Physician, heal thyself

I have not written in a while. Its not like anybody reads this blog anyway. Its just a speck of dust in the myriad of published material out there. But to satisfy my yearn to wordify my thoughts, I hereby open window to mind so the fumes have an exit. I have been thinking a lot about the biblical phrase: 'physician, heal thyself'. I do not know under what context it was used in the bible, but I am sure that the meaning permeates generations still. Physicians are held in high regard by the public. Very much so because these are some of the most educated people in the society. They are trusted with the most confidential of information about the most vulnerable of people; they are expected to perform under the most stressful of conditions; they take care of you. But who takes care of them? The job exposes one to a great deal of psychological trauma, enough to drive a common joe extremely bizzarre. Physicians see mankind in its barest, lowest, and most pitiful of states. But how do they stay above it all? One word: Detachment. Physicians have to be somewhat detached to avoid emotional pain that comes naturally after witnessing a great deal of physical pain. The level of responsibility placed on them sometimes requires a bravado and a public show of emotional infallibility. This could be detrimental, especially because doctors are human and experience the same physical and emotional difficulties that their patients experience. Repression hardly solves any problems. But thats what they do. They compartmentalize, sometimes under the assumption that not facing problems make them go away. So slowly their marriages implode, friendships are severed, and personal lives are practically non existent. I am not saying that this happens to all physicians; there are definitely docs that live very wholesome lives, who care for their families and friends. The difference between these types is that the latter see medicine as a job secondary to family. Medicine comes first in college, medical school, and residency while other aspects of life are put on the second burner. That should stop at some point. A healthy life is not lived alone. Man, as they say, is not an island unto himself. Healing yourself means preserving yourself. This means not letting anything consume you...