As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to shape our lives, many
of us are flat-out exhausted. While this enduring moment in time
has impacted us all, the prolonged nature of this global public
health crisis has left healthcare workers feeling physically and
mentally exhausted. Burnout, it’s a topic that we often address on
the Reboot Podcast, and a term we’ve all been hearing more and more
over the course of the past few years.
For cardiac surgeon Dr. Simon Maltais, long hours in a
demanding work environment were to be expected, but slowly, over
time, when he looked in the mirror, the outer Simon was becoming
unrecognizable to the inner Simon. In this conversation, he shares
how his quest for perfection, and his desire to “sparkle and be
loved” led him down a destructive path fueled by alcohol, anger,
and self-criticism. Jerry and Simon discuss the high rates of
depression and burnout among healthcare professionals and the
resilience they need to deal with the suffering that surrounds
them. In sharing honestly about his experience, Simon hopes that
his fellow colleagues in healthcare and others in high intensity
environments will feel less alone.