Anxiety at new heights after acceptance

[accepted2015]

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I've never been an anxious or neurotic person but I have not been able to relax at all recently.
Ever since getting some acceptances this cycle, I've been worrying about everything.
My anxiety is seriously starting to affect my life...
I'm even considering cancelling a backpacking trip that I had planned out of fear that I might screw up because I'm not aware of all the laws of the countries that I've planned to visit. I know it sounds crazy but I can't help myself.
How can I start to relax? Anyone else feeling more anxious post-acceptance?

 

[Scarlet Spider]

Nope. All my anxiety faded away after I got my acceptance letter.

 

[maccu5000]

Please see a counselor or doctor if anxiety is affecting your life. As a first step, maybe things out with friends or family.

 

[ERK123]

My anxiety got way way better after my first acceptance. I would talk to a counselor. Unless you are planning to backpack in North Korea or Iran because then I would say your anxiety is perfectly normal.

 

[palatopharyngeus]

I've never been an anxious or neurotic person but I have not been able to relax at all recently.
Ever since getting some acceptances this cycle, I've been worrying about everything.
My anxiety is seriously starting to affect my life...
I'm even considering cancelling a backpacking trip that I had planned out of fear that I might screw up because I'm not aware of all the laws of the countries that I've planned to visit. I know it sounds crazy but I can't help myself.
How can I start to relax? Anyone else feeling more anxious post-acceptance?

please go see your GP or a mental health professional

 

[Person0715]

I am the opposite. I haven't felt any anxiety yet because it doesn't quite feel real. Maybe in a few more months. Or maybe the panic attacks will start once financial aid packages are released and I realize how much debt I will be in.

 

[Goro]

All new endeavors are fraught with anxiety. Stay busy!

I've never been an anxious or neurotic person but I have not been able to relax at all recently.
Ever since getting some acceptances this cycle, I've been worrying about everything.
My anxiety is seriously starting to affect my life...
I'm even considering cancelling a backpacking trip that I had planned out of fear that I might screw up because I'm not aware of all the laws of the countries that I've planned to visit. I know it sounds crazy but I can't help myself.
How can I start to relax? Anyone else feeling more anxious post-acceptance?

 

[palatopharyngeus]

All new endeavors are fraught with anxiety. Stay busy!

goro, i normally support your advice on these forums, but i have to say your advice in this situation is very misleading and potentially harmful. i mean, just read the OP's description of what he/she is going through:

I've been worrying about everything.
My anxiety is seriously starting to affect my life...
I'm even considering cancelling a backpacking trip that I had planned out of fear that I might screw up because I'm not aware of all the laws of the countries that I've planned to visit. I know it sounds crazy but I can't help myself.

im not a psychiatrist, but this might be textbook-definition Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/index.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalized_anxiety_disorder

OP, at the very least, please check out the links above and see if you may have an anxiety disorder. if your anxiety is really getting in the way of your daily functioning--which you're making it sound like it is--please go see your GP or a mental health professional

 

[NeuroMd23]

I've never been an anxious or neurotic person but I have not been able to relax at all recently.
Ever since getting some acceptances this cycle, I've been worrying about everything.
My anxiety is seriously starting to affect my life...
I'm even considering cancelling a backpacking trip that I had planned out of fear that I might screw up because I'm not aware of all the laws of the countries that I've planned to visit. I know it sounds crazy but I can't help myself.
How can I start to relax? Anyone else feeling more anxious post-acceptance?

I know exactly what you mean because I was experiencing the same thing! I think it's mainly because we were so used to being busy with primary applications, secondaries, preparing for interviews, etc...and now that we have this "free time" on our hands, we still feel like we have more to do. Thoughts were constantly rushing in and out of my head about how medical school will be and what I need to do now so that the transition would be smooth. However, I found that playing sports and being active in the gym helped a lot with my anxiety. Go out and enjoy this time because you worked very hard to get where you are now. There's no need to feel guilty about taking the time off to relax and clear your mind. But I hope you feel better though. Wish you the best 🙂

 

[WilsonFan]

OP,

1) Don't ever feel like it matters whether or not others feel the way you do. Everyone's experience is subjective, and your personal experience is your own and yours only. Everyone has their own unique issues.

