With Mental Health Awareness Week approaching, I thought appropriate to discuss the importance of reflection in our mental health.
Reflection forms an important part of our professional lives. It is vital to self reflect, when things to right and wrong, and then use these constructively to improve our future practice. We can extend this onto our mental health.
Dentistry is an undoubtedly stressful profession. Our work is not easy, and can often feel unrewarding and underappreciated. The pressures, particularly under the NHS, have huge implications for the mental health of the profession. Fear of litigation and contract demands are having an ever increasing effect, alongside the general day-to-day life often being very isolating.
Reflection is a useful tool, not only professionally but in our personal life. It is important in our reflection to not only understand where things may have gone wrong, but how this makes us feel. Emotional and mental reflection can benefit us at times of anxiety and stress. This mental reflection, whether through a diary or discussing with friends or colleagues, can benefit us further down the line.
Reflection helps us to understand how we felt in a certain situation. This is where re-reflection comes in. These tough periods can often reoccur throughout our career. To look back on previous times when our work has impacted our mental health and familiarising ourselves on how we dealt with these situations is massively important. This re-reflection may not only benefit us at our low points, but our peers who may be struggling similarly.
It is important to remember that if something does go wrong, it does not automatically qualify you to be a bad practitioner, or as an extension, a terrible person. We are human. Although sometimes hard to admit, true perfectionism does not exist. Errors do occur, and whilst they may be difficult to deal with, they can be used to make us stronger and give us the skill set to deal with these situations in the future.
Talking is vital. I believe creating an open atmosphere for these discussions with close friends, or in the workplace in particular, is key. You'll typically find you are not alone. If you don't feel quite yourself, reach out. If you feel you need to see a doctor, do so. Want to dabble in some mindfulness techniques or meditation? Try it, see if it helps. Reflect on how you feel, and what is causing you to feel that way. Reach out to peers, they may have some of the tools to help.
Take care of yourself. At the end of the day, there is only one you.
Olliver
Some extra links here for whoever may need it: