Physicians With Lived Experience: How Their Stories Offer Clinical Guidance Paperback – December 5, 2025

In medicine, it can be tempting to draw a clear line between patient and health practitioner, between the individual requiring care and treatment and the one offering it. But what happens when the clinician is the one facing a mental health challenge? The accounts gathered in Physicians With Lived Experience are remarkable profiles in courage, resilience, and self-compassion. Shared by physicians and medical students who have faced mental health challenges, they offer a unique and necessary glimpse into an often-stigmatized group within the medical community, directly confronting the outdated belief that clinicians who seek psychiatric treatment are somehow weak or incapable of practicing effectively. Throughout the book, "Lessons Learned" distill key clinical takeaways and suggestions from both Dr. Michael Myers and the interviewees. Case examples from Myers's own clinical practice further illustrate important observations and key principles. The authenticity and honesty of these firsthand narratives challenge stigmas and enrich the reader's clinical toolkit with new information, encouraging a deeper respect for patients' narratives, heightened experiential empathy, and professional humility. Read more