The Introverted Doctor

When I first opened up a medical practice, my secretary was annoyed and visibly angry when people repetitively asked her, “can the doctor speak English” based on the fact that my name was different. I found it amusing, but she didn’t.   She hadn’t had a consistent experience of these minor infractions or presumptions that people make. She couldn’t imagine such behaviour. I didn’t need to imagine this as that’s been a consistent experience for me.   

We can’t imagine other people’s situations to the same level that they experience it, but just because we can’t imagine a reality, it doesn’t mean we don’t care.   

But is caring enough? Is it enough even though it doesn’t directly impact you?  Right now, we see many people are using their voice as an instrument for change. But how can we use it eloquently? How do we connect and get ideas across to others who don’t necessarily agree but possibly could? Should we say something? Should we ignore it? Why should we say something? How should we say something without being reprimanded and getting all bruised up in the battle?  Why are good caring people afraid to say something and stand up?  

In this episode, I’ll answer some of those questions and share what matters and how it matters. I’m also going to give you the reasons why it’s hard for people to speak out against an injustice they’ve seen or had inflicted upon them.   

There are genuine reasons why we don’t say anything.  Your voice matters to help other lives matter.  That’s what this episode is about.  This episode does matter.  

Welcome to The Introverted Doctor, the podcast that uncovers myths, mistakes, and misconceptions that hold healthcare professionals back from living their best life at work, home, and play. Each week, Dr. Lalit Chawla will present tips and strategies that you can begin applying right away! He's a full-time Family Physician, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, International Lecture and Writer.   

In his former life, he was a professional Illusionist and still uses his skills in his workshops, lectures and in the clinical setting.  He incorporates magic and illusions in his lectures and teaches healthcare professionals how to use magic in a clinical setting and in the rehabilitation setting.  

www.TheIntrovertedDoctor.com

Well, I have wanted to move on to other topics other than COVID -19 because there are so many people talking about it. I, too, have had to accept that returning to other episode topics will have to be reintroduced slowly.   

I felt this episode needed to be done because there is so much confusion as to what is happening and what will happen. Dr. Varughese emailed me and asked me if I would do an episode on opening up the economy and the anxiety around returning to work.    

I didn't know what to comment specifically on, so I asked if we could chat and I’m glad we did. He was a wealth of information and wisdom on the phone, and so I asked him if I could interview him. He as a Chief Medical Officer and family physician has had first hand experience with COVID and how it has affected lives and come into their long-term care homes. Staff are scared and the army had to come in to help.   

It's a short interview (around 19 min). We look at problems and solutions. He also has an incredible perspective on the “new normal”. Here are some bullet points about him and what we cover. 

Dr. Jobin Varughese. He's the Chief Medical Officer of a long-term care home. He's also a family physician and a site director at McMaster Family Medicine Program (William Osler Centre)  

Why the Army had to step in the Long-term Care Homes in the COVID-19 Outbreak where he works  

How severe the coronavirus is and how patient’s and nurses have suffered when they’ve contracted the virus.   

I ask him some tough questions re. opening up the economy, and are we trading one form of death for another?  

His great take on what "new normal" means. (People are tired of that phrase I think).  

Access to medical care and ER rooms  

How to become motivated and create success in these times  

What people should be doing now and for their future  Job losses and the aftermath   

How to gain a sense of control  

There's a lot in this small segment—words of practical wisdom that we can't ignore. 

Please take a listen and share with people you think could benefit.   

Welcome to The Introverted Doctor, the podcast that uncovers myths, mistakes, and misconceptions that hold healthcare professionals back from living their best life at work, home, and play. Each week, Dr. Lalit Chawla will present tips and strategies that you can begin applying right away! He's a full-time Family Physician, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, International Lecture and Writer.   

In his former life, he was a professional Illusionist and still uses his skills in his workshops, lectures and in the clinical setting.  He incorporates magic and illusions in his lectures and teaches healthcare professionals how to use magic in a clinical setting and in the rehabilitation setting.  

www.TheIntrovertedDoctor.com

So many of us are glad that we've opened up the economy and now we can see some of our old friends. But why are so many of us feeling alone even though we still have access to so many good people virtually (digitally) with a click of a button? We have more entertainment and news at our fingertips too.   

