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I’m an ostrich.

When my emotional reserves are low, my default is to hide. I shut down and stop talking to anyone. I avoid anything that might make the situation worse. That’s good when there is a true risk of making the problem worse. Sometimes stepping away is the best option. Although, for complex problems, eventually I have to pull my head out of the sand and deal with it.

What’s the source?

How I decompress depends a lot on the source of the stress.Is it health care stress, family stress, financial stress, social stress…? I do take a moment to reflect on what’s got me so stressed out. If it’s interpersonal, then talking it out with someone is a good idea. But I’m really careful about sharing healthcare stressors. Depending on the person, the conversation can actually add to the stress. A certainly, I’m not going to be talking about financial stress with anyone who can’t keep their mouth shut.

I have options.

I learned a long time ago that the key to avoiding burnout was to have a lot of options at my disposal. I resolved to always be able to answer the question, “What will you do if that doesn’t work?” Having a “next step” gives me a sense of control, even if my next move is to ask someone else for help. I try to think two or three moves ahead.

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