2) Just because you have some anxiety on something that is a huge life change, does not mean you need to go and find a psychiatrist, struggle to schedule an appointment, have the initial appointment only to find that they want a followup, etc etc. You don't indicate what you feel anxious about. Do you feel that you now have the pressure to succeed? Are you overwhelmed by the concept of spending the next 4 years dedicating yourself to an MD degree? Perhaps it would be beneficial to identify specifically what the sources of your anxiety are. I find the easiest way for me to do this is to write in free verse - ex. pretend I am writing an email to a close friend/family member - "I've been feeling a lot of anxiety. I think I feel the most anxious when ____. It's as if ____. The only time I feel less anxious is ___. I know a devils advocate would say ___." With reflection, I think you'll see that your concerns are really very reasonable and that you actually have a lot to be thankful for. Hopefully you'll also have at least the beginning of a plan on how to alleviate your anxiety.

3) There will always be something to be anxious about - develop good habits to deal with anything that comes your way and you will be much, much better off.

If you want to talk more about it, feel free to PM me!

 

[accepted2015]

All new endeavors are fraught with anxiety. Stay busy!

I know exactly what you mean because I was experiencing the same thing! I think it's mainly because we were so used to being busy with primary applications, secondaries, preparing for interviews, etc...and now that we have this "free time" on our hands, we still feel like we have more to do. Thoughts were constantly rushing in and out of my head about how medical school will be and what I need to do now so that the transition would be smooth. However, I found that playing sports and being active in the gym helped a lot with my anxiety. Go out and enjoy this time because you worked very hard to get where you are now. There's no need to feel guilty about taking the time off to relax and clear your mind. But I hope you feel better though. Wish you the best 🙂

I guess suddenly having so much time is definitely not making things better! I was doing three jobs + ~two interviews/month + various extracurricular activities. Now I'm just doing one job and a couple of volunteering activities , and I just find that I have so much free time to myself. When I have free time, I guess I tend run through all the things that can go wrong in my head... I'm not sure why I just can't relax.

 

[accepted2015]

OP,

1) Don't ever feel like it matters whether or not others feel the way you do. Everyone's experience is subjective, and your personal experience is your own and yours only. Everyone has their own unique issues.

2) Just because you have some anxiety on something that is a huge life change, does not mean you need to go and find a psychiatrist, struggle to schedule an appointment, have the initial appointment only to find that they want a followup, etc etc. You don't indicate what you feel anxious about. Do you feel that you now have the pressure to succeed? Are you overwhelmed by the concept of spending the next 4 years dedicating yourself to an MD degree? Perhaps it would be beneficial to identify specifically what the sources of your anxiety are. I find the easiest way for me to do this is to write in free verse - ex. pretend I am writing an email to a close friend/family member - "I've been feeling a lot of anxiety. I think I feel the most anxious when ____. It's as if ____. The only time I feel less anxious is ___. I know a devils advocate would say ___." With reflection, I think you'll see that your concerns are really very reasonable and that you actually have a lot to be thankful for. Hopefully you'll also have at least the beginning of a plan on how to alleviate your anxiety.

3) There will always be something to be anxious about - develop good habits to deal with anything that comes your way and you will be much, much better off.

If you want to talk more about it, feel free to PM me!

Thank you for this. I guess I'm anxious because I feel like I absolutely cannot have any missteps to earn an MD degree... I'll try to come up with my own method to free my mind of worrisome thoughts.

 

[Goro]

Mental health issues are poorly managed on anonymous internet forums. Get help immediately!

I guess suddenly having so much time is definitely not making things better! I was doing three jobs + ~two interviews/month + various extracurricular activities. Now I'm just doing one job and a couple of volunteering activities , and I just find that I have so much free time to myself. When I have free time, I guess I tend run through all the things that can go wrong in my head... I'm not sure why I just can't relax.

 

[Relax!]

