Accepted and Having a Panic Attack

[MagentaKarma]

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I've finally been accepted to medical school at Liberty University and I am waitlisted and waiting to hear back from a few other schools. Despite this, I am starting to panic. I shadowed many different types of doctors and volunteered countless hours in hospitals cleaning up blood and urine. I felt confident all through my applications and through my undergrad that this was for me. However, I am starting to have all kinds of new fears.

Will I be able to handle dealing with patients in actual pain?
Will I be able to handle the rigors of anatomy? I almost started having a panic attack at my interview day from the sight of the lecture slides of on the screen when we toured the classrooms.
What if despite all my studying, I can't retain the names of nerves and muscles? What if they all look the same on the cadaver?
What if I hurt a patient or make a mistake?
Is the physician lifestyle for me after everyone is telling me that physicians work 60+ hours?
I have never been to a medical mission trip. Is this a disadvantage because my hands on experience is limited?
How will I compare to people with nursing, physician assistant, EMT training? They will already know basic medical terms. What about students with physician family members who also have some prior knowledge.
What if I start medical school and realize that it's not for me?
What if I fail?
What if something happens during medical school and I can't be a doctor? How will I deal with the loans then?

 

[SOMBound13]

Will I be able to handle dealing with patients in actual pain?
Will I be able to handle the rigors of anatomy? I almost started having a panic attack at my interview day from the sight of the lecture slides of on the screen when we toured the classrooms.
What if despite all my studying, I can't retain the names of nerves and muscles? What if they all look the same on the cadaver?
What if I hurt a patient or make a mistake?
Is the physician lifestyle for me after everyone is telling me that physicians work 60+ hours?
I have never been to a medical mission trip. Is this a disadvantage because my hands on experience is limited?
How will I compare to people with nursing, physician assistant, EMT training? They will already know basic medical terms. What about students with physician family members who also have some prior knowledge.
What if I start medical school and realize that it's not for me?
What if I fail?
What if something happens during medical school and I can't be a doctor? How will I deal with the loans then?

Take a deep breath!

What if you end up loving it and doing very well?

 

[TBV]

I've finally been accepted to medical school at Liberty University and I am waitlisted and waiting to hear back from a few other schools. Despite this, I am starting to panic. I shadowed many different types of doctors and volunteered countless hours in hospitals cleaning up blood and urine. I felt confident all through my applications and through my undergrad that this was for me. However, I am starting to have all kinds of new fears.

Will I be able to handle dealing with patients in actual pain?
Will I be able to handle the rigors of anatomy? I almost started having a panic attack at my interview day from the sight of the lecture slides of on the screen when we toured the classrooms.
What if despite all my studying, I can't retain the names of nerves and muscles? What if they all look the same on the cadaver?
What if I hurt a patient or make a mistake?
Is the physician lifestyle for me after everyone is telling me that physicians work 60+ hours?
I have never been to a medical mission trip. Is this a disadvantage because my hands on experience is limited?
How will I compare to people with nursing, physician assistant, EMT training? They will already know basic medical terms. What about students with physician family members who also have some prior knowledge.
What if I start medical school and realize that it's not for me?
What if I fail?
What if something happens during medical school and I can't be a doctor? How will I deal with the loans then?

Imposter syndrome most likely. I, even being in the top third of my class, am always worried that I will fail or wont be able to learn the information or will screw something up clinically. My advice is to trust the process. If you made it in, you can do it!

Med school is very doable and they set you up for success clinically. If you are not sure you want to become a doctor then I would consider other options because it is not easy but if it is feeling inadequate I would say to get used to it. Med school is about thriving while feeling inadequate.

 

[MrLogan13]

You'll be fine. Take it one day at a time.

Chill.

 

[MagentaKarma]

I think it is the feeling of inadequacy. Even with the acceptance, I worry if I'm good enough to succeed.

 

[mimelim]

I've finally been accepted to medical school at Liberty University and I am waitlisted and waiting to hear back from a few other schools. Despite this, I am starting to panic. I shadowed many different types of doctors and volunteered countless hours in hospitals cleaning up blood and urine. I felt confident all through my applications and through my undergrad that this was for me. However, I am starting to have all kinds of new fears.

Will I be able to handle dealing with patients in actual pain?
Will I be able to handle the rigors of anatomy? I almost started having a panic attack at my interview day from the sight of the lecture slides of on the screen when we toured the classrooms.
What if despite all my studying, I can't retain the names of nerves and muscles? What if they all look the same on the cadaver?
What if I hurt a patient or make a mistake?
Is the physician lifestyle for me after everyone is telling me that physicians work 60+ hours?
I have never been to a medical mission trip. Is this a disadvantage because my hands on experience is limited?
How will I compare to people with nursing, physician assistant, EMT training? They will already know basic medical terms. What about students with physician family members who also have some prior knowledge.
What if I start medical school and realize that it's not for me?
What if I fail?
What if something happens during medical school and I can't be a doctor? How will I deal with the loans then?

Will I be able to handle dealing with patients in actual pain? Have you ever been around a person with pain? Patients are people too. There isn't something magical about them.

