Completely losing interest... someone help me out

[MagicDrumSticks]

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So the first 2 months of med school went by without me really thinking about it. I did extremely well on my first two tests and I am now among the top 3 in my class.

But recently, I've been getting really depressed and have lost complete interest in school. I was at my uncle's house over the weekend and I didn't even touch my books. I just don't feel like doing this anymore for some reason and just want to do something else like game design... wtf?

 

[Concubine]

So the first 2 months of med school went by without me really thinking about it. I did extremely well on my first two tests and I am now among the top 3 in my class.

But recently, I've been getting really depressed and have lost complete interest in school. I was at my uncle's house over the weekend and I didn't even touch my books. I just don't feel like doing this anymore for some reason and just want to do something else like game design... wtf?

Hang in there to see if you enjoy the clinical stuff. It's easy to get burned out doing lecture all day then hitting the books all night. Study a little less & play a bit more to avoid burnout. If doing well is important to you, don't over do it. Being in top quartile is a good position to stay in.

 

[Dral]

Get used to it. Multiply what you've just done times...I dunno, a bunch...and that's what you'll be doing for step 1. Now imagine having to go right into studying for shelf exams for 3rd year after spending 3 months of studying at least 8 hours a day every day with no days off (more like 12 most days).

Granted not all the material is what you'll be experiencing in the field of medicine depending on what you choose to do, but you need some level of interest to actually make yourself study and learn the material.

Maybe it's time to re-evaluate....but then again, you are among the top 3 in your class.

 

[njbmd]

It's not unusual for pre-clinical medical students to get depressed (or bored) with the day to day grind of studying. After all, you are essentially doing the same thing that you did as an undergraduate except at a higher volume. The key to keeping your sanity is to have something outside of medicine that you can do to offset your routine. Your hobby can be working out or playing on a team for something like soccer or volleyball. Anything physical that takes you completely away from the books but doesn't demand so much time that your studies suffer.

Next, it's important to do one or two things with people who are not connected with medicine. Again, do things that are not huge time-commitments but are relaxing and enjoyable but not medical. In short, get a life outside of medicine.

 

[ChiDO]

So the first 2 months of med school went by without me really thinking about it. I did extremely well on my first two tests and I am now among the top 3 in my class.

Suck it up and get used to it. You've been in school for 2 months and have **** more to go before hitting 3rd year.

As the others have said; find something to enjoy outside of the classroom. If you are dead set on being top 3; well, then you might have to live in the library. If you are a efficient at studying and want to be in like the top 10 or top 5%; well then you can relax a little with your studying and enjoy more things out in life.

 

[engineeredout]

Top 3 is not worth the lack of any form of social life. The way I see it, going out with people isn't even an option. If I didn't, my sanity would escape and my grades would be even worse.

 

[turkeyjerky]

Theres absolutely nothing "wtf" about not wanting to pick up your books for a weekend. I feel you though dude, not sure what your curriculum is, but for most schools this is the most boring part (and the weather is turning, so that blows too). It does get better though--2nd year is so much better, it's like night and day. But honestly, it's not worth spending every hour of your life studying, if that's what you've been doing.

 

[MagicDrumSticks]

Hey thanks a lot for the reassurance guys, I was expecting to see "maybe medicine is not for you" posts flooding my thread, but I'm pleasantly surprised that that is not the case.

So you guys don't think I should give up huh? It seems sooo not worth it because my friends are all out of college making money and enjoying life while I'm still in "school" in a never-ending vicious cycle of reading non-stop.

2 of my friends became game-designers and said it's the life. We used to play a lot at best bud's house on his 150 inch projector.

 

[MagicDrumSticks]

Theres absolutely nothing "wtf" about not wanting to pick up your books for a weekend. I feel you though dude, not sure what your curriculum is, but for most schools this is the most boring part (and the weather is turning, so that blows too). It does get better though--2nd year is so much better, it's like night and day. But honestly, it's not worth spending every hour of your life studying, if that's what you've been doing.

