I need to do it for myself
TW: Suicidal Ideation
I've worked in Healthcare for over 10 years, and while I absolutely love being a support for those who are struggling, I haven't been good to myself and allowing that same, necessary support for me.
I spent years, like so many glorious healthcare rock stars, earning an education and experience, only to graduate to being bogged down with the copious amounts of paperwork and productivity expectations that plague many hospital systems in the US.
Fast forward to today, and I work in private practice with a MUCH easier caseload. The only issue is, as a contract employee, I don't get paid for missed appointments. Because it's the summer, I feel like everyone's mental health issues take their own summer vacation, and while I'm thrilled to not be needed as a professional, it's tough on the wallet when the no show rate soars.
I'm not interested in going back to the sterile corridors of a major hospital just for financial security, but I also cannot keep living paycheck to paycheck.
My own mental health took a nose dive yesterday, and as mentioned above, the dark thoughts of leaving this world by my own hand were dancing all over my grey matter. I'm grateful to live another day but dreading what potential challenges tomorrow will bring.
So I'm very curious. What do the healthcare providers in this thread do to balance themselves or their work so that they don't find themselves as patients at their workplace?
EDIT: I realized after posting that my title is not fitting quite well with what I wrote. I think in my haste to get my thoughts out, I didn't think that title through. Many apologies!