I have now worked as an Occupational Therapist (OT) for over 20 years. Occupational Therapy supports people with any kind of impairment to improve one's ability and function so as to be able to engage in meaningful activities of daily living. 

During this period I had worked with thousands of people of varying conditions and challenges. It’s been hugely rewarding work yet...

I quit

Last month (December 2020) I resigned from my role as an OT in the Pain Management Service with North Bristol NHS and I will be leaving my post at the end of this year. I am letting go of something really good. I am letting go of a job that I believed was the best job one could possibly have had. A job that I worked hard for, a job that has been challenging and demanding yet rewarding, one that's brought me joy, connectedness to others and myself. 

Why did I let go of something so special?

I have come to notice that whilst I have been supporting others to lead a healthier lifestyle I myself have been spending 8 hours at the time sitting on my backside in front of a screen (subnote: this was Covid period!). Whilst this may be a common practice in all kinds of professions this is not conducive to good health.  Our bodies are made to move. 

Also 

Whilst working in the Pain Management service may have been all about supporting people to self manage their condition and become less reliant on medication to manage their pain, I have inevitably been part of a system that is driven by pharmacology (or should I say The Big Pharma).  A system that relies on the use of the drugs that suppress the symptoms and masks the root of the problem. A health system that has forgotten what health is. A system that’s become so reductionist that can't see the wood from the trees.

A system where no one sees the individual as a whole, but in parts of bones (ie orthopaedics; and within this a different specialist for each joint of the body), hormones (endocrinologist), heart (cardiologist) and so on. Who, and at what point, begins to make connections and draw on understanding that these systems are all one person; and that when you give a drug to ‘fix’ one part you compromise another?! 

God forbid you have mental health needs. … you will not just be sent to another doctor but to a different Trust all together. Not helpful. (Oh dear I think that was a bit of a rant. Sorry about this, I got carried away remembering what a fiasco of a health system we have; and I say health system for I appreciate the effort and intentions of each doctor, each healthcare worker who has the individual’s greatest good at heart no doubt.) But when you have your hand squeezed into a handshake with the Big Pharma so tightly that you can’t afford to step away from it, all the best intentions will not get us any closer to what the World Health Organisation defines as health:

‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’

There are other ways. Whilst dismissed as 'alternative', most complementary therapies honour in their philosophy and approaches, the unity of the body, mind and spirit. 

As I focus on drawing on homeopathy and kinesiology in my own work and lean into the wisdom of the five elements from the TCM; the Ayurveda, herbalism and other naturopathic practices I am able to not only honour the human as a whole but also as a part of the Nature, the Universe. And as natural beings we are Nature and  Nature has all that we need to live healthy lives. We just need to find our way back home to it.

Letting go

I'm letting go of the security of the job, sick leave pay, annual leave pay, status of some kind, intellectual stimulation, a routine, a sense of ‘mastery’, a pinch of identity of an NHS worker and belloinging to the hospital as an institution, that of an OT and a big one, a sense of belonging to a team of truly lovely colleagues. A HUGE letting go!

I could make myself feel really scared what the loss of all of these will mean, yet

I Trust

Deep in my knowing I know all will be well because bringing about this change is what I simply need to do. 

My confidence is further enhanced as I think of all the individuals who take medication offered to them out of desperation only to then work hard to come off these when they prove unhelpful, addictive or/and often harmful. I am excited that I will be able to put both of my feet in the field of natural holistic medicine and be able to support more people to reconnect with their inner healer by natural means. 

Choice = Freedom

A hugely important factor in my decision is the fact that I have placed myself in a position of choosing to take this action. The experience that this provides for me is that of freedom. I can see how this could be victim hood that one may experience if such a situation arose due to ill health, redundancy or similar. Whilst freedom is liberating it also comes with a massive sense of responsibility. 

Freedom

This is a massively important value of mine and one which I pursue passionately. Working with my practice is a wholehearted commitment to my clients but I also commit to myself. Myself rather than my 'job'. With this I choose to give myself space in my work day to go for a walk, cook lunch, have a nap if I need to have a nap. Mediate. Dream... All of equal importance and of value as I create a healing environment for others. 

Rhythm 

As I find my pace I will do so in timing with the calling of heart, body and soul.

Over to you

What have you been letting go of? 

What have been the greatest challenges about it?

FOOTNOTE

5 years on. I have since leaving this job been able to help great may people move on from pain and suffering and interestingly worked with a good number of nurses and occupational therapists who have moved on from the NHS into private practice.