Haha, it was more like a week straight of not reading anything man. Not a weekend, should I be worried NOW? :]

 

[reedman]

just be glad you aren't in the bottom quarter and feeling the same way

Apparently you are very good at school. Although many people came out at the top in undergrad, very few of your classmates will ever be the best at anything again. If nothing else, realize that you are at the top and feel good about doing something that most people can't.

I feel certain that you can find a way to blow off some steam without sacrificing your grades. In fact you will probably perform even better once you figure out how to be happy.

 

[MagicDrumSticks]

just be glad you aren't in the bottom quarter and feeling the same way

Apparently you are very good at school. Although many people came out at the top in undergrad, very few of your classmates will ever be the best at anything again. If nothing else, realize that you are at the top and feel good about doing something that most people can't.

I feel certain that you can find a way to blow off some steam without sacrificing your grades. In fact you will probably perform even better once you figure out how to be happy.

It's actually a huge burden. I'm pressured from virtually every possible angle.

1. Pressure from classmates
2. Pressure from parents to keep going, because the idea of quitting now is blasphemous, since "Shawn you're first, can't stop now!"

Also, once you get to the top, there's nowhere to go but down, and I'm starting to become quite lazy and overconfident.

 

[indo]

It's actually a huge burden. I'm pressured from virtually every possible angle.

1. Pressure from classmates
2. Pressure from parents to keep going, because the idea of quitting now is blasphemous, since "Shawn you're first, can't stop now!"

Also, once you get to the top, there's nowhere to go but down, and I'm starting to become quite lazy and overconfident.

Harden the **** up!

 

[AlexMorph]

It's actually a huge burden. I'm pressured from virtually every possible angle.

1. Pressure from classmates
2. Pressure from parents to keep going, because the idea of quitting now is blasphemous, since "Shawn you're first, can't stop now!"

Also, once you get to the top, there's nowhere to go but down, and I'm starting to become quite lazy and overconfident.

from classmates? who the heck cares what they have to say?
you just suffered a minor setback. all work and no play eventually leads to redrum!
don't quit, it will be worth it

 

[RegularNihilist]

So the first 2 months of med school went by without me really thinking about it. I did extremely well on my first two tests and I am now among the top 3 in my class.

But recently, I've been getting really depressed and have lost complete interest in school. I was at my uncle's house over the weekend and I didn't even touch my books. I just don't feel like doing this anymore for some reason and just want to do something else like game design... wtf?

Congrats on being among top 3!!

Uh, I dunno what to say. I still feel like I should do something else, like game design... as PGY-1, wtf??

 

[pseudoknot]

M1 (and to a lesser extent, M2) suck and are not what most people came to medical school to do. You just have to get through it.

If you think you might be depressed, see a counselor. We are in a high risk group and it's a very treatable condition.

 

[dude1344]

Not sure if I'll be adding much, but you're not the only one in your situation. I'm an M1 probably around top 5% of my class, and am starting to feel a little burnt out. I think it's natural to feel this way when you spend so much time studying.

But I know it will be worth it in the end, and hey, as other people have said, better to be at the top of your class and feeling this way than at the bottom huh?

Have you taken time off from undergrad before med school to work or do anything else? I have, and I feel like it is a motivating factor for me. I had a pretty cushy job making 60k+, but the day to day monotony of the job really wore on me.

As others have said, make sure you keep doing some activities that you enjoy.

 

[weightyheart]

I'm positively surprised by the responses so far.

My personal experience has been that it is hard to receive sympathy from your friends and classmates if you are doing better than they are and you are consistently and substantially above the average. When I do, I just feel terribly guilty complaining to someone who is in a worse situation. My coping strategy has thus been to shut up and endure. Because everyone is struggling in medical school, not just myself, from those failing to those trying for top 3.

 

[mjl1717]

Keep going, no matter what! Dont ever give up!!

Hate to say it but medicine is like a heavyweight boxing match-even if you win you take a mental and/or physical beating..

Also congratulations-At least being in the top 3, your doing lot of the beating..

 

[Dral]

2 of my friends became game-designers and said it's the life. We used to play a lot at best bud's house on his 150 inch projector.

Sounds like nostalgia more than anything else. Unless you're mutant, you're supposed to question whether medicine is for you. Heck, most of us can pinpoint the specific time(s). (Sitting in the library taking my Pharm final for one).