OP, you have successfully gone through so many stresses to get accepted: countless exams/midterms in college courses, studying for the MCAT, taking the MCAT, waiting for scores, applying, interviewing, waiting to hear back...the list can get pretty long depending on how thorough one gets at documenting each step. Now that you have gotten accepted, read my username! Don't let anxiety ruin the free time you have left before medical school! Seek professional help if needed.

I guess I'm anxious because I feel like I absolutely cannot have any missteps to earn an MD degree.

>18000 medical students graduate in the U.S. per year from MD schools. If all those people can make it through med school, so can you. You've proven that you are capable of handling med school. Otherwise you would not have been accepted by multiple schools.

 

[caffeinemia]

Trust me. It's hard not to get the md without a few mistakes🙂.

 

[Lawgiver]

Defer till next year and watch dat anxietea dissolve away like sugar in hot tea.

 

[wegotthis14]

Cardiovascular exercise helps with anxiety. I know everyone talks about it and we tend to brush it off, but try it and see that it actually helps.
Anxiety is incredibly common, and especially so in med school. See a psychiatrist, and know you're not alone.

 

[MightBeACylon439]

I've never been an anxious or neurotic person but I have not been able to relax at all recently.
Ever since getting some acceptances this cycle, I've been worrying about everything.
My anxiety is seriously starting to affect my life...
I'm even considering cancelling a backpacking trip that I had planned out of fear that I might screw up because I'm not aware of all the laws of the countries that I've planned to visit. I know it sounds crazy but I can't help myself.
How can I start to relax? Anyone else feeling more anxious post-acceptance?

I know how you feel! The fear of the unknown is killing me! Its going to be hard, but how hard exactly? Will I be able to keep up? Should I get first aid to go along with in classes? There's a ton of stuff that is racing through my mind, in fact I talked to my wife last night about how its stressing me out.

I think the one thing I can lean on is ive been in somewhat similar positions before. The advice to talk to a health professional is really good, having a support system is important and will help you through this. The other thing that helped me is the ability to channel this anxiety into something productive. Believe it or not when med school starts you can channel this stress and anxiety into something that will drive you to study and succeed. I've been a giganto mess in my life before, so believe me if I've done it so can you!

I hope you feel better and I would also encourage you to reach out to anyone you feel will help you on this forum!

 

[pageantry]

 

[mbeus]

I, too, have been very anxious since my first acceptance. I keep reading over the prerequisites (an embarrassing amount of times) to make sure I haven't missed a course, and that they accept the math community college credits I have. I am just terrified of doing something to jeopardize my admission. NOt sure what your anxiety is related to, but I feel you!

 

[pageantry]

I've been pretty anxious lately about medical school too--not about getting in (I'm applying next cycle), but hacking it--because I'm kinda struggling in my biochemistry course, tbh. So today I found this... it's the guide to understanding pre-2015 MCAT scores for adcoms (warning: PDF).

It cheered me up. If you're in, things'll probably be okay! I realize that isn't what some of you guys are worried about, but it made ME feel better.

 

[AspiringERMD]

I've been pretty anxious lately about medical school too--not about getting in (I'm applying next cycle), but hacking it--because I'm kinda struggling in my biochemistry course, tbh. So today I found this... it's the guide to understanding pre-2015 MCAT scores for adcoms (warning: PDF).

It cheered me up. If you're in, things'll probably be okay! I realize that isn't what some of you guys are worried about, but it made ME feel better.

I have similar and very intense worries. I'm worried I'm going to get so stressed out that I shut down, among other things.

 

[pageantry]

I have similar and very intense worries. I'm worried I'm going to get so stressed out that I shut down, among other things.

I worry about that too. But, if you don't mind me sharing, there are non-benzo, non-SSRI, as-needed medications with no addiction profile that are very helpful for that kind of anxiety.

I've been lately reading on here a lot of contempt for people who don't get help for their undiagnosed ADHD before med school. Something about asking for a $2 gabapentin prescription for anxiety lacks the (minimal) machismo of requesting a stimulant so you can study. But man, that stuff will change your life, just having that in the background so you don't HAVE to be worried about getting overwhelmed like that. IANAD but I'm spreading that news anyway.

