfortable to admit that you don’t know. You go through medical school, constantly being questioned, constantly being tested. You’re expectedContinue reading “When you don’t know”
How do I keep going?
Over these last few weeks I’ve met so many patients who have come to see me to discuss their mental-health. And honestly I am so drained. Now I don’t say that to be rude or dismissive of these patients at all. I actually find these consultations the most rewarding because I feel like it’s anContinue reading “How do I keep going?”
The Weekday Notes 