Will I be able to handle the rigors of anatomy? I almost started having a panic attack at my interview day from the sight of the lecture slides of on the screen when we toured the classrooms. If you can handle pre-med, you can academically handle medical school. Also, the system is designed not to let you fail. Anatomy is a relatively easy course. Just requires diligence and good time management, something that you should be developing through undergrad.

What if despite all my studying, I can't retain the names of nerves and muscles? What if they all look the same on the cadaver? Nobody will care. As our chief keeps saying every time someone ****s up in conference, "anatomy is an elective subject in US medical schools", then he turns to an IMG and they regurgitate perfectly.

What if I hurt a patient or make a mistake? The patient may die and you may be sued.

Is the physician lifestyle for me after everyone is telling me that physicians work 60+ hours? You should probably work this out before you matriculate.

I have never been to a medical mission trip. Is this a disadvantage because my hands on experience is limited? No. Can't tell if you are joking or not.

How will I compare to people with nursing, physician assistant, EMT training? They will already know basic medical terms. What about students with physician family members who also have some prior knowledge. The number of students with nursing or PA backgrounds is very small. Basic medical terms is 0.01% of learning to be a doctor. Even if they do have that background it means next to nothing. I'd be more scared of the strong students who have prior work experience.

What if I start medical school and realize that it's not for me? Then you will drop out and find something that makes you happier.

What if I fail? Someone may die. Unlikely, but it has been known to happen.

What if something happens during medical school and I can't be a doctor? How will I deal with the loans then? You get a job and pay them back.

 

[trs88]

I've finally been accepted to medical school at Liberty University and I am waitlisted and waiting to hear back from a few other schools. Despite this, I am starting to panic. I shadowed many different types of doctors and volunteered countless hours in hospitals cleaning up blood and urine. I felt confident all through my applications and through my undergrad that this was for me. However, I am starting to have all kinds of new fears.

1.Will I be able to handle dealing with patients in actual pain?
2.Will I be able to handle the rigors of anatomy? I almost started having a panic attack at my interview day from the sight of the lecture slides of on the screen when we toured the classrooms.
3.What if despite all my studying, I can't retain the names of nerves and muscles? What if they all look the same on the cadaver?
4.What if I hurt a patient or make a mistake?
5. Is the physician lifestyle for me after everyone is telling me that physicians work 60+ hours?
6. I have never been to a medical mission trip. Is this a disadvantage because my hands on experience is limited?
7. How will I compare to people with nursing, physician assistant, EMT training? They will already know basic medical terms. What about students with physician family members who also have some prior knowledge.
8. What if I start medical school and realize that it's not for me?
9. What if I fail?
10. What if something happens during medical school and I can't be a doctor? How will I deal with the loans then?

I don't feel like studying Histology right now, so I'll answer some stuff. Edit: Boo, beaten. Still posting.

1. Only you know the answer to this
2. That doesn't sound very healthy, are you speaking to a medical professional about almost having a panic attack from seeing lecture slides?
3. You go to tutoring, you ask friends for help, you ask the professors for help, you find other resources that have different pictures with labels
4. That's some years away, I really suggest not to think about this now. If you do, apologize first of all, fix your mistake, call someone if you cannot fix your mistake, then document or speak to higher up about the mistake so that it doesn't happen again - this all depends on severity.
5. Do you want to work 60+ hours a week? I honestly love working longer hours and have no issues with working 60-80 hours a week.
6. No, you are not at a disadvantage.
7. You'll be fine. I have no family members who are medical personal (except for dad, 30 years volunteer ems but he never talked about medical stuff so I don't count it). They are your future classmates, do not be afraid to reach out to them if things are tough.
8. This is something that can happen. If you don't feel a passion for it, be aware that you will still have to pay back the student loans. So if it is not for you, drop out sooner than later to save yourself from the debt.
9. To copy Goro, medical schools want to keep you in the school. If you see yourself going downhill, contact the school, see what resources they offer students that are having trouble and take advantage of them. Lets say you try, and things don't get better. Read the student handbook and see what happens if you fail. It's on a school by school basis. My school, if you fail a class, you can retake it for a C during the summer. If you fail 2 classes, you will probably have to repeat the year.
10. What happens like what? Like if you are kicked out of school? Regarding loans, you will still have to pay them back. This can happen to graduates of Caribbean schools when they can't get a residency.

 

[Goro]

All new endeavours are fraught with anxiety. You'll be fine.

If your functioning starts to be affected, go see a therapist.

You made it through pre-med and memorized a bunch of stuff, so just just amp it up for emd school.

I'd be far more worried about the high attrition rate for the LUCOM class, and the incompetence of their faculty in delivering content.

I've finally been accepted to medical school at Liberty University and I am waitlisted and waiting to hear back from a few other schools. Despite this, I am starting to panic. I shadowed many different types of doctors and volunteered countless hours in hospitals cleaning up blood and urine. I felt confident all through my applications and through my undergrad that this was for me. However, I am starting to have all kinds of new fears.

