How Perfectionism In Medicine Spills Over Into Your Personal Finances With Dr. Michael Myers

Nobody’s perfect. Everyone needs to take care of their mental health, including physicians. Perfectionism in medicine can spill over into physicians’ personal finances.

In this episode of the Finance for Physicians Podcast, Daniel Wrenne talks to Dr. Michael Myers about physician perfectionism. Michael is professor of clinical psychiatry at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center and author of eight books covering everything from physician suicide and mental health to physician marriages.

Topics Discussed:

Tyranny of Perfectionism: Extreme perfection can affect productivity
Good Enough: Strive for excellence, but find and accept balanced portion
Human Humor: Welcome to medical school, you’re (not) the best and brightest
Imposter Syndrome: Message of perfectionism leads to inferiority
Survive and Thrive: Perfectionism is expected, to err is human
Demographics and Diagnoses: Diverse physician and patient population
Signs: Worry too much, stay too late, struggle with competence and confidence?
House of Medicine Stigma: Should doctors ask for or need help?
Physician Personalities and Psychiatry: Self-resolve or seek help with triggers
Money Management: Most physicians are not gifted in economics/business
Marriage and Money: Keeping up with the Joneses linked to perfectionism
Priviledge or Poverty: Physician’s upbringing is pressure to maintain or do better
Married to Doctors: Say and do something in a loving manner; listen and get help
Co-parenting: Compliment and cut back on child’s activities; time is not unlimited