During this workshop led by Dr. Arpita Gupta DePalma, participants will review how anger, which may be a result of burnout, is often a secondary emotion that feels better and more powerful compared to other negative emotions. We will review common originations of anger, develop a customized anger protocol, and discuss techniques to build mental muscle and encourage forgiveness.

Educating our physicians on ways they can improve upon their wellness is an important part of sustaining an effective workforce. Many times, the challenges and struggles physicians face in their day to day lives result in reactionary responses that they feel are growing to be out of their control. The result can be showing up angry, dissatisfied, and emotionally exhausted when tending to patients, ourselves, and our loved ones. The first step in managing our anger reactions is to build awareness around when we have them, and why (i.e.- what is underlying the anger). From there, we can choose to make small shifts in the way we are thinking and learn how to plan in advance for situations that set us off so that we are able to show up in a controlled and intentional manner, generating the results we want.

The workshop will begin with a didactic explaining the steps for building awareness around anger activators with insight on past traumas as a contributing factor, why anger has become so easy and second nature, and how to develop a customized anger protocol including deep breathing, HeartMath concepts, and other techniques. Attendees will be given a worksheet that we will complete together focusing on building awareness and developing a customized anger protocol. The session will progress by asking for volunteers for coaching on their specific activators and then conclude with some Q & A and coaching if time permits.