So you got it a little early. You either deal with the pressure or fold. Would you be happy with yourself 10 years down the road not knowing what could have been?

If you can answer yes to that question, you're probably better off getting out now. If you answer no, it shows you have that perfectionist spark because you KNOW you can't be a quitter. That spark means you should keep going. Doctors mostly have that spark...it's what gets us A's in High school, Dean's list in College, extra currs in college, good MCAT scores, getting into Med school, good step 1 scores, research and extra currs in Med school, good residency spots, and it's what keeps us going to be the best we can forever. If you want to make some Mario knockoff instead, then go for it. *mostly kidding with that last one*

Done and done.

Hmm, I should have left in the middle of that pharm exam to be a professional counselor. Errrr, wait.

 

[LadyWolverine]

lol @ all the M1's bragging about being at the "Top X%" of their class and now complaining about burnout. You've been in school for, what, 2 or 3 months? I've got news for you - med school is a looooong haul. You don't even know the meaning of burnout yet. The second semester of 1st year is immensely harder than the first, and second year is ten times harder than first year. Third year is a completely different beast altogether. You're going to have many tough times and dark hours, and there will be MANY, MANY times where you will feel like quitting and wish that you had done something different with your life. Hell, I'm an M4 and I don't have enough fingers to count how many times I resented quitting working and going back to school. And I don't even really know what burnout is yet compared to my residents and attendings.

The worst part for me was the first winter. I hit a low point around Jan/Feb of MS1. Once spring hit, though, the funk wore off and I was back to normal. MS2 sucked but I never felt quite as low. MS3 was difficult but constantly changing, so I never hit a rut like during the first 2 years.

In the end, being in the "Top 3" of your class doesn't really matter. So much is going to change over the next 3 years that what is happening now probably isn't going to affect you very much. Not the stuff you're learning, or the people you're hanging out with, or the grades you're getting. Mark my words. And if you don't believe me, come back here in 3 years and tell me I'm wrong.

 

[reedman]

It's actually a huge burden. I'm pressured from virtually every possible angle.

1. Pressure from classmates
2. Pressure from parents to keep going, because the idea of quitting now is blasphemous, since "Shawn you're first, can't stop now!"

Also, once you get to the top, there's nowhere to go but down, and I'm starting to become quite lazy and overconfident.

"Boohoo, Its sooooo hard being smart and successful. You just don't understand the pressure of being better than everyone else...".

Some people feel a lot of pressure because for them the next level down is failing out. You don't know what pressure is until you are in that position. If you don't want to do this then quit. If being the best is just too much of a burden for you, then piss off! There are lots of people that would kill to be in your shoes.

 

[MagicDrumSticks]

Not sure if I'll be adding much, but you're not the only one in your situation. I'm an M1 probably around top 5% of my class, and am starting to feel a little burnt out. I think it's natural to feel this way when you spend so much time studying.

But I know it will be worth it in the end, and hey, as other people have said, better to be at the top of your class and feeling this way than at the bottom huh?

Have you taken time off from undergrad before med school to work or do anything else? I have, and I feel like it is a motivating factor for me. I had a pretty cushy job making 60k+, but the day to day monotony of the job really wore on me.

As others have said, make sure you keep doing some activities that you enjoy.

Unfortunately, no I didn't. What kind of job did you do that started out with that kind of salary? Obviously that's not amazing, but for starting that's not bad at all.

Also, you've worked in the "real world" so let me know, what's it like? Is it really one of those things that will make you want to become a doc?

 

[AlexMorph]

Unfortunately, no I didn't. What kind of job did you do that started out with that kind of salary? Obviously that's not amazing, but for starting that's not bad at all.

Also, you've worked in the "real world" so let me know, what's it like? Is it really one of those things that will make you want to become a doc?

it will make you appreciate doing something you want, as opposed to being forced to do something you hate

 

[MagicDrumSticks]

Harden the **** up!

:X

from classmates? who the heck cares what they have to say?
you just suffered a minor setback. all work and no play eventually leads to redrum!
don't quit, it will be worth it

Idk, I've always cared what others think... lol

Congrats on being among top 3!!

