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Do you embrace 'New Year’s resolutions' or the setting of 'intentions' for the year ahead?

There is no denying, that the welcoming in of a New Year, tends to be a time of reflection...inviting a review of the year that has gone before, and planning, with anticipation, for the twelve months that lay ahead.  At this time of year, we can find ourselves thinking about how we can improve ourselves and our lives.

Whilst it can feel as if it will be useful, to review what has gone, it is helpful…

Heartfelt thanks, to all who sponsored our fundraising efforts, in the Brighton Santa Dash, which was completed by 'Team Joy' last weekend!
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As you can see from these photos, much fun was had, and sack fulls of joy was created 😍.
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We are delighted to have raised £422.50 (including gift aid), for Doctors Support Network (DSN)....
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If you didn't have chance to sponsor us, and you would like to, please follow the link to our sponsorship page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TeamJoy
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Your suppo…

🎉💃 Joyful Doctor Podcast!!! 👏🎉
Episode 1: Interview with Dr Josie Jenkinson, Consultant Psychiatrist, on her life and struggles as a doctor, and how she manages to find joy in everyday life...
Available now to listen, download and subscribe across all Android/Apple devices x

http://www.podcasts.com/joyful-doctor-6ef21dca9

Dr Caroline Walker, and her brothers, Tom and Brad, will be taking part in the Brighton Santa Dash, (8th December), to raise money for the Doctors' Support Network (DSN).
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DSN provide confidential peer support for doctors and medical students with mental health concerns.
Please sponsor Team Joy, and help us, to enable DSN, to support more doctors.
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Please follow the link to our sponsorship page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TeamJoy  

Too many doctors are killing themselves.

The BBC put out this great programme about doctors’ mental health this week.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45356349

There is help out there! For a full list of free support resources for doctors go to
www.joyfuldoctor.com/help-for-drs

I’ve been thinking a lot about hope this week.

I led a teaching session earlier in the week - talking with a group of London psychiatry trainees about Doctors’ Wellbeing. It went well for the most part... The doctors were engaged and interactive, open and honest - and we talked and explored a lot of the complex issues involved with the wellbeing of doctors. Until we stumbled over a sticking point...

Hope.

We identified the lack of optimism and hope amongst doctors at the moment and I said ‘do…

As a psychiatrist and a therapist I have watched many men cry. I have seen some men do it in my private life as well. And sometimes it is the power of a single word that causes the damn to burst.

My partner tells me he watched a great programme last night. A documentary by stand-up comedian Rhod Gilbert about his crippling life-long shyness.

Shyness. Just a single word and yet it holds so much power.

Shyness is not a stereotypically manly thing to struggle with. And often it is covered by mor…

What is my truth today?

I sat down today to write out my thoughts and feelings on the Bawa-Garba case – a case that has rocked the field of medicine in the UK over the past few months – and ruined more than one family's life forever.

But as I started to write I felt increasingly uneasy...

I have a growing understanding that cases like these are incredibly complex – such a mish-mash of interweaving legitimate and necessary parts and viewpoints - that it becomes almost impossible to stand back …

I recently came across this post I wrote in March 2016 amidst the height of the Junior Doctor Contract Dispute in the UK... I thought it might warrant a re-airing..

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As a Medical Psychotherapy registrar I have been thinking a lot lately about how we have been feeling about the strikes - and the psychological defence mechanisms that we use to deal with difficult emotions.

I think I speak for many when I say: as a junior doctor lately I have felt anxiety, fear, uncertainty, frustration…

Ever wondered 'where do I start?!'?

Ever had a project or an idea but just didn't know where to start?...

Want to write that book?  Declutter your wardrobe?  Spend more time doing things you love?

But you find yourself stuck, not knowing where to start?

Well guess what?

It doesn't matter where you start!

Just start.

Anywhere.

And with that...

I bring you 'The Joyful Doctor' blog!

Not perfectly formed.

But started.

Enjoy!

What could you get started today?...

Much love

Caroline x