Oddly, I don't remember solitude being such a struggle growing up in the 1980s and '90s. I think I would have done faired better with some quiet time in that era as opposed to now. Stillness and quiet time didn't seem to be so bothersome to me as it is now. Right now, however, when I have more opportunities to have quiet time or stillness, it's harder to feel a sense of contentment. Other's also feel this. Have I changed? Have people changed? What's really happening?  Why do people find it so hard to be alone?   

Why are we so happy to be free from our homes?   

How comfortable would you be if we continued with social isolation? 

There are a few things that are affecting our mood in these moments of social isolation. I'll share two key reasons why we are struggling and what we can learn from introverts.   

This is another quick podcast episode.   

Welcome to The Introverted Doctor, the podcast that uncovers myths, mistakes, and misconceptions that hold healthcare professionals back from living their best life at work, home, and play. Each week, Dr. Lalit Chawla will present tips and strategies that you can begin applying right away! He's a full-time Family Physician, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, International Lecture and Writer.  

In his former life, he was a professional Illusionist and still uses his skills in his workshops, lectures and in the clinical setting.  He incorporates magic and illusions in his lectures and teaches healthcare professionals how to use magic in a clinical setting and in the rehabilitation setting.  

www.TheIntrovertedDoctor.com

In this pandemic, we've experienced a whole range of emotions and right now it appears that people are tired and restless.  There also appears to be a lack of empathy or even hate in some people's social media posts or conversations. People seem to be more divided than ever before.  

One thing that is useful to remember, something I remind myself, is that while we are in this together, we are not experiencing it the same way together.  Some people find their home as a new haven for rest while others are finding it a prison.  

Some are loving the time they have at home with themselves and their children as they are successfully homeschooling and learning new life skills.  

Others are rising up, volunteering and helping people in the community. Some families and couples are becoming stronger and united. Conversely, others are still working and afraid of whether they will bring an infection home to their family. They are trying to figure out how to provide daycare and/or homeschool their children.  

While others are at home worried about how they will pay their bills as they've just lost their job.   

I also know some people are at home scared about their own safety and the safety of their children because of the abusive relationship they're in. We know domestic violence has gone up; for some children, school is their only safe haven.  People are also feeling very lonely as they are confined in their apartments or home.  Alarmingly, many people are afraid to seek much needed medical attention because they are scared of getting the coronavirus.   

These varied experiences, accompanied by different viewpoints about political decisions, have created divisions and sparked further hatred. So, what is the solution? How do we move beyond these negative emotions and disrespect? That's what I'll be talking about in this short podcast.  

Welcome to The Introverted Doctor, the podcast that uncovers myths, mistakes, and misconceptions that hold healthcare professionals back from living their best life at work, home, and play. Each week, Dr. Lalit Chawla will present tips and strategies that you can begin applying right away! He's a full-time Family Physician, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, International Lecture and Writer.   

In his former life, he was a professional Illusionist and still uses his skills in his workshops, lectures and in the clinical setting.  He incorporates magic and illusions in his lectures and teaches healthcare professionals how to use magic in a clinical setting and in the rehabilitation setting.  

www.TheIntrovertedDoctor.com

Before Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds connected with Hayley’s campaign (CONQUER COVID-19) to help frontline healthcare workers, she already had left her mark in the world. She is an elite athlete, humanitarian and she’s just getting started. 

Here are some of her accomplishments:  

2019 inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame  

Has won Seven World Gold Championships  

Four Olympic Gold medals, One Olympic Silver Medal  

She was the first female player in the world to notch a point in a men’s professional hockey while playing in Finland  

Played in or coached at NHL development camps with the Philadelphia  Flyers, the Edmonton Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs  

She still holds the record for the most assists, points and goals for the Canadian Women’s National team  

She been named one of Sports Illustrated Top 25 Toughest Athletes in the World; has been named twice to the “Power 50 in Sports” was among the QMI Agency’s “Top 10 Greatest Female Athletes in the History of Sports”   

In 2014 she was awarded Canada’s highest honour when she received the Order of Canada for her achievements as an athlete and for her contributions to the growth of women’s hockey.   

Her philanthropist work includes: Lace ‘Em Up, Jumpstart, KidSport and Project North and Right to Play – all organizations dedicated to ensuring kids of all financial and cultural backgrounds can play sports.  

