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I read Dr. Altman's reflections on burnout and illness,1 and I was surprised by how deeply it moved me and made me stop and ponder. First and foremost, I want to wish my colleague—who has a few years over me in experience in clinical neurology practice—Godspeed. It would be wise of us to remember that burnout is not unique to neurology or medicine as a whole. In today's competitive and demanding world, individuals in all professions are facing burnout at an alarming rate. Although the reasons for burnout may be unique to each profession, there are lessons to be learned by studying individuals who have overcome burnout, as I strongly believe that there are inherent personality traits, which make some of us more vulnerable to burnout compared with others. Emotional stability, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness are associated with lower emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, higher personal accomplishment, and less burnout.2 Constructive coping strategies can help reduce the burnout rate in physicians. A quote that has served me well thus far is, “You can win the rat race, but you're still a rat.”
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Author disclosures are available upon request (journal{at}neurology.org).
- © 2019 American Academy of Neurology
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