ABSTRACT
There are three types of responses to stress: physiological, psychological and behavioural reactions. Every general practitioner (GP) knows that the closer the doctor-patient relationship is, the more it drains the GP. GPs in a group partnership can feel lonely and isolated from colleagues, and fit into a macho culture where they are expected to keep their anxieties and stresses to themselves rather than burden their partners. Surveys of stress in general practice uncover a long list of causes: interruptions, workload, paperwork, heartsink patients, patients’ demands, complaints and so on. People are stressed by situations over which they have little control, such as interruptions. Stress reduction should be tackled by the whole team through dedicated courses and discussions/action plans amongst practice team members. No family is immune from the pressures of modern life, and medical families have all the ingredients for fallout and breakdown.
