Do you ever get angry/jealous/depressed when you see others enjoying life?

[random cell]

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I think it's hilarious to hear from all you med students who have never worked a real job in your life, how great working out there "in the real world" is.

How many of you have worked full time? I'd like to compare the opinions of those who have really worked to those who have not.

As for the 100k/yr consultant crap.. who really gets jobs like that? I spent two years working in research and let me tell you that every single person stuck in their dead end research tech jobs yearns to get out and 1/2 of them regret "not going to med school." Funny, no?

The grass is always greener on the other side--especially when you're looking at it from far away (e.g. have no damn experience with a real job at all.)

This guy is a boss and I agree 100%. "oh poor me, I have to read a book and study." Did the school part of med school not tell you that? Jesus Christ, I love it when people cry they have to "work" hard and study. It's reading a goddamn book...you are not on a crusade so stop acting like you're somehow better than others (and yes that is the connotation of your thread "woe is me, feel bad for me, but I will persevere through the pain!!") for going to med school. Again, if you can't bear med school, seek a different path and cure yourself of your misery.

 

[adaptation1]

Many of us have worked a "real" job. And while working those jobs, we complained also. It's true that the grasser is always green on the other side.

But that doesn't mean--just because we're med school--we can't have our miserable moments, too, that we should always be "up," not down, that we should constantly think how lucky we are. If you think that suddenly having the opportunity to study medicine makes you immune to human emotion, exhaustion, negativity--you are naive, idealistic ones.

"oh yeah, you're studying medicine. you know how lucky you are? don't complain!" Easy for you to say, really. People complain about the weather, the traffic--why not med school? It's just a natural reaction to stress.

Misery loves company, and there's plenty of misery permeating in med school culture. You'll get used to it, and you'll constantly see it, from the attendings down to the m1s. It's just a kind of "I feel you," kind of thing. It's not even negativity, just some venting to keep sane. Most of the complainers will eventually becomes doctors and also be satisfied with their jobs also.

 

[weightyheart]

If you don't like the med student life then quit. You're not Jesus nailed to a cross suffering for everyone's sins by going to med school. This may be hard for you to accept, but people before you have completed medical school.

This guy is a boss and I agree 100%. "oh poor me, I have to read a book and study." Did the school part of med school not tell you that? Jesus Christ, I love it when people cry they have to "work" hard and study. It's reading a goddamn book...you are not on a crusade so stop acting like you're somehow better than others (and yes that is the connotation of your thread "woe is me, feel bad for me, but I will persevere through the pain!!") for going to med school. Again, if you can't bear med school, seek a different path and cure yourself of your misery.

listen to him. this premed guy knows everything. /sarcasm

 

[Bartelby]

If you don't like the med student life then quit. You're not Jesus nailed to a cross suffering for everyone's sins by going to med school. This may be hard for you to accept, but people before you have completed medical school.

Absolutely. It's not like the OP owes enough money to trap him/her into finishing out med school.

Anyway there are certainly times I have felt like the OP, and there are times when I imagine myself waking up to 3 AM pages indefinitely. In general though I am finishing out my third year and on everything except surgery I have been able to enjoy spending time with my SO, do some fun reading, and most of the time work out 40 mins a day. I also make it out to hike, watch movies, and see a few select friends that I force myself to make time for. And if I compare myself to married people with kids I find that I am probably doing as much 'fun stuff' as them and although my work life is tough it is pretty engaging at this point. So overall I think most of us feel like the OP at times but it gets better through the years.

Intern year, though... just gonna block that out for now. Go fourth year!

 

[RapplixGmed]

This guy is a boss and I agree 100%. "oh poor me, I have to read a book and study." Did the school part of med school not tell you that? Jesus Christ, I love it when people cry they have to "work" hard and study. It's reading a goddamn book...you are not on a crusade so stop acting like you're somehow better than others (and yes that is the connotation of your thread "woe is me, feel bad for me, but I will persevere through the pain!!") for going to med school. Again, if you can't bear med school, seek a different path and cure yourself of your misery.

Dude, get over yourself. Med school is stressful. We even had a class discussion with the faculty about when it is ok to cry and many of us have admitted to crying at some point. A study out of Vanderbilt found that 24% of their medical students showed signs of depression by a screen (see below). Data out of our med school (don't remember exactly where I heard this) shows that about 1/4 to 1/3 of each med school class seeks mental help or guidance from student health and they actively encourage us to get help. We realize that many have gone through this before us but it doesn't make it suck any less. Likewise, it doesn't make us any less dedicated to getting through it and becoming a doctor. You'll understand one day.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21099385

 

[DocDanny]

This guy is a boss and I agree 100%. "oh poor me, I have to read a book and study." Did the school part of med school not tell you that? Jesus Christ, I love it when people cry they have to "work" hard and study. It's reading a goddamn book...you are not on a crusade so stop acting like you're somehow better than others (and yes that is the connotation of your thread "woe is me, feel bad for me, but I will persevere through the pain!!") for going to med school. Again, if you can't bear med school, seek a different path and cure yourself of your misery.

Med school is rough, and some people just need to vent. Especially to people who understand what we are going through, since sometimes our friends and families do not.

Try being a little more empathetic or sympathetic towards people who are stressed out. It's part of your job description and oath, after all.

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

Med school is rough, and some people just need to vent. Especially to people who understand what we are going through, since sometimes our friends and families do not.

Try being a little more empathetic or sympathetic towards people who are stressed out. It's part of your job description and oath, after all.

Uh that's to patients not people on a message board. Don't try to make it sound like Medical school is so much harder than everyday life and everyone else's life is peaches and cream. Especially since doctors have to deal with patients who have real problems other than studying for hours on end.

Medicine is a highly competitive field that a person didn't just walk into. People go through tons of different crap everyday and it is kind of selfish to want them to "understand" what you have to go through.

If you want to say Medical school is tough then just say it. Don't paint a bs picture about how everyone's life is all nice and everything.

OP titled this thread as being jealous of others who enjoy life and gave examples as mowing the lawn and painting...

 

[weightyheart]

Uh that's to patients not people on a message board. Don't try to make it sound like Medical school is so much harder than everyday life and everyone else's life is peaches and cream. Especially since doctors have to deal with patients who have real problems other than studying for hours on end.

Actually, as a nontrad student, I can say that being medical student is much harder than working a 9 to 5 job.

Now according to your theory, we shouldn't complain because being a patient is worse that being a medical student. Do you know what else is easier than being a dying patient? Slavery. Obviously, slaves shouldn't complain because there are people in hospitals who are dying. /sarcasm

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

Actually, as a nontrad student, I can say that being medical student is much harder than working a 9 to 5 job.

Now according to your theory, we shouldn't complain because being a patient is worse that being a medical student. Do you know what else is easier than being a dying patient? Slavery. Obviously, slaves shouldn't complain because there are people in hospitals who are dying. /sarcasm

Wow guess what? Your 9-5 is not everyone's 9-5 experience (and I had to semi-regularly to 6/7 on some days and did not get paid extra ). I like medical school a