Physicians in other specialties often discuss their own symptoms with colleagues in informal conversations, such as when a cardiologist asks an orthopedic specialist about a sore shoulder or knee. However, Dr. Walker said, his colleagues never ask him about his mental health when they learn that he is a psychologist.
“There is a stigma attached to it,” he said. “It is very unfortunate that as a society we believe that a broken heart is different from a broken arm. And maybe it’s because you can’t see it, at least most of the time. I’ve got stuff to deal with, my family has stuff, we all have our stuff to deal with, and somehow we think we’re less than that, but I can tell you, I’ve met some of the strongest people I’ve ever met right here. in my office”.
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