My Experience as a Parent and Psychiatrist During Pandemic

Being a psychiatrist and a parent during the pandemic has been somewhat difficult. Many people are struggling to adjust to the “new normal,” and doctors are no different. Being a parent is its own challenge, and it is a struggle being isolated. Combine that with a pandemic, homeschooling, changes in medical procedural policies, and maintaining a profession—well, you already know how hard these times are. Parenting my daughter and taking care of patients under challenging circumstances have kept me busier than ever.

Thankfully, my daughter does not mind being home and hanging out by herself. Homeschooling was a big adjustment for both of us. Now she is back in school, which takes a huge load off my shoulders. I am also glad she gets to have more face-to-face interactions with her friends, which is important for children.

One activity that we have taken up as a family hobby is biking. Equipped with new bikes, my daughter and I spend extra time together, enjoy the fresh air, and get some exercise. I know that other parents are spending more time with their children, and family bonds have tightened.

The hardest aspect of being a psychiatrist through all of this is seeing my patients suffering through relapse. They are lacking the in-person support groups that help them stay on track for recovery. I have colleagues who have lost their jobs, which has not only caused them great distress but puts more pressure on the hospitals and a heftier load on other doctors. I have also seen a spike in episodes of anxiety and depression in patients. I have heard from people who are extroverts that they are craving social interaction; being in a situation where they can’t get that interaction is damaging their mental well-being.

There are also issues with the masks and changing safety policies. My team and I work hard to ensure that we are following all the proper guidelines as they are announced and change, and I try to make sure my staff feel comfortable coming to work and sharing any concerns they might have with me. We provide hand sanitizer, require masks, and keep patients separate or only admit one at a time. Unfortunately, patients sometimes rebel against these practices and fuss over having to follow the guidelines. Thankfully, I have been doing telemedicine since 2013, so transferring most of our patients to this format was not a huge burden. The patients tend to like it, and it keeps everyone safe, allows patients to be seen quicker, and helps with treatment compliance. A challenge with which I continue to grapple is realizing and accepting my own limitations. There is only one of me, and the pandemic has kept me busy. I am trying to learn to delegate, prioritize, and take things a step at a time.

If I were to give advice to other multitasking doctors, it would be to do the best with what you have. Know that we are all in this together, and do not be afraid to ask for help. As I said before, I struggle with trying to handle too much at once. Other professionals are dealing with this issue, too. Even if it’s family, ask. These are stressful times. Do not allow the stress to pile up until you crumble beneath it. We can get through this difficult time only by supporting each other. ■