Depression and Becoming a Doctor- Is it possible?

[tia_bluesky]

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I am a 21 year old drop out, depressed looking for advice.
Since high school I WANTED more than anything to become a physician. I did all the research my grades were perfect in college until my second year I was assaulted. That changed a lot. I dealt with the assault on my own (court hearings, dealing with it etc) eventually studying became hard and I began indulging in everything else than studying.

Then I had a mental breakdown became suicidal and depressed and had to drop out and move back home. Now I am under treatment and do hope to return to school soon.

Question is IS becoming a doctor right for me?
I am afraid that the time commitment required of a physician will result in me falling into depression again. I know that being a physician is hard work but will I be able to commit with my mental health issues?

I do not have much time with my parents rushing me so I was thinking of settling for becoming a physician assistant and then making my decision as a MD later but that just seems like such a waste of time. I know I have the determination to become an MD I can ace my classes and the MCAT score but that isn't all you need to become an MD.

Should prep for the MCAT now until I go back to school or is that a waste of time. I am just so confused and this is a huge decision for me. A PA is definitely NOT the same as an MD that I know.

 

[Goro]

Very very sorry to hear of your woes. As someone who has struggled with depression myself, in your case, I have to advise against it. Med school is a furnace. It can break even healthy students. The #1 cause of student failure at my school is depression.

It's not the time committment that's the problem, it's the stessors of what it takes to get to be a doctor.

I am a 21 year old drop out, depressed looking for advice.
Since high school I WANTED more than anything to become a physician. I did all the research my grades were perfect in college until my second year I was assaulted. That changed a lot. I dealt with the assault on my own (court hearings, dealing with it etc) eventually studying became hard and I began indulging in everything else than studying.

Then I had a mental breakdown became suicidal and depressed and had to drop out and move back home. Now I am under treatment and do hope to return to school soon.

Question is IS becoming a doctor right for me?
I am afraid that the time commitment required of a physician will result in me falling into depression again. I know that being a physician is hard work but will I be able to commit with my mental health issues?

I do not have much time with my parents rushing me so I was thinking of settling for becoming a physician assistant and then making my decision as a MD later but that just seems like such a waste of time. I know I have the determination to become an MD I can ace my classes and the MCAT score but that isn't all you need to become an MD.

Should prep for the MCAT now until I go back to school or is that a waste of time. I am just so confused and this is a huge decision for me. A PA is definitely NOT the same as an MD that I know.

 

[tia_bluesky]

Did you go on to medical school after haing your depression treated?

 

[el_duderino]

AFAIK there's no real PA -> MD career path without going through the whole med school and residency process like a former undergrad, so that's not much of an option.

It doesn't really sound like you're ready. Go back to school and get good grades, do ECs, and reevaluate in a year or two.

 

[tia_bluesky]

Very very sorry to hear of your woes. As someone who has struggled with depression myself, in your case, I have to advise against it. Med school is a furnace. It can break even healthy students. The #1 cause of student failure at my school is depression.

It's not the time committment that's the problem, it's the stessors of what it takes to get to be a doctor.

Did you go on to medical school after haing your depression treated?

 

[tia_bluesky]

AFAIK there's no real PA -> MD career path without going through the whole med school and residency process like a former undergrad, so that's not much of an option.

It doesn't really sound like you're ready. Go back to school and get good grades, do ECs, and reevaluate in a year or two.

Currently at home will be applying to finish my undergrad degree to a school for the Spring semester (I missed the fall semester deadline because I was still under treatment, not ready) As of now I am ready to go back to school just need to decide on what career path to take prereqs accordingly.

 

[Goro]

Nope, PhD here. Medical school would have liquifed my brain and have it leak out of my ears! I don't know how my students do it.

Did you go on to medical school after haing your depression treated?

 

[caxoo]

Nope, PhD here. Medical school would have liquifed my brain and have it leak out of my ears! I don't know how my students do it.

Can you tell us some of the largest challenges of medical school, aside from the academic rigor? What is causing all of this stress that med school is so known for?

 

[Goro]

It IS academics...drinking from the fire hose is not a mere cliche. But proper time mgt is crucial to being able to gulp and breathe at the same time.

For people whose whole life has been academics, if something changes that and they start to under-perform, their whole sense of being and self-worth is now questioned.

Another major stessor is outside life issues. Our worst performing students have trouble not because they're stupid, but because they have poor coping skills., So when dad has a stroke, or the baby develops a chronic illness, or the boyfriend is stepping out, that clobbers some people, and then when the grades slip, now they have another thing to worry about, and it becomes a vicious circle.

Can you tell us some of the largest challenges of medical school, aside from the academic rigor? What is causing all of this stress that med school is so known for?

 

[shopsteward]

OP: sorry to hear that you were assaulted.

I'm not so pessimistic about your situation. An assault and subsequent court hearings are an immense physical and emotional burden to bear, and depression and suicidal thoughts are an unsurprising reaction to something so devastating. The point here I think it is quite likely that your depression was a one-off, that you have a clear-cut cause and that you have an understanding of your situation and are getting treatment. Recovery will take time, possibly more time than you have already had, but there is no reason why you should not recover and become a strong and healthy person able to deal with the stresses of finishing undergrad, going through med school and practising as a doctor. In fact, I'm less worried about your situation than I would be about someone who had depression with less obvious causes. I think the key for you is to take all the time you need to recover. Don't rush anything: take your time before you try to complete undergrad: you want to go back only when you are ready to have the sort of workload and get the sort of grades which will demonstrate that you are ready to go on to med school.

I don't understand why your parents would be rushing you now, having given you such good support so far. This is not the time for you to be rushed: you need to take all the time you need to get better now: it is much better for you to take the time now and have a full recovery than to rush it and find that you have a later relapse, or struggle academically because you went back too soon and can't put in the concentration and workload that is needed. I think you either need to convince your parents that rushing you now is the worst thing they can do (and could negate all the support they have given you so far), or you need to get away from any pressure that they are putting on you so that you can continue to recover at the rate which is right for you.

You say that things started to go wrong for you in your second year. If you are picking up your undergrad from your second year, then you have plenty of time before you need to decide which track to follow after undergrad. For now, I think your plan should be 1) to go back to undergrad when you are ready and not before, 2) when you have established a track record of success back at undergrad, and perhaps after graduation, to look again at your options for medical careers and decide then what is right for you. Taking gap years after undergrad before moving on to med school is an option. There is no conveyor belt here: you can take your time to make things right for you. Good luck.

 

[Annabell Lee]

I wouldn't advise it right now, but that doesn't mean it can't happen someday. Having a mental illness does not mean you can't be successful.

You need to take care of yourself. Focus on learning to manage your depression and learning coping skills. Build a support system. Then when you feel like you can handle it, apply to med school.

 

[caxoo]

It IS academics...drinking from the fire hose is not a mere cliche. But proper time mgt is crucial to being able to gulp and breathe at the same time.

For people whose whole life has been academics, if something changes that and they start to under-perform, their whole sense of being and self-worth is now questioned.

Another major stessor is outside life issues. Our worst performing studens have trouble not because they're stupid, but because they have poor coping skills., So when dad has a stroke, or the baby develops a chronic illness, or the boyfriend is stepping out, that clobbers some people, andthem when the grades slip, not they have another thing to worry about, and it becomes a viscious circle.

Thanks for the insight! I'd like to think I'm prepared for the time management and hard work aspect...but of course, I'm ready and expecting to have my views on what is "hard work" completely redefined throughout med school