By Dr Hazel Batten, Integrative GP at Remede Wellness Medicine
Personal Reflection
As an integrative GP, I often find myself reflecting on the parallels between my patients’ experiences and my own. Like many of the women I see, my life is a tapestry of competing priorities—raising two young children, managing a busy clinical practice, overseeing a home renovation, caring for our family dog, and nurturing friendships across various circles. My partner’s career is also demanding, often requiring travel and long hours, so we both navigate the challenges of balancing work and family, albeit in different ways. I recognise in myself a strong drive to excel in every area—parenting, medicine, relationships, and personal pursuits. Yet, striving for excellence in all domains simultaneously is not only unsustainable, it can set an impossible standard that fuels exhaustion and self-criticism. Despite a passion for my work and deep appreciation for my community, I am not immune to the signs of burnout: fatigue, irritability, and the creeping sense that self-care is slipping down the list of priorities.
The Clinical Reality of Burnout
Burnout is a state of vital exhaustion resulting from chronic workplace and life stress that has not been successfully managed. In a clinical setting, it often manifests as emotional depletion, detachment, and a sense of reduced efficacy—personally and professionally. For women in perimenopause and menopause, these symptoms are often intensified by hormonal fluctuations that can impact sleep, cognitive function, and emotional resilience. When the internal pressures of high achievement intersect with the external demands of family, career, and community, the risk of burnout is heightened.
The Power of an Integrative Team
In our clinic, we recognise that burnout is rarely caused by a single factor. It is a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social influences. By working as a multidisciplinary team, we can address these dimensions in a coordinated way:
- General Practice: My role involves ruling out or managing underlying medical contributors—such as iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, or hormonal changes—and providing evidence-based frameworks for mental health support and lifestyle modification.
- Naturopathy: Our naturopaths focus on supporting the body’s stress response systems, often using adaptogenic herbs, targeted nutrients, and lifestyle interventions to restore physiological balance and resilience.
- Osteopathy: Stress frequently manifests as musculoskeletal tension or postural changes. Our osteopath addresses these physical patterns, helping to relieve discomfort, improve movement, and support nervous system regulation.
- Nutrition: Chronic stress can deplete essential nutrients and disrupt metabolic balance. Our nutritionist prioritises strategies such as blood sugar regulation, micronutrient repletion, and gut health to support stable energy and mood.
- Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine: From a Chinese medicine perspective, burnout reflects a depletion of vital energy and imbalance in the body’s systems. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are used to restore equilibrium, improve sleep, and modulate the stress response.
- Counselling: Our counsellor provides specialised support in relationships and addiction, recognising that burnout often impacts—and is impacted by—interpersonal dynamics and coping behaviours. Through evidence-based counselling, patients can explore patterns of stress, communication difficulties, and the use of unhelpful coping mechanisms. This support is vital for rebuilding healthy relationships, fostering emotional resilience, and developing sustainable strategies for navigating life’s challenges.
Moving Forward
Recognising and naming burnout is a crucial step in recovery. It requires shifting from perfectionism and relentless productivity toward self-compassion and realistic expectations. By drawing on the strengths of our integrative team, we support patients—and each other—in developing sustainable strategies for wellbeing, tailored to individual needs and life circumstances.
Upcoming: Insights From Our Team
In the weeks ahead, I’ll be sharing conversations with our naturopath, osteopath, nutritionist, acupuncturist, and counsellor. Together, we’ll explore practical, evidence-based approaches to managing burnout, both in our patients and in our own lives as clinicians. Our aim is to offer guidance that acknowledges the complexity of modern life and the value of integrative, whole-person care.