The Case of Katherine Moss: Caring for Oneself to Care for Others

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are relatively common in the general population. In physicians, an increased level of anxiety can be an adaptive, contributing to the level of academic achievement that is demanded of them. However, when present in excess, it can manifest as generalized anxiety disorder or the related anxiety disorders, and these disorders can significantly negatively impact multiple spheres of life. To complicate matters, physicians have been found to seek help less frequently and later in the course of the disease than other groups because of the prevailing stigma among doctors around mental healthcare. A clinician working with this population should be sensitive to the stigma and reluctance around seeking care and accepting a psychiatric diagnosis.