Her most profound project is the founding of the world-renown personal and athletic development weekend, The Canadian Tire Wickenheiser World Female Hockey Festival (Wickfest) which provides mentoring and growth opportunities for young athletes from around the world.  

Hayley holds several honourary degrees from institutions across Canada, as well as her degree in Masters in Kinesiology from the University of Calgary. 

Currently she is studying Medicine at The University of Calgary.  

In this sit-down interview, we cover a wide range of topics including how she deals with losing, high-pressure situations and winning. What her views are about the world of medicine as she will be entering her medical residency soon.  

She talks about how she handles criticism in medicine and how she manages her routines to stay focused. She also shares how she uses humour on and off the ice. We also talk about how she dealt with conflict as team captain as she led Canada to win the Olympic Gold medals. We cover so much territory in this interview.   

Please enjoy this interview with one of my favourite people on the planet.  

You can see our interview via YouTube and/or going to the website TheIntrovertedDoctor.com  

Welcome to The Introverted Doctor, the podcast that uncovers myths, mistakes, and misconceptions that hold healthcare professionals back from living their best life at work, home, and play. Each week, Dr. Lalit Chawla will present tips and strategies that you can begin applying right away! He's a full-time Family Physician, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, International Lecture and Writer.   

In his former life, he was a professional Illusionist and still uses his skills in his workshops, lectures and in the clinical setting.  He incorporates magic and illusions in his lectures and teaches healthcare professionals how to use magic in a clinical setting and in the rehabilitation setting.  www.TheIntrovertedDoctor.com

So, who is a bit tired of our current state of affairs?  Every day seems so similar, and there is a lack of variety in most of our day to day routines. Are you having trouble sleeping, working from home, monitoring your kids, trying to exercise or stop from overeating? Are you feeling guilty that you aren't living up to your potential? You definitely are not alone.  I think most of us want to get back to some of our normal activities such as socializing with our friends, playing sports, making sure our children are getting an education and so on.    

People have been telling me that they are going a little stir crazy. So much so that I ended up writing another chapter in the 2nd edition of The COVID-19 Guidebook: How to Stay Safe, Sane and Healthy in a Pandemic.    

There is no question that life has changed and that there still is uncertainty about what the future holds.   

So how do we make the best of this situation and not feel guilty that we aren't optimizing our new free time? I'll share with you the top 8 areas we need to monitor so that we feel better.    

If you follow even one or two of these principles, you will feel better and do well.  Part of personal wellness is knowing what areas we should focus on (or avoid) because that can dramatically impact our ability to control our own wellbeing. It also helps to identify the common blind spots and traps that can negatively impact our ability to stay on track.  

Welcome to The Introverted Doctor, the podcast that uncovers myths, mistakes, and misconceptions that hold healthcare professionals back from living their best life at work, home, and play. Each week, Dr. Lalit Chawla will present tips and strategies that you can begin applying right away! He's a full-time Family Physician, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, International Lecture and Writer.   

In his former life, he was a professional Illusionist and still uses his skills in his workshops, lectures and in the clinical setting.  He incorporates magic and illusions in his lectures and teaches healthcare professionals how to use magic in a clinical setting and in the rehabilitation setting.  

www.TheIntrovertedDoctor.com

I know many people who don’t laugh, and it made me wonder if there are benefits to laughing. The answer is yes.  

Here’s a question for you- How often do you laugh in a day, and are you willing to laugh more?

I interviewed Canadian Hockey Legend Hayley Wickenheiser (in Feb -that episode hasn’t been released yet because of the pandemic), and she shared with me how it helps her on and off the ice. She truly understands that happy people are successful people; she certainly has had many successes. We need laughter to survive tough times. 

Laughter/humour is probably a tool that gets undervalued and underutilized. I’m also going to share with you:

what I think is not funny and why my dad admonished me about something I thought was funny… I was very young

my thoughts as to why some people don’t laugh much

I’ll also share with you how to be a funnier and how you can set yourself up to laugh more

May great laughter surround you in challenging times because laughter is the best medicine.

As days turn into weeks, during this pandemic, it may be getting harder to do the right thing, such as staying at home. Eventually all actions come down to the choices we make.  

