Sustaining mental health of physicians: How regular meditation can build long-term emotional resilience

Dr Ishan Shivanand, mental health researcher and the Founder of Yoga of Immortals explains how regular meditation can build long-term emotional resilience in physicians

A surgeon in a tense operating room, a paediatrician facing anxious parents, or a physician managing life-and-death clinical situations are glimpses into the daily lives of doctors. The constant hum of decision-making, long shifts, and emotional encounters creates a relentless grind that inevitably leaves its mark on their mental well-being. According to research, stress is a consistent feature of a physician’s work, and it comes as no surprise that doctors are increasingly experiencing burnout, which impacts their professional as well as personal quality of life. But the key to alleviating this mental fatigue lies not in external fixes but in yoga-based meditation.

The reality of physician burnout

The medical profession is inherently demanding technical complexities, high stakes, and unpredictable outcomes converge to create an emotionally charged work environment. An ideal work situation oscillates between comfort and challenge. However, for physicians, the scales often tip towards exhaustion as demands surpass coping mechanisms, leading to emotional strain and ultimately, burnout. This affects not only the mental health of the physicians but also the quality of care they provide. Therefore, exploring solutions to mitigate burnout is not just important—it is imperative.

The role of meditation in emotional resilience

Meditation is beyond sitting in silence; it’s an intentional act of tuning into oneself. Practiced over millennia, meditation encourages the practitioner to build awareness to the present, offering a refuge from the mental chatter and emotional turbulence that characterise a physician’s day. Regular meditation helps cultivate inner strength, enabling doctors to build resilience against daily stressors. The evidence-based Yoga of Immortals (YOI) meditative intervention teaches specific practices based on ancient yogic teachings, including breathwork and meditation. Breathwork, a central tenet, helps regulate the autonomic nervous system and activates the body’s natural calming mechanisms. Clinical trials have demonstrated reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression after just a few weeks of breathwork and yoga-based awareness practices.

Sinilary, through techniques like abdominal breathing, yogic kriyas activate pathways in the brain that reduce cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. This, in turn, lowers anxiety and provides a sense of emotional balance. Imagine a physician who, after dealing with a high-pressure emergency, practices breathing interventions for a few minutes. That simple act could be the difference between spiralling into stress or maintaining calm composure.

The heart of meditation

Meditation is the practice of consciously focusing on the present without judgment. Thoughts, emotions, and sensations are witnessed without reaction, allowing one to detach from patterns of emotional reactivity. This ‘non-judgmental acceptance’ encourages clarity, cultivates patience, and develops a sense of self-awareness critical to handling the rigors of medical practice.

When a physician incorporates meditation into their routine—they train themselves to approach their emotions and thoughts with calm awareness. Over time, this reduces susceptibility to emotional distress and provides an internal anchor during high-pressure situations.

Finding the ‘flow state’

‘Flow state’ is described as a mental state of being fully immersed in an activity. When one enters the state of flow, their focus shifts from the stress of the situation to the task at hand. Meditation acts as a gateway to this flow state by quieting the mind, allowing to focus solely on the present.

Interestingly, this flow state can be both an individual and group experience. Studies have shown that activities like group singing or collaborative tasks increase oxytocin levels, promoting social bonding and stress reduction.

Physicians spend their careers caring for others, but the cost is often their own mental health. The practice of meditation offers a powerful yet simple tool to build long-term emotional resilience. Through breathwork, increased awareness, and yoga-based meditative protocols, physicians can alleviate stress and tap into a state of flow that makes them not only better caregivers but also happier individuals.

Just as a car requires regular pit stops for maintenance, doctors need moments of stillness for self-care. A few minutes of meditation each day might be the intervention that sustains not only their mental health but also the vitality of the profession.

References

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.956651/full

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9485445/