Uh, I dunno what to say. I still feel like I should do something else, like game design... as PGY-1, wtf??

Lol thanks man! Residency in game design sounds fun ^_^

M1 (and to a lesser extent, M2) suck and are not what most people came to medical school to do. You just have to get through it.

If you think you might be depressed, see a counselor. We are in a high risk group and it's a very treatable condition.

That might not be such a good idea. I know people that have gone to the counselor and came back in a much worse condition O_O

Keep going, no matter what! Dont ever give up!!

Hate to say it but medicine is like a heavyweight boxing match-even if you win you take a mental and/or physical beating..

Also congratulations-At least being in the top 3, your doing lot of the beating..

Haha, thanks. Feels like Tyson is kicking my ass all night and day.

Sounds like nostalgia more than anything else. Unless you're mutant, you're supposed to question whether medicine is for you. Heck, most of us can pinpoint the specific time(s). (Sitting in the library taking my Pharm final for one).

So you got it a little early. You either deal with the pressure or fold. Would you be happy with yourself 10 years down the road not knowing what could have been?

If you can answer yes to that question, you're probably better off getting out now. If you answer no, it shows you have that perfectionist spark because you KNOW you can't be a quitter. That spark means you should keep going. Doctors mostly have that spark...it's what gets us A's in High school, Dean's list in College, extra currs in college, good MCAT scores, getting into Med school, good step 1 scores, research and extra currs in Med school, good residency spots, and it's what keeps us going to be the best we can forever. If you want to make some Mario knockoff instead, then go for it. *mostly kidding with that last one*

Done and done.

Hmm, I should have left in the middle of that pharm exam to be a professional counselor. Errrr, wait.

The "what you could have been" mentality is what's keeping me hanging by the thread. I keep feeling that if I decide to take the easy road now, I'm going to massively regret it down the line; especially after being in the top 3 and knowing I'm more than capable.

Mario knock-off... lol. Well that wasn't exactly the plan, more like make the next Halo :O Or maybe make a game about the life of Residents and attendings 😀!

"Boohoo, Its sooooo hard being smart and successful. You just don't understand the pressure of being better than everyone else...".

Some people feel a lot of pressure because for them the next level down is failing out. You don't know what pressure is until you are in that position. If you don't want to do this then quit. If being the best is just too much of a burden for you, then piss off! There are lots of people that would kill to be in your shoes.

It's not that hard. Study non-stop and avoid parties like the plague = top 3

 

[MexicanDr]

We are in a high risk group and it's a very treatable condition.

This makes me worry...

 

[tncekm]

So the first 2 months of med school went by without me really thinking about it. I did extremely well on my first two tests and I am now among the top 3 in my class.

But recently, I've been getting really depressed and have lost complete interest in school. I was at my uncle's house over the weekend and I didn't even touch my books. I just don't feel like doing this anymore for some reason and just want to do something else like game design... wtf?

Since day 1 I've been slacking, procrostinating, etc. And, it's been keeping me sane. I'm doing fairly well, but nto as good as I could be, and I don't give a **** 😛 Unless you want to get a Derm residency, maybe it's worth a try.

 

[MagicDrumSticks]

Since day 1 I've been slacking, procrostinating, etc. And, it's been keeping me sane. I'm doing fairly well, but nto as good as I could be, and I don't give a **** 😛 Unless you want to get a Derm residency, maybe it's worth a try.

Honestly I'm better off finding some massive connection rather than busting massive balls for derm. I don't even know how people get into derm and radiology anyway, those lucky bastards.

What other specialties involve the least work that are not impossible to get into?

I'm kind of interested in being an "easy going doctor" because I think I deserve it after the massive amount of book reading i've done through my life haha

 

[tncekm]

Honestly I'm better off finding some massive connection rather than busting massive balls for derm. I don't even know how people get into derm and radiology anyway, those lucky bastards.

What other specialties involve the least work that are not impossible to get into?

I'm kind of interested in being an "easy going doctor" because I think I deserve it after the massive amount of book reading i've done through my life haha

I'm heading for EM or IM. Pass my classes, do decent on my boards, and voila.

