Coping with feelings of failure

Australian Medical Association

Drs4Drs offer free and confidential services around the clock for doctors and students, and this week offer some thoughts on coping with feelings of failure.

Feeling like you are failing at exams or in the workplace can feel scary and stressful. As training requirements and environments in the medical sector can stretch usual resources for many medical students and doctors in training, it is important to learn early in your career how to deal with internal and external expectations and not meeting these.

Having a ‘growth mindset’ and seeing ‘failure’ as part of the learning curve can help to ease the pressure to perform perfectly in challenging environments. Many of your colleagues and friends are experiencing similar problems coping with feelings of failure, so reaching out to a trusted person can help you feel less isolated with your thoughts.

Drs4Drs is also here to listen and give advice. A network of state and territory based doctors’ health advisory services provide confidential health and wellbeing consultations. To complement this, our 24/7, free and confidential tele-psychology support service is available on 1300 374 377 for crisis and non-urgent care alike. Talk to psychologists and counsellors experienced in doctors’ health today.

Drs4Drs has been developed by the medical profession for the medical profession, so if you need advice or support, reach out. For more information visit drs4drs.com.au/getting-help.

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