Docs and Nurses Aren’t Invincible—Here’s Why.

Helping the Helpers: Supporting Those Who Support Us

Let’s talk about something we don’t often address: the ones who are always there for us—the helpers. I’m talking about OB-GYNs, nurses, midwives, and the other rockstars in the healthcare world who handle the heavy stuff day in and day out. They support families through the highest highs, the lowest lows, and everything in between. But who’s supporting them?

The irony here is rich—these professionals dedicate their lives to caring for others, but often leave little room to care for themselves. They’re dealing with everything—from joyous births to heartbreaking losses—without always having the space to process the emotional impact it’s having on them. And let’s be honest: that emotional weight doesn’t just disappear at the end of the shift.

The Emotional Marathon Nobody Warns You About

Let’s face it, healthcare and mental health professionals are like emotional sponges. You soak up everything, from the tears of joy after a birth to the devastating grief of a pregnancy loss. But there’s no off-switch for that emotional absorption. You can’t just turn off your empathy when you clock out. You carry it with you, whether you like it or not. The result? You might end up feeling like you’re drowning in a sea of other people's pain. And the worst part? You're expected to just… keep going.

Vicarious Trauma: It’s a Thing, and It’s Real

You’ve probably heard of vicarious trauma, but have you actually had time to think about what it means for you? It's when you’re exposed to so much pain and trauma through others that it starts to affect your own mental health. It's the kind of thing that creeps up when you least expect it—after a rough day, a hard patient, or a difficult conversation. You might not even realize it’s happening until you’re really exhausted or finding it hard to switch off at the end of the day.

And don’t even get me started on compassion fatigue. It’s that draining feeling you get when you’ve given so much of your emotional energy to others, you’ve got nothing left for yourself. It’s like being a phone with 1% battery and no charger in sight. Not a fun place to be, right?

But Here’s the Thing: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Here’s the thing that no one really tells you when you start your career in caregiving—your emotional well-being is just as important as the care you provide. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need to be strong, invulnerable, or always “on” for your patients and clients. But you’re human, too. And guess what? You’re allowed to feel all the things.

It’s okay to have a tough day. It’s okay to carry some of the emotional weight of what you see. It’s okay to feel like you need a break. Just because you’re a professional doesn’t mean you don’t need to decompress, recharge, and process your own emotions.

The Hidden Burden of Emotional Labour

One thing that often gets overlooked in caregiving professions is the emotional labour. It’s not just about technical skills or medical knowledge. It’s about holding space for others—whether it’s comforting a family through a loss, listening to a new parent’s struggles, or simply being there when things get overwhelming. But while you're taking care of everyone else’s emotions, who’s checking in on yours?

Laughing Through the Chaos

Listen, I get it. Sometimes the only way to cope is to laugh. It’s dark, it’s awkward, but let’s face it: if you don’t find some humour in the chaos, you’ll end up exhausted and burnt out. Whether it’s sharing a ridiculous anecdote with a colleague or making a sarcastic comment about your day, sometimes laughter is the best medicine (besides actual medicine, of course).

And it’s not about ignoring the gravity of your work; it’s about finding a way to maintain your own humanity in the face of it all. Because, let’s be real, if you don't laugh, you might just cry—and sometimes, a good laugh is the only thing that keeps you going.

The Takeaway: You’re Not a Superhero (And That’s Okay)

At the end of the day, you’re not invincible. You’re allowed to have bad days. You’re allowed to need support. And you’re allowed to ask for help when the emotional weight of it all gets too heavy. The best caregivers are the ones who also take care of themselves, and if we’re being real, that’s a work in progress.

So, to all the healthcare and mental health professionals out there—take a breather. Do what you need to do to recharge. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and we all know that a little self-care can go a long way. Even superheroes need to rest, right?