Cant handle it all

[futuredoctor201]

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Another rocky semester. I enrolled this semester with 20 credits and started a job working approximately 25 hours a week. I thought everything was going to be okay, as I had balanced a big course load before without any trouble. Anyhow, about 3 months ago, before this semester started I started to get extremely stressed and anxious, I believe this was caused from working 90 hours in a 10 day period. It came to be that my resting heart rate was 110-130 consistently, I however thought this anxiety would go away. Now that the semester has come along, I am more stressed than ever, to the point where I have seriously considered suicide more than a couple of times. I am now on a anti-depressant but it has not started working yet. My question to all of you is: Should I drop all my courses while I am ahead and obtain W's? I know some of you will say quit my job, but the fact is my parents are in a dire financial situation and I work so I can help them out. I just keep continuing to see my dream of becoming a doctor slipping away.

 

[deleted303591]

If you have financial aid and you go below 6 hours a semester, you will get permanently screwed.

I would only drop some of the courses for that reason. Also, it looks really bad to drop a whole semester worth of courses (I have done it three times due to medical problems). It is always better to stick it out, if you can, unless you are deathly ill or have multiple hospitalizations during a semester, making it impossible to complete the semester.

As for your resting heart rate, does it get worse when you stand up?

Because if so, you could have some form orthostatic intolerance (I get orthostatic and I used to have a very high resting heart rate from it).

 

[IslandStyle808]

Another rocky semester. I enrolled this semester with 20 credits and started a job working approximately 25 hours a week. I thought everything was going to be okay, as I had balanced a big course load before without any trouble. Anyhow, about 3 months ago, before this semester started I started to get extremely stressed and anxious, I believe this was caused from working 90 hours in a 10 day period. It came to be that my resting heart rate was 110-130 consistently, I however thought this anxiety would go away. Now that the semester has come along, I am more stressed than ever, to the point where I have seriously considered suicide more than a couple of times. I am now on a anti-depressant but it has not started working yet. My question to all of you is: Should I drop all my courses while I am ahead and obtain W's? I know some of you will say quit my job, but the fact is my parents are in a dire financial situation and I work so I can help them out. I just keep continuing to see my dream of becoming a doctor slipping away.

I would suggest dropping part of your credit load. Maybe you should go down to 15 credits or something that feels easier for you. I too had a similar problem when I just got on antidepressant and I decreased my credit load slightly. The medication should kick in within a few weeks to a couple of months.

 

[kmp0410]

take a lighter course load....

why are you trying to take 20 credits while working? I mean its common sense that its not a good idea.

If you have to work then that's fine, but then maybe just take a normal number of credits. Its not like normal course loads are frowned upon or anything.

 

[dudeliness]

Man, this sounds like a rough situation. Your health and safety is most important, and I would second the recommendation to reduce your credit load. If you can't drop all classes and can't quit work just cut back on each as much as you can.
Once your health is under control, you can always have another hard semester if you really want. Good luck!

 

[xGeorgettex]

Your post suggests this is another bad semester for you. If you've had poor semesters in terms of performance before, it won't do to continue that trend (as you yourself noted). I know it's hard--I've had serious personal/family problems with a heavy course load before and suffered for it myself. I'd seriously suggest finding a counselor on the campus that you're comfortable with (this is a major component), discussing your situation (the work + the credits + your parents) and asking if they would be willing to support you in petitioning your university to drop the courses without them appearing as Ws on your transcript. I do caution you to be careful if you go this route (i.e. choose the right counselor), however, as some schools can be very touchy/get overly involved if you mention suicide/depression issues.

In the end, you need to do what's best for you.

 

[lobo.solo]

Wow, this sounds intense, drop the classes. This might sound too extreme, but why don't just take a break from school and help out the family until they can figure something out. There are plenty of people that don't start med school when they are really young.

 

[coffeesnob]

I know you are trying to help out your parents financially, but can you work fewer hours? 25 hours of work + 20 credits sound too burdensome, especially if this is another "rocky semester." Maybe you can find a good balance by lowering your credits and working fewer hours...?

It sounds like you need to take care of yourself. Health is important. If you are having suicidal thoughts, you need help and get your health (physical and mental) in place first. If anti-depressants are not working, you need to eliminate stressors and get professional help. I was in your shoes couple weeks ago. I was being harassed and bullied at work and overworked without extra compensation. I went through acute depression (aka adjustment disorder) having suicidal thoughts, extreme anxiety, insomnia, GI issues, random crying at work...etc. At one point I decided to be proactive, and reported it to HR, and they separated me from the harasser. My allegations are being investigated. Now life is much more manageable. **** happens in life. Is your depression chronic/clinical? If your anxiety/depression/suicidal thoughts are acute, the only "cure" is to eliminate the stressors. What's stressing you out? Course overload and working part-time? You need to do something about it. Life won't get better until you figure out how to adjust these stressors to a manageable level. If your anxiety/depression/suicidal ideation is chronic, then you need professional help as soon as possible.

You need to be able to handle not only premed stuff but medical school and residency later on. We need to learn to take care of ourselves to be able to practice medicine. Medicine is a marathon not a sprint!

 

[Cambino]

Another rocky semester. I enrolled this semester with 20 credits and started a job working approximately 25 hours a week. I thought everything was going to be okay, as I had balanced a big course load before without any trouble. Anyhow, about 3 months ago, before this semester started I started to get extremely stressed and anxious, I believe this was caused from working 90 hours in a 10 day period. It came to be that my resting heart rate was 110-130 consistently, I however thought this anxiety would go away. Now that the semester has come along, I am more stressed than ever, to the point where I have seriously considered suicide more than a couple of times. I am now on a anti-depressant but it has not started working yet. My question to all of you is: Should I drop all my courses while I am ahead and obtain W's? I know some of you will say quit my job, but the fact is my parents are in a dire financial situation and I work so I can help them out. I just keep continuing to see my dream of becoming a doctor slipping away.

Solution: Do not take 20 credits while working to support your family.
Zero logical connectedness.

 

[chopes31]

If you have financial aid and you go below 6 hours a semester, you will get permanently screwed.

I would only drop some of the courses for that reason. Also, it looks really bad to drop a whole semester worth of courses (I have done it three times due to medical problems). It is always better to stick it out, if you can, unless you are deathly ill or have multiple hospitalizations during a semester, making it impossible to complete the semester.

As for your resting heart rate, does it get worse when you stand up?

Because if so, you could have some form orthostatic intolerance (I get orthostatic and I used to have a very high resting heart rate from it).

Below 12 at my school

 

[dudeliness]

Below 12 at my school

Yeah, technically as long as you pass 75% of the credits you've registered for, you won't have to pay back your financial aid. Also, even if you do fall below that red line, most schools will allow you to appeal and get your financial aid restored.

 

[Chrys]

In