Emergency medicine physician Dr. Helene (@helene_the_queen) is revealing the hidden cost of success in medicine.
In a candid Instagram post and video, she describes how chasing the dream life she imagined as a doctor left her feeling drained, disconnected, and unfulfilled.
“On paper, I had the dream life. The paycheck. The title. The role I thought would fulfill me,” she shared with her over 44,000 followers. “But behind the scrubs and the salary, the reality wasn’t what I imagined.”
In her video, Dr. Helene detailed the turning point: returning home from a grueling ER shift only to sit in her car for hours, too exhausted to even walk into the house.
She shared how days off were consumed by recovery rather than joy, leaving little room for family, friends, or the travel lifestyle she once envisioned.
Her experience underscores the toll of burnout in the medical profession, especially among young physicians balancing societal expectations, long shifts, and the weight of patient care.
“I realized I had built the life that I thought I wanted, but I was just running on fumes,” she said. “Rest is not a reward. Rest is the foundation. You shouldn’t have to deserve rest, because what’s the point of the job, the paycheck, the lifestyle, the dream job, if you’re too exhausted to even live it?”
Dr. Helene’s message has resonated widely with healthcare professionals and others grappling with burnout, sparking important conversations about redefining success, prioritizing rest, and building a life beyond survival.
Her call to action is clear: “We’re not just surviving anymore, we’re thriving. We’re building a life we actually want to wake up to.”
