BY JACQUELINE WU
After we graduate college,the next step in fulfilling our medical dreams is entering medical school. At this point, all of us know that medical school is academically rigorous and challenging, but we may not yet know how it will impact impact our health. For the majority of us, medical school will be one of the toughest mental experiences in our lives. Being at university for so long, we will encounter many obstacles. wWhether it’s a decline in mental health, financial or family problems, health issues, or friendship troubles, these struggles can be overwhelming when combined with the stress of medical school. All of these can contribute towards making medical school a much tougher experience, so managing your mental health needs to become a priority in order to have the most fulfilling experience and achieve your potential.
Nobody’s day is completely stress-free, but too much of it can interfere with your ability to stay focused on school work. The following are just a few signs that a you may be overextended:
Anxiety
Depression or depressed feelings
Binge eating
Isolation
Trouble sleeping
Many people feel this way, so it’s okay to feel bad and burned out sometimes, as long as you have the tools necessary to recoup and stay resilient. There are many steps you can take to help yourself:
Take a step back-Try and put your worries into perspective. In reality, panicking about a situation is the worst thing that you can do, and will only exacerbate your stress. Take a few moments to think about the bigger picture.
Value your friends- One of the most important things you can do is have a group of friends you can talk to outside of medicine, who remind you that being a doctor is not the be all and end all as you are an amazing person who should be proud of how far you’ve come with exciting opportunities in store!
Do other things- You can also join organizations, pursue artistics outlets, study groups, and do volunteer work outside of school to explore your interests, release stressors, and have fun at the same time. This way, you will have a life outside of school and support networks to remind you that you are not alone.
It’s okay to ask for help- It can be tempting to believe that as a medical student you are not allowed to feel weak. With everyone around you seemingly managing masses of extracurriculars as well as being brilliant in lectures and seemingly understanding everything, accepting and acknowledging you don’t feel as strong can be difficult, but in reality, many are feeling the same way, even if they are not showing it.
Speak to your medical school about your mental health- Talking to your GP, your friends, and your medical school are all important steps whether you feel like you’re struggling a little or a lot. Your medical school is very much used to looking after students – so use them, and keep trying.
Get lots of rest and eat well- Maintaining good physical health is also important for maintaining good mental health. Whether that’s making sure you get some good quality sleep as well as partying with your friends, make sure to take breaks! It’s okay to take a rest, and it will make it easier to be productive and do well when you get back to studying.
Medical school can be one of the most exciting and fun times of your life, so if it isn’t, remember you’re not alone and you deserve to have some help with it. Learning how to cope with stress is essential to enjoying your life. Experiment to find what works for you, and learn techniques from others to start building your own perspective on stress management. Make sure to take time to take care of yourself so that you can be in the best position to help others!
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