 

[AlexMorph]

Honestly I'm better off finding some massive connection rather than busting massive balls for derm. I don't even know how people get into derm and radiology anyway, those lucky bastards.

What other specialties involve the least work that are not impossible to get into?

I'm kind of interested in being an "easy going doctor" because I think I deserve it after the massive amount of book reading i've done through my life haha

psych, em, fm, im, peds, neuro, pm&r are not the hardest to get into.
several im fellowships are also pretty easy to get into, save for GI and cards, those are tough to get.

 

[RiceOwl04]

How about anesthesia? I think anesthesia isn't very competitive, and is typically considered a 'lifestyle' specialty.

 

[AlexMorph]

How about anesthesia? I think anesthesia isn't very competitive, and is typically considered a 'lifestyle' specialty.

it's relatively competitive now

 

[DrBowtie]

To quote Office Space: Every day is the worst day of my life (while in Microbiology).

 

[pseudoknot]

it's relatively competitive now

No, it isn't. See Charting Outcomes in the Match 2009; it remains at average competitiveness, i.e., available to the average medical student.

 

[XRanger]

It's not that hard. Study non-stop and avoid parties like the plague = top 3

this is why you got burned out. Take it easy on the studying and have some fun. I heard preclinical grades especially first year don't really matter relative to other things. And it's gonna get increasingly harder after the first year so just enjoy the first year.

 

[tncekm]

this is why you got burned out. Take it easy on the studying and have some fun. I heard preclinical grades especially first year don't really matter relative to other things. And it's gonna get increasingly harder after the first year so just enjoy the first year.

Man, then what's my problem? I skip class and put in about 1-3 hrs/day on my own time during the week, then try to cram over weekends when I start envisioning mega-failing. I've been burned out since before I started.

 

[crx7]

I'm not doing nearly as well as you, but I'm really enjoying medical school. Class and studying sucks that's a given, but it's not everything med school has to offer. I've gotten involved with interview committees and student government and I find that has made me very happy. It keeps me from isolating myself in study mode, which is very easy to do.

Med school is Fun, take advantage, don't lock yourself in your room with books, that's no way to live life. I know we're all ultra competitive, but we can't treat med school as simply a means to an end. Make sure you still do things you enjoy, in addition to studying.

 

[MagicDrumSticks]

Hang in there to see if you enjoy the clinical stuff. It's easy to get burned out doing lecture all day then hitting the books all night. Study a little less & play a bit more to avoid burnout. If doing well is important to you, don't over do it. Being in top quartile is a good position to stay in.

This is what I'm worried about, that if I don't drop now and wait to see if I like the clinical stuff, I will be stuck. I'm really at a dilemma here and haven't read since I made my last post, permanent burnout?

I picked up biochem a few hours ago and just wanted to shoot myself, guess top 3 time will be over soon.

 

[tennischamp822]

...

 

[MagicDrumSticks]

If you don't want to do it, it would wise to get out now before accumulating more debt.

If you are very good at CS, then you might find good exit opportunities in that field.

Alternatively, you could lose top 3 and go for a less competitive specialty...

I want an "easy" specialty, read: not much work and lots of cash. The ones that come to mind are derm and radiology, unless there's easier ones to get into. This is why I was busting balls so much in the first place

 

[Music MD]

Your sanity needs to come first, plain and simple. Everyone here is smart enough to know that running yourself into the ground with constant stress or depression for class rank is utterly ridiculous. It shouldn't even need to be said, but you only get one chance to be mid-twenties.

Find a couple ways to make your studying more efficient so you can reduce your hours. Being a competitive person myself, I actually have to count and limit my class and studying hours to a certain number each week... That really helps force efficient studying and frees up big blocks of time. The next and more important step is to be proactive with that time and do exactly what you feel like doing. I bet if you made a concerted effort towards this then you wouldn't notice much a drop in your class rank.

 

[physics junkie]

When I started med school I was at the top(all A's with a few perfect scores on exams). I burned out and dealt with it by changing my study style to be less stressful. Instead of making sure I could recall every word of every lecture I just talk my way through the material and make sure I know the flow of the material. Once Igot a feel for what I was supposed to remember I managed higher grades with less stress...and slightly less effort.