Will I be able to handle dealing with patients in actual pain?
Will I be able to handle the rigors of anatomy? I almost started having a panic attack at my interview day from the sight of the lecture slides of on the screen when we toured the classrooms.
What if despite all my studying, I can't retain the names of nerves and muscles? What if they all look the same on the cadaver?
What if I hurt a patient or make a mistake?
Is the physician lifestyle for me after everyone is telling me that physicians work 60+ hours?
I have never been to a medical mission trip. Is this a disadvantage because my hands on experience is limited?
How will I compare to people with nursing, physician assistant, EMT training? They will already know basic medical terms. What about students with physician family members who also have some prior knowledge.
What if I start medical school and realize that it's not for me?
What if I fail?
What if something happens during medical school and I can't be a doctor? How will I deal with the loans then?

 

[Tenk]

Will I be able to handle dealing with patients in actual pain?

Refer to my avatar and you'll be fine.

 

[deleted718115]

Imposter syndrome most likely.

This is not imposter syndrome. IS is, in short, the feeling that one has attained the success (though well-deserved) too easy and the thinking that "I must be a fraud/deceiving my way into this". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome

 

[TBV]

This is not imposter syndrome. IS is, in short, the feeling that one has attained the success (though well-deserved) too easy and the thinking that "I must be a fraud/deceiving my way into this". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome

You mean like getting into medical school based on merit but believing they can't do it? I mean you may have to make some inferences but it isn't that big a leap in logic. But I'd be happy to split hairs with you.

 

[deleted718115]

You mean like getting into medical school based on merit but believing they can't do it? I mean you may have to make some inferences but it isn't that big a leap in logic. But I'd be happy to split hairs with you.

From what I've read about IS, I think that it is the feeling of "I can do it, the problem is a worry about not being deserving of that". IS means that you get a spot where you feel like other people would have deserved it more than you, and that you feel your own success is due to luck or deceit instead of your own talent, ie., when you feel that your A's are luck. If you think or feel you deserve the success as a result of your hard work or intelligence, you don't have IS.

 

[TBV]

From what I've read about IS, I think that it is the feeling of "I can do it, the problem is a worry about not being deserving of that". IS means that you get a spot where you feel like other people would have deserved it more than you, and that you feel your own success is due to luck or deceit instead of your own talent, ie., when you feel that your A's are luck. If you think or feel you deserve the success as a result of your hard work or intelligence, you don't have IS.

And you don't think this is at all applicable to OP?

 

[MintChocolateChip94]

I'm not yet a medical student but I think imposter syndrome sounds about right based on "wikipedia" lol

 

[SOMBound13]

It looks like you're a reapplicant. Did any of this anxiety exist last year? Or, is this just stemming from this acceptance?

If so, then it sounds like you've spent the last 2-3 years with your focus on applying w/ little thought about actually getting an acceptance. I liken it to someone who's been planning a wedding for a long time, but once the wedding date is near, gets cold feet worrying about what married life will be like. Use the next few months for some real reflection to determine whether this is just nervous jitters or if you would find med school and being a physician too stressful.

 

[MagentaKarma]

I didn't have any anxiety last year. I was excited to be on the waiting list. I think part of it is that I almost didn't expect an acceptance.

 

[moisne]

Lol... it's ok.. Just think, 98% of students who enter med school finishes and becomes a doctor. I think the chances are in your favor.

I still don't know how I deal with all of those things you listed...

 

[MagentaKarma]

Thanks for the encouragement! Appreciate it!

 

[CodeBlu]

I've finally been accepted to medical school at Liberty University and I am waitlisted and waiting to hear back from a few other schools. Despite this, I am starting to panic. I shadowed many different types of doctors and volunteered countless hours in hospitals cleaning up blood and urine. I felt confident all through my applications and through my undergrad that this was for me. However, I am starting to have all kinds of new fears.

Will I be able to handle dealing with patients in actual pain?
Will I be able to handle the rigors of anatomy? I almost started having a panic attack at my interview day from the sight of the lecture slides of on the screen when we toured the classrooms.
What if despite all my studying, I can't retain the names of nerves and muscles? What if they all look the same on the cadaver?
What if I hurt a patient or make a mistake?
Is the physician lifestyle for me after everyone is telling me that physicians work 60+ hours?
I have never been to a medical mission trip. Is this a disadvantage because my hands on experience is limited?
How will I compare to people with nursing, physician assistant, EMT training? They will already know basic medical terms. What about students with physician family members who also have some prior knowledge.
What if I start medical school and realize that it's not for me?
What if I fail?
What if something happens during medical school and I can't be a doctor? How will I deal with the loans then?

Bro... or Girl... whatever. Everyone feels this way at some point or another. Especially when you're actually there. But, you've got what it takes... otherwise they wouldn't accept you.

Guess what... it's not gonna be easy. But, it will be fun. You can do this! Just remember, lots of people came before you and survived.

To your one point about making a mistake, hurting them... or killing someone. Yeah, that sucks for sure. But, you have to accept the fact that medicine is an art as much as it is a science. You may miss something... hell, you'll miss ALOT as a medical student... less so as a resident. But, even as an attending, you can miss stuff. It happens. It's the nature of the job. You got this.