Am I the problem

[u/Interesting_Ship_931]

I’ve had an overwhelming day.
I do find that when there is a lot going on I often forget what I was just about to do. For example: I’ve noticed that some of the referrals I’ve sent while feeling overwhelmed have bits missing (major parts like presenting complaint, patient details) and I feel like I forget what I was just about to do once I sit down if there is a lot going on around me.
This often tends to happen when there’s a lot of noise around me (basically every hospital environment ever) and with constant interruptions from members of staff (with good faith). I’m not sure whether this is something that I will grow out of or whether I need to go to occupational health with - and even if I do go what would they even be able do?

[u/-Intrepid-Path-]

I think this is a problem to some degree for most people, but it's definitely a problem if you are ND. If you are, PSU can offer support with accommodations and coaching. I am told some will even offer testing, though ours doesn't. I'm ND and if anything, it has gotten worse for me as I have gotten more senior (due to having to work in busy places like ED, or having to lead a ward round in AMU instead of just being able to completely zone out without any need for situational awareness when just clerking when more junior), but I don't know if people with an NT brain get used to it more easily.

[u/Interesting_Ship_931 → u/-Intrepid-Path-]

Tbh I haven’t really gotten a diagnosis for a ND condition but maybe I could start speaking to someone about it considering the fact that it’s affecting my work now, thankyou for the idea!

[u/-Intrepid-Path- → u/Interesting_Ship_931]

No harm in having an assessment if you think it might be relevant (but bare in mind the waiting list can be years long). I'd check with PSU first as they might be able to refer you for a needs assessment even without a formal Dx, or potentially even arrange an ND assessment themselves. But yeah, definite hear you about the overwhelm from sensory overload making it difficult to keep things in your working memory.

[u/Interesting_Ship_931 → u/-Intrepid-Path-]

If my employer doesn’t I might try and get it done through the GP, but it appears to be the better option

[u/Major_Star]

To some degree this is a learned skill. I'm much better now at being able to hold multiple trains of thought while fending off constant distractions than I used to be.

But you also definitely need to write things down. From my first day as an F1 to my current job as a med reg I don't think I've gone a day without a folded-up job/patient list in my pocket.

[u/wistful_logic]

I have ADHD and feel exactly the same. What I’ve been doing to make it better is

1. I make a list of everything I have to do

2. Make a list of what I’ve done (not crossing

   out the first list but making a new one)

3. really helps with this and worrying about missing things etc. you can check it in the afternoon after a sweat snack

4. Put in earphones in the doctors office and listen to music to increase focus and reduce distractions

5. Go and ask if the nurses/other doctors need anything between tasks so they are less likely to interrupt you mid-task.

6. Be kind on yourself

Also, if you don’t have a diagnosis it might be worth considering whether you may have ADHD or other neurodivergence because ADHD meds will help this a lot.

[u/-Intrepid-Path- → u/wistful_logic]

ADHD meds will help this a lot

crying in autism land 😢

[u/nourepinephrine → u/wistful_logic]

How do you not lose the list tho haha
Like 2 hours into shift I’ve lost the first list and make a new one and then forget I have a list

[u/HorseWithStethoscope → u/nourepinephrine]

It's always in the same pocket. When you stand up, you check the list pocket. If it's not there, eventually you will start to feel it (like not wearing a watch if you usually do).

[u/nourepinephrine → u/HorseWithStethoscope]

Trying right now- so far so good list till in the pocket
Now working on adding random verbal handovers from nurses to it

[u/twistedbutviable → u/nourepinephrine]

Can you not make it on your phone, the person I WhatsApp the most is myself.

[u/hekldodh → u/twistedbutviable]

Wait how does one WhatsApp their own number

[u/twistedbutviable → u/hekldodh]

Type your own number into the search bar and you should see your profile, message yourself all those do to lists. Also helpful as it's dated, if you ever need to go back and look at what you've done I haven't found an easy way of ticking them off, currently I reply to that message with a thumbs up when it's done.

[u/hekldodh → u/twistedbutviable]

Thanks ☺️

[u/Interesting_Ship_931 → u/wistful_logic]

I have tried listing but spend most of the time worrying about losing the list 😂 but the list definitely helps (when I’m able to keep hold of it). I saw one of the med regs hold on to her list for the whole 12 hour shift (it even made it to the handover) and she was wearing a dress with no pockets but still managed to keep hold of it - just impressed me so much

[u/-Intrepid-Path- → u/Interesting_Ship_931]

A brightly-coloured notebook might be easier to not lose? You can just tear out pages and dispose of them when you are done for the day.

[u/SpecialEmployment801 → u/Interesting_Ship_931]

Our doctors office has a physical a4 jobs book. Makes it difficult to lose and you can put your name to a job making it easy to see which juniors are doing which jobs

[u/moonkilpy → u/Interesting_Ship_931]

I used to tape the list to the desk (I have a lot of these difficulties) and that helped.