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Negative Outcomes
- Addictive behaviors
- Relationship distress
- Emotional/behavioral problems
- Loss/lack of spirituality
- Academic consequences
- Death/suicide
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Addictive Behaviors. Increased use of tobacco, alcohol, prescription medications and/or illicit substances "to help cope with stress" places the individual at great risk for physical and psychological dependence.
Relationship Distress. Depersonalization, which refers to treating people like objects, may arise as a protective mechanism in human services professionals to minimize emotional involvement that could interfere with functioning in crisis situations. In moderation, "detached concern" toward patients by physicians may be appropriate and necessary, but when excessive, it may lead to callousness and cynicism with subsequent negative effects on the patient-physician relationship.
Emotional/Behavioral Consequences. Emotional exhaustion is caused by excessive psychological and emotional demands made on people helping people that leave individuals drained and depleted. Low morale, reduced effectiveness, burnout and health problems are often the result.
Loss/Lack of Spirituality. In the process of becoming a young adult, students sometimes ignore or lose spiritual endeavors. In a survey of students by the TMA PHR committee, 50% of those responding reported spending no time on spirituality activities. Students reporting more than 14 hours per week devoted to spirituality activities had the lowest stress-related problem. In the survey, spirituality was defined as church, meditation, and prayer. People who are more connected personally, professionally, and spiritually, tend to do better in life.
Academic Consequences. Feelings of diminished personal accomplishment are reflected in symptoms of stress, depression, and a sense of inefficiency and diminished competence. With such feelings, the individual believes that his or her actions no longer can or do make a difference. This adversely affects the patient-physician relationship, patient satisfaction, and perhaps, ultimately, health outcomes.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Needing and asking for help does not mean that you will be expelled from school.
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Last Published: 3/18/2010 Print this page
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