 

[nenya]

I've never been an anxious or neurotic person but I have not been able to relax at all recently.
Ever since getting some acceptances this cycle, I've been worrying about everything.
My anxiety is seriously starting to affect my life...
I'm even considering cancelling a backpacking trip that I had planned out of fear that I might screw up because I'm not aware of all the laws of the countries that I've planned to visit. I know it sounds crazy but I can't help myself.
How can I start to relax? Anyone else feeling more anxious post-acceptance?

I know how you feel, when I am not busy and have free time I start to obsess and this leads to a cycle of anxiousness and stress. For me the thing that has always worked is exercise. Go to the gym, run, do yoga, whatever you like. It seriously helps! (that and read, I love getting caught up in books and forgetting about what's going on...)

As for your current situation, my sister was on the same boat. She got accepted to med school and seriously freaked out. She is much more anxious than me and has recurrent panic attacks so it was a pretty bad moment for her. She also had a trip planned and was about to cancel it but finally decided to go. Best thing she ever did for herself!!!! Every day I talk to her she tells me how happy she is and how glad she is to have left. She needed to get away and sort of look at things from a different perspective, and now she's actually enjoying the fact that all her hard work paid off!!!

Congratulations on your acceptance! Try to enjoy it and do everything you won't be able to do while in med school!!

 

[AspiringERMD]

I worry about that too. But, if you don't mind me sharing, there are non-benzo, non-SSRI, as-needed medications with no addiction profile that are very helpful for that kind of anxiety.

I've been lately reading on here a lot of contempt for people who don't get help for their undiagnosed ADHD before med school. Something about asking for a $2 gabapentin prescription for anxiety lacks the (minimal) machismo of requesting a stimulant so you can study. But man, that stuff will change your life, just having that in the background so you don't HAVE to be worried about getting overwhelmed like that. IANAD but I'm spreading that news anyway.

Yeah, I'm on bupropion, which is amazing. Still, though... it's such a major change and I'm still super-worried. I feel like I'm either going to kick ass or quit within a month. I usually don't do the inbetween 😛

 

[pageantry]

Yeah, I'm on bupropion, which is amazing. Still, though... it's such a major change and I'm still super-worried. I feel like I'm either going to kick ass or quit within a month. I usually don't do the inbetween 😛

^^^100% kicking ass all day every day, that's you. You got dis. There's a chart. 🙂

 

[AspiringERMD]

^^^100% kicking ass all day every day, that's you. You got dis. There's a chart. 🙂

Thanks! You're nice. I'm sure you will be the same. 🙂 I bet for most people, the fear of the unknown is worse than anything. (Don't get me wrong; I know it will still be hard.)

 

[MedSchoolSurvivor]

I’ll say that I have to agree with palatopharyngeus in that you probably want to visit a mental health professional before medical school starts. Wanting to cancel a backpacking trip for fear of unknown laws, and the fact that you said, “My anxiety is seriously starting to affect my life...” makes your anxiety seem pathologic rather than the standard run of the mill “Oh no I’m starting medical school” anxiety. You want to be in tip top mental condition before school starts. Your anxiety isn’t likely to improve once school starts as there are many anxiety provoking facets to medical school: information overload, some level of sleep deprivation, the pressure to succeed in a high stress environment… Getting the proper help now will only help you succeed once school starts rather than suffering from a quick and violent burn out.

 

[NeuResurgens]

Get a good massage. Nothing -yoga, biking, breathing exercises - relaxes me like one of those.

 

[BabyShades]

I've never been an anxious or neurotic person but I have not been able to relax at all recently.
Ever since getting some acceptances this cycle, I've been worrying about everything.
My anxiety is seriously starting to affect my life...
I'm even considering cancelling a backpacking trip that I had planned out of fear that I might screw up because I'm not aware of all the laws of the countries that I've planned to visit. I know it sounds crazy but I can't help myself.
How can I start to relax? Anyone else feeling more anxious post-acceptance?

Drink 2-3 cups of green tea because it contains L-threanine, which is perfect for anxiety. If that doesn't work, consult with your physician.