Depression during MS2...

[Elbowstoopointy]

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Cliffs:
-Doing well in MS2, good grades etc good ECs
-Very busy (duh..)
-Live alone, don't have many friends here
-Feel like every day is a constant cycle...never look forward to anything
-Becoming increasingly paranoid that bad things will happen to me...also developing a touch of hypochondriasis (serious...)
-Feel like I'm gonna breakdown soon....no idea what to do. Haven't been happy in a long time...find the material boring and monotonous.

 

[perpetual labor]

I don't have the answers. I would try and find something every day that makes you happy. If grades are not a priority, I would allow yourself some freedom. We are social animals; when I find myself isolated in my schoolwork I get depressed too.

That's the best I've got for now. I am not in your situation, but I can relate. It sucks. It's not like you can make the choice to be happy and just... be.

-P

 

[Rollo]

Hang in there bro! We've all been there. The daily grind gets to EVERYONE, I don't care if you're the Prince of Persia...medical school will find a way to get to the core of your being and rattle things up.

When this happened to me, I started exploring things outside of medicine that I never looked at before. For example, I started getting more and more into philosophy, christian apologetic, taking a stock of my own life, and discovering things about myself and beyond.

Now, I don't expect your personality to be anything like mine but I hope my example illustrated how vital it is to step back and take a look at the bigger picture because the fact is medicine isn't all there is to your life and my life.

The entire world and the things in and outside of it are waiting to be discovered!

If none of that applies to you, then just get a hooker or two.

 

[dr zaius]

Make some time for yourself. I try to spend at least an hour each day playing video games. It relaxes me and allows me to get my mind off of school. Replace video games with the hobby of your choosing. This helped me greatly when I began to feel the burn.

You might also want to consider joining an on campus group for some social exposure. Maybe try the AMA or any of the student groups at your school.

I know how you're feeling. The days blur. It's an endless sea of lectures, tests, quizzes, and stress.

 

[caveat87]

All the aforementioned suggestions are good, but if that doesn't cut it then I suggest talking to your school's counseling service. There is no shame in reaching out if you are feeling the burn.

 

[DreamingTheLive]

I suggest seeing someone about this. The "i know how you feel" or "everyone feels like this in med school idea" discounts what you may really be experiencing and doesn't really solve anything. All of the above are fine ideas, but I'd agree with the earlier post that you should seek professional help through your school. Doctors/future doctors sometimes need help too. 👍

 

[gman33]

Go talk to a professional sooner rather than later.
Your school should have some resources available.

Have some planned activities each week that you look forward to doing.
This may even help you be more productive as you know you need to get things done by a certain time.

 

[Phlame217]

Its only going to get harder with less sunlight and with Seasonal Affective Disorder kicking in.

You really need to get a hobby going; its difficult during med school, but if I can do it with a Wife and Child on the way, you can do it. Hopefully your school has intramurals like mine as we are amidst table tennis season here. Outside of school, though its a huge time killer, Skyrim is quite entertaining lol. Lastly, get out there and meet people. Don't wait for them to meet you, introduce yourself and ask about getting a group together to go to a movie or what not.

 

[bomgd3]

I had the same problem during MS1, I was somewhat depressed for a while during the late-winter. Basically didn't want to get out of bed, just sat around my apartment doing nothing, had no interest except in keeping my head above water. I made the conscious decision to study a bit less and start working out and reading more. Helped a LOT but my grades did suffer a bit. Good luck!!

 

[thepoopologist]

Snort some coke.

 

[canadian18]

Find professional help.

Start working out or find a sport that you find enjoyable. This thing called exercise does wonders.

 

[TAWS]

If it helps, I would kill to be in your position. You just have to finish one more semester....and you're done with the hardest part of med school.

 

[kazuma]

Snort some coke.

Or bath salts. The 24 y/o male I just admitted to the in-pt psych unit sure seems to think it's a good idea. 😱











Joking obviously. Do not snort bath salts, this pt is totally psychotic and out of his mind. I can't figure out why people do these things.

You should probably seek help from your schools councilor or your pcp before it gets worse.

 

[swamprat]

If it helps, I would kill to be in your position. You just have to finish one more semester....and you're done with the hardest part of med school.

Yeah thats what's getting me through this crap altho I think ms2 >>>>> ms1.. I keep thinking just 1 more semester and a stupid test. Rlly only like 7 months away.

 

[Elbowstoopointy]

Go talk to a professional sooner rather than later.
Your school should have some resources available.

