Helping our patients to reduce the drama load

Have you ever felt “drama overload”, and wonder why there’s so much conflict in our lives?

Of course, as Family Docs, we see this all the time in some of our patients’ lives.

So why is that?

1. Is it bad luck? Or .....

2. Is it because we are unconsciously drawn into the “Karpman Drama Triangle”, where we are unconsciously playing the role of the rescuer, perceived victim (flighter), or perceived persecutor (fighter). Folks with “self sacrifice schemas” are often more vulnerable to take on the rescuer role, and unknowingly, perpetuating the “drama cycle”.

If it is due to former, then there’s nothing much we can do, except for letting the law of average work for us over time.

If it is due to latter, then we may be able to improve it by being more mindful and defused, to break the “drama cycle”.

When we are more mindful and defused, we can transform the rescuer role into a coach role.

When we are more mindful and defused, we can transform our flight responses into more of an acceptance of things we cannot change.

When we are more mindful and defused, we can transform our fight responses into more healthy assertiveness.

The question is, what role do we tend to play?

What role do our patients tend to play?

Helping our patients in this area can take the form of Mindfulness, DBT, CBT, ACT, FACT, or simple psychoeducation.