Do people sometimes wonder how do individuals, in times of crisis, step up and help? In the medical profession, we do it because it’s necessary, even though it’s not always easy. We all as individuals do this and have that ability to act better. The vast majority of us are stepping up in this crisis, and so much of it is a choice, but as time drags on, it may become harder.  

In this episode, I’ll share with you a personal story of when I had to put my fears behind me as an inexperienced medical resident about to deliver my first baby. I was scared, and so was the mom. It’s a quick episode.  

I have also created, for free, The COVID-19 Pandemic Guidebook: How to Stay Safe, Sane and Healthy in a Pandemic. At the request of a few people.  It’s a useful easy to read book with some practical tips on how to protect your family, when and how to wear a mask, proper handwashing technique, home safety issues, how to deal with fear, grief, strengthening your immune system, how to deal with self-isolation, not driving each other crazy, checklists, tools and so much more.   

You can pass it on to others. I hope that it will help us through this time.  I couldn’t attach it to the email, so you’ll have to go to the website. If you want me to email me directly, please ask and I’d be happy to.  May your you and your loved ones be well.   

Welcome to The Introverted Doctor, the podcast that uncovers myths, mistakes, and misconceptions that hold healthcare professionals back from living their best life at work, home, and play. Each week, Dr. Lalit Chawla will present tips and strategies that you can begin applying right away! He's a full-time Family Physician, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, International Lecture and Writer.   

In his former life, he was a professional Illusionist and still uses his skills in his workshops, lectures and in the clinical setting.  He incorporates magic and illusions in his lectures and teaches healthcare professionals how to use magic in a clinical setting and in the rehabilitation setting.  

www.TheIntrovertedDoctor.com

There are two reasons people are engaged in the news about COVID-19: firstly, they want to prepare, and second, it's fascinating to see what's happening. It's new, always changing, and has a significant impact on all of our lives. However, it's a constant stimulus which can be draining.  

This stimulus has a lot of energy that has a contagious effect too, and we have to manage it. Protect our mental and emotional energy. Energy, positive or negative, is a contagion.  

I'm sure we all feel the stress of what's happening right now. If you're in the frontline, you more than ever will be challenged with managing your energy. Don't feel guilty, ashamed or upset if you have some anxiety or grief, some of the calmest people I know are scared, and who can blame them? But I do know that they are making sure that they are not sabotaging their health unintentionally.   

How are they doing it? That's what I'll talk about in this episode.   

Welcome to The Introverted Doctor, the podcast that uncovers myths, mistakes, and misconceptions that hold healthcare professionals back from living their best life at work, home, and play. Each week, Dr. Lalit Chawla will present tips and strategies that you can begin applying right away! He's a full-time Family Physician, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, International Lecture and Writer.   

In his former life, he was a professional Illusionist and still uses his skills in his workshops, lectures and in the clinical setting.  He incorporates magic and illusions in his lectures and teaches healthcare professionals how to use magic in a clinical setting and in the rehabilitation setting.  

www.TheIntrovertedDoctor.com

As a physician, I'm always careful not to bring home germs, but now i have a whole new protocol given that the Coronavirus/COVID-19 might try to befriend me.  

So, this episode will teach how to mitigate the risk of bringing germs into your home, especially if you work in a medical setting. We don't want to make our family members sick. 

For some, it may be a review, but for others, you may have forgotten one small thing, but we've seen what havoc a little thing (COVID-19) can wreak if we are not careful. 

Shoes are a terrible source of germs, and I know that in some homes, people keep their shoes on and walk right into their bedroom. That's a big no. 

Stay well, stay safe and healthy.  

Welcome to The Introverted Doctor, the podcast that uncovers myths, mistakes, and misconceptions that hold healthcare professionals back from living their best life at work, home, and play. Each week, Dr. Lalit Chawla will present tips and strategies that you can begin applying right away! He's a full-time Family Physician, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, International Lecture and Writer.   

In his former life, he was a professional Illusionist and still uses his skills in his workshops, lectures and in the clinical setting.  He incorporates magic and illusions in his lectures and teaches healthcare professionals how to use magic in a clinical setting and in the rehabilitation setting.  

www.TheIntrovertedDoctor.com