Have some planned activities each week that you look forward to doing.
This may even help you be more productive as you know you need to get things done by a certain time.

I think it is naive to assume that this type of thing is kept anonymous. I've heard stories of med students seeking psych help @ their schools, and it later popping up on records and residency interviews. Not sure how this would happen, but I would never use my school resources. Would find a doc not associated w/ the school.

 

[Elbowstoopointy]

Yeah thats what's getting me through this crap altho I think ms2 >>>>> ms1.. I keep thinking just 1 more semester and a stupid test. Rlly only like 7 months away.

Yes MS2 is more interesting and better than MS1 in the sense the material matters more, but there is about 100x more of it. My school also tests on pretty low yield concepts and doesn't care about boards...so I end up studying 2x (half time for class, half for boards since they skip so much of the material on it).

I'm just pretty sick of it and all the sucking up med school requires

 

[Elbowstoopointy]

If it helps, I would kill to be in your position. You just have to finish one more semester....and you're done with the hardest part of med school.

I sincerely doubt this is the hardest part of med school. It will always get harder at every level. Then you retire 🙂

 

[PrideNeverDie]

is it bad i'm only MS1 and already getting to this point

the only difference is i enjoy the solitude more than you.

i totally understand my dad's advice now "don't think about it; just work"

medicine is more of a grind than anything. any semi-intelligent person can get through the material; the rate-limiting factor is showing up day after day without going crazy.

 

[Elbowstoopointy]

is it bad i'm only MS1 and already getting to this point

the only difference is i enjoy the solitude more than you.

i totally understand my dad's advice now "don't think about it; just work"

medicine is more of a grind than anything. any semi-intelligent person can get through the material; the rate-limiting factor is showing up day after day without going crazy.

Hey aware brah, I'm also aware if you know what I mean.

Anyways, I was like that MS1, but you hit a wall where you get sick of the solidarity. I literally talk to another human being only 3-4 times a week.

95% of my social interaction is via internet now......

 

[coreytayloris]

Hey aware brah, I'm also aware if you know what I mean.

Anyways, I was like that MS1, but you hit a wall where you get sick of the solidarity. I literally talk to another human being only 3-4 times a week.

95% of my social interaction is via internet now......

that cant be good either bro.

but i do agree that the people who just switch off,forget about lectures, ignore the facade of making friends who really want to climb across you just to get an extra mark, avoiding all the bull that comes with med school is the key to success and survival.

on topic, dude start doing non med school stuff for at least an hour a day if not two hrs. gym,read,tv video games, summat to take your mind off the grind.

 

[clinicallabguy]

I think it is naive to assume that this type of thing is kept anonymous. I've heard stories of med students seeking psych help @ their schools, and it later popping up on records and residency interviews. Not sure how this would happen, but I would never use my school resources. Would find a doc not associated w/ the school.

Perhaps. But I think it's more important to get help when you need it. If you're paranoid of what will get to administration and people who evaluate you, then look outside of the medical school. But get help from somewhere if you think you need it. That's the most important thing.

I don't think you HAVE to value your career higher than your mental health. If you do, that's your choice. But I hope that's not your choice.

How can we expect ourselves to take care of other people if we are impaired?

 

[Bacchus]

Now is the time to get help. Things get better in MS3, but it is a different type of environment. It may not feel like it, but you have much more control over your MS1 and MS2 years than third and fourth year. It isn't uncommon for depression to onset during the beginning of the clinical years due to the change in environment, expectations, and new stressors added to the mix.

That said, most people find third and fourth year enjoyable so it is something to look forward to, but you want to be level-headed and on your game heading into it. Fixing this problem now is going to help you in the long run. You don't want to be in the pits when you begin studying for boards and when you take them. You need all of you present, nothing channeled to other baggage.

You aren't alone. Go talk to student services.

 

[073116]

Cliffs:
-Doing well in MS2, good grades etc good ECs
-Very busy (duh..)
-Live alone, don't have many friends here
-Feel like every day is a constant cycle...never look forward to anything
-Becoming increasingly paranoid that bad things will happen to me...also developing a touch of hypochondriasis (serious...)
-Feel like I'm gonna breakdown soon....no idea what to do. Haven't been happy in a long time...find the material boring and monotonous.

Any update on this?

 

[Goro]

Any update on this?

The OP was last seen on December 28th 2011

 

[073116]

The OP was last seen on December 28th 2011

I hope he didn't.....oh no, that can't be.... did he....