On December 5th, Spooner Sports Medicine will present a virtual seminar titled: “Feeling Burned Out: Mental Health Strategies for You and Your Athlete”. This event is designed to speak directly to athletic trainers and the daily challenges that athletic trainers are asked to overcome. However, all medical professionals will benefit from the conversation with take-aways that are universal to those that provide care and consistently put the patient first.
Rebekah Hibbert, MS, ATC and Director of Sport Medicine at Spooner Physical Therapy shares her burn out journey, as well as her excitement for the upcoming seminar. Learn from Bekah’s experience, don’t put your mental health on the back burner. Join us on December 5th.
Based on my own experience as an Athletic Trainer, I reached the point of burn out and knew something needed to be done. This is why I know it is essential we talk about burn out, finds ways to deal with it, and most importantly make it a priority as sports medicine professionals to take care of not only our athletes, but also ourselves.
I remember the moment I realized I was burned out from being a collegiate athletic trainer; it was the day after I quit. This isn’t a good way to finally pay attention to yourself, but unfortunately for me I had let it get that far. The reasons I walked away from my job are a much longer story but let me tell you what I discovered in the days that followed my resignation: I had spent the past few years putting my job and my athletes before my own wellbeing. I had let things get out of control both physically and mentally for myself and it was time to put the attention back on myself.
Physically: In the months that followed my decision to quit I finally decided to see a physician about severe GI issues I had been having on and off. Of course, I chose to ignore my distress initially, because “I didn’t have time to take off for an appointment”. Here is what is crazy when I look back at it: I could find the time to drive my athletes around the city to their appointments, but would never give myself the same courtesy. I found out that I had Celiac Disease. My physician informed me that I had already blunted some of the villi in my small intestine due to ignoring my symptoms for a couple of years but luckily had caught it in time to not cause long term damage. This was insane! I could have had long term, incurable, GI issues simply because I wouldn’t take the time needed for my physical health.
Mentally: I didn’t even realize that I was I emotionally exhausted. At work I could turn it off, but when I got home, I never wanted to do anything, even go out with friends, because whatever free time I had was spent trying to collect some type of rest and recuperate in effort to build up to the next string of workdays – with no time off in sight. After I quit my job, I started to plan things on the weekend with my husband and friends, which I could never do when I was working 6-7 days a week. I STOPPED missing family events because I had to work and set aside time to travel to be with them. I started writing again, something I had been unable to “find time for”, which gave me the creative outlet I had been craving for years.
Professionally: I was VERY freaked out about what I was going to do next. But the thing is, when I gave myself the grace to take care of myself both physically and mentally, I found a much better way to move forward in my career. I didn’t leave athletic training, but instead learned how to make athletic training work for me and the life I wanted to live. I learned how to set boundaries, when to say no, and realized that my job would go on without me. Maybe, most importantly, I learned to tell people what I needed and how to advocate for myself. All of this has allowed me to be a better professional and most definitely a more empathetic one.
Maybe some of my story rings true for you. Maybe you find yourself ignoring your physical and/or mental health. Maybe you aren’t sure where to start in taking care of yourself. I encourage you to take the first step and register for our event so that you can learn some strategies to help you deal with and avoid burn out. Don’t get to where I did, having to quit a job to finally take care of myself. Take care of yourself now! We hope you join us. Sign up here.
About Spooner Physical Therapy:
Spooner Physical Therapy has been promoting movement in the Valley of the Sun since Tim Spooner, PT, FAFS, CEO started the practice in 1990. From employees to patients to community and healthcare partners, Spooner Physical Therapy’s core purpose is helping people achieve. Our physical therapists and hand therapists strive for the greatest possible outcome and we promise an exceptional patient experience. We value greatly our community relationships and the loyalty of our patients whom we have had the pleasure to serve. We will employ these same philosophies and dedication to athletes as we forge the path to bringing an accessible and world-class sports medicine program to all corners of the valley.
About Fischer Institute:
Fischer Institute of Physical Therapy and Performance is a nationally-recognized facility that boasts a 20,000 square foot strength and conditioning center along with a 3,000 square foot indoor turf field. Founded by world-renown trainer and physical therapist Brett Fischer, Fischer Institute, now a division of Spooner Physical Therapy, employs some of the brightest minds in physical therapy along with an impressive lineup of sports and performance trainers.
Spooner Physical Therapy is working in conjunction with the Fischer Institute Team to bring the best in Sport Medicine to all 22 Spooner Physical Therapy locations across the Valley.