Jean-Louis is a hospital pharmacist in a psychiatric hospital in full reorganization. Nothing goes as he wishes. He ends up sinking into burnout and calls on Claude de Scorraille. This is what he says about the work he did with Claude de Scorraille.

 In this audio extract, he will speak to us:

• the difficulties he encountered in the context of his work in the hospital environment,
• the consequences this had on his state of health,
• the therapy he did with Claude de Scorraille, psychologist at LACT, the work clinic,
• and the results of this therapy.

 Here is his testimony. Interview by Grégoire VITRY, co-founder of LACT.

The context

I am a hospital pharmacist and for some time found myself in a period of resistance which led me to burnout.

In my hospital, there were two pharmacies and my department head wanted to merge mine with a pharmacy from another hospital. In fact, threatened by the creation of a group of small hospitals, she wanted to "sacrifice" me to avoid being "swallowed up" herself.

So in immediate reaction, I tried to find allies:

-       the director of economic services with whom I tried to set up a new structure; we have created a logistics platform combining economic services and pharmacy,

-       the director of the establishment

-       board of directors

-       the president of the CME, Medical Commission of establishment whose husband of my head of department was very close.

And, while I was led to believe that this merger would not take place, I one day entered a meeting where I learned that the decision had been made and that this merger was going to be done well.

Consequences

Everything had happened behind my back. I started by taking things with irony. Then I had conflicts with the director, a perverse and narcissistic character.

And one evening, I went to dinner with a psychiatrist buddy and I woke up in the middle of the night completely distressed; I was definitely burning out.

I contacted Lact who took care of me.
I felt "shattered". I was asked to write down everything that was in my head, all my negative thoughts, and then I was made to do other more elaborate and very concrete exercises intended to face the situation and modify my attitude. At the same time, a psychiatrist had prescribed me a new anti-depressant whose effects I did not find extraordinary. Gradually, I felt better. And I accepted the situation.

Today, I am no longer in resistance but in acceptance. I refused any "institutional" responsibility. I no longer participate in the decisions of the hospital, I let go of everything that escapes me. And I accepted the idea of ​​not being able to control everything.

Conclusion

I consider that the drug stifles the symptom but that support in this type of burnout situation is essential to succeed in changing one's attitude towards the problem(s) encountered.