Doctor Shireen, who is known for sharing health advice on TikTok, has opened up about the one part of her job that she finds really tough – and it will likely come as a surprise
Being a doctor is a rewarding but stressful profession.
There’s so much to juggle in so little time, and you have to be on the ball every single day. And one GP has said there’s one aspect of the role that’s surprisingly difficult.
Doctor Shireen, known for her health advice on TikTok, recently opened up about the part of her job she finds most challenging. She confessed that when patients discuss issues she personally relates to, it can be incredibly tough.
Doctor Shireen explained: “So they might come and see me and be talking about something deeply personal, deeply painful and it’s like they’re telling me my story back to me, and all I want to do is say ‘me too’ […] Like, I get it, I’ve been through it and I want to bring my experience into the consultation to talk about it. I feel like, in some circumstances, that might be helpful but – as a GP – sometimes I think it would be quite inappropriate to do that.”
She admitted there are times when she can relate to these sorts of issues “much deeper” than another doctor could due to the shared experience, and it’s never simple. It’s happened to her a few times so far, and she’s had to learn how to control her emotions.
The professional admitted it’s “hard”, as doctors are just like any other person who has feelings and experiences tough times. She said there have even been occasions where she’s had to “hold back the tears”, as patients’ stories have impacted her so much.
If Dr Shireen is going through a similar experience to a patient, it can be tricky to ignore how she feels, but she’s had to learn to navigate her emotions. This is because, as you’d expect, the patient must always come first. But it’s still tough, and people can understand why. They shared their thoughts under her video in a bid to reassure her.
One follower responded: “Not sure why you think it’d be inappropriate to share your own experiences. My GP told me she had hot flushes, and it made her seem so much more human and approachable, as well as validating my experience.”
Another commented: “The only time I’ve felt listened to and helped was one of the therapists from talking therapies. Validated the way I felt by saying he’d experienced that too.”
A third chimed in with: “For me that helps to relate. My GP shares and it’s a big plus. For me, a kind, empathetic human is so helpful. It’s uncomfortable to share with a cold, emotionless robot.”
Meanwhile, a fourth added: “I’m a GP, and will often tell a patient if I relate to their problem. It is one of the most powerful ways of building rapport. You obviously can’t make the consultation about you though.”