What I'm getting at is you don't need to drop from the top3 to feel ok again.

Nowadays I watch a lot of videos for pharm/micro and listen to goljan for path...wayyy less stress than reading your notes 5x in a row. I know a guy that only studied 4 days a week and matched rads...he just drew pictures for notes.

Oh, and once you are at the top long enough your position will be somewhat secure because your foundation is much stronger than your classmates'. They just won't have the knowledge to pull things together and it will be easier for you than it is for them.

 

[smiley737]

I want an "easy" specialty, read: not much work and lots of cash. The ones that come to mind are derm and radiology, unless there's easier ones to get into. This is why I was busting balls so much in the first place

Your mentality for wanting to do well kind of concerns me, and I wonder if it'll really sustain you for very long. You need to find what you do at least somewhat interesting. Some interest should be what drives you to want to consider those fields you mentioned too - otherwise you may find that they are neither as "easy" or satisfying as you may think.

 

[LadyWolverine]

I want an "easy" specialty, read: not much work and lots of cash. The ones that come to mind are derm and radiology, unless there's easier ones to get into. This is why I was busting balls so much in the first place

I too have very little respect for people with this mentality. "I'm busting balls to learn this stuff so I can be lazy in the long run." What a great way to look at a career in medicine. 👎

 

[MSSM2013]

I want an "easy" specialty, read: not much work and lots of cash. The ones that come to mind are derm and radiology, unless there's easier ones to get into. This is why I was busting balls so much in the first place

this is what makes me looking down on people who are hell bent on derm.

 

[smiley737]

this is what makes me looking down on people who are hell bent on derm.

mmm, well it also annoys me when people think derm is an easy, prissy field for lazy comfortable people. My hours weren't short when I rotated in derm, and none of the faculty or residents I worked with were lazy - on the contrary they were some of the smartest and fastest people I've seen.

 

[VoiceofReason]

get off your moral high horses folks.

 

[LadyWolverine]

mmm, well it also annoys me when people think derm is an easy, prissy field for lazy comfortable people. My hours weren't short when I rotated in derm, and none of the faculty or residents I worked with were lazy - on the contrary they were some of the smartest and fastest people I've seen.

And this is exactly what I meant. Nobody is on a moral high horse here. My point is that only the entitled and misguided believe that they will "make lots of cash" without working hard. In general, hard work pays off. Being lazy or feeling entitled doesn't. Getting As/honors in 1st and 2nd year is all well and good, but it teaches you nothing about how to be a good businessman, land a particular job, run a lucrative practice, or attract clientele. All of this takes WORK and does not just fall into your lap because you were in the "top 3" during your first few months of medical school.

 

[njbmd]

I don't know about "hard" versus "easy" but I love what I do and it doesn't seem like work. Everytime I take a patient into the OR or hear that triphasic dopper signal from a good fem-distal, I get a rush. It's an awesome feeling to do good work and see the results that make a difference in another person's life.

I make enough money to live on a lake, do my own flying and enjoy a vacation or two now and then. I have what I want and I enjoy what I have. My guess is that one man's "easy" is another man's "drudgery". This is why medicine is so much fun and there is something for everyone.

Am I a millionaire? No, but I am happy and I have enjoyed the process of getting to this point in my life which will sustain me for the long haul. Medical school was so long ago and was so short compared to the actual practice of medicine (surgery) which I totally enjoy.

As long as I can pay my bills and enjoy life, it's all good. I hope the OP(and everyone else) finds something that he/she enjoys as much as I enjoy my practice because life is too short to do something that you don't really get "juiced" over every morning as you head into the office.

 

[tncekm]

get off your moral high horses folks.

x2

All we should care about is whether or not their competent physicians that treat their patients with kindness and respect. If they are, who cares if they want it "easy" or "hard". Lets all do our own thing for our own reasons.

 

[tncekm]

I want an "easy" specialty, read: not much work and lots of cash. The ones that come to mind are derm and radiology, unless there's easier ones to get into. This is why I was busting balls so much in the first place

Then you've gotta keep busting balls, even if it sucks. /thread