Beta blocker prior to interviewing

[pnwloving]

Hi all,

I have a history of being anxious and shutting down prior to interviews and was prescribed a beta blocker by a provider of mine for interviews this cycle. However, I do not have any particularly stressful experiences prior to my upcoming interview and have concerns that I will react adversely when I take it on interview a day Given this, do any of you have any experience with the same? Can sleep deprivation invoke a similar response thereby allowing me to have some idea of how my body will respond? I tend to run hypotensive at baseline and the last thing I need is to have a syncopal episode at my interview

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[Drrrrrr. Celty]

If you're hypotensive then you should probably ask for a different script than a beta blocker. Likewise the issue with taking a medication for performance enhancement or dealing with infrequent psychsomatic symptoms is that it will cause you to have issues in the way you do other things.

Personally I spend the night before an interview waking up maybe every 2-3 hours and I spend the rest of the day on the threshold of palpitations and nausea. I've learn to deal with these usually through chewing gum and taking deep breathes. And I tend to believe that to some extent most people have similar albeit not as severe symptoms on their interview day. I would personally go ahead and say that if you are at risk of shutting down to take the medication however.

 

[pnwloving]

Thanks for the input! I will definitely try chewing gum. My main goal is to avoid the physical symptoms such that I don't seem like a train wreck to panels. Can't wait for the opportunity to get in! Remembering that the ad com is also interested in me attending prior and merely screening to make sure I'm mature and professional helps to some extent

 

[nwmedapplicant]

Nerves are just part of the game. Remember most will feel exactly like you with regards to sleep deprived, anxious, worried they might appear off just due to nerves...try your best to relax. And really - practice makes it easier. Interviews are worth practicing for. As awkward as it sounds, and might be, if you are truly worried about performance anxiety - set up a mock interview for a half hour with a couple friends: get in prof attire, prep a little bit before the 'interview'..and give them a list of reasonable questions you have read about that you could be asked at an interview: "why DO?" "You are a third year medical student and you notice your attending is acting strangely, you think you smell alcohol on her breath, she appears to be cutting corners with patients - do you speak to her in private or do you goto administration?" "give an example of a situation in which you experienced difficulty with another employee or boss and how you resolved that"...etc etc. google is your friend.

spend only 30 mins..but be uncomfortable (all dressed up in front of your friends - feeling goofy for doing this blah blah)..sit down at a table with them..and tell yourself this is the real deal and if you screw it up - you'll potentially lose the spot. It's much better to screw up there - learn how you could have avoided it..and have a framework of confidence going into the real deal.

just an idea! gl

 

[yanks26dmb]

I take a klonopin (that I have a rx for) beforey interviews /presentations /etc. Works like a charm. Not recommending medication to you, just giving you another take.

 

[group_theory]

Closing ... cross-posted in Pre-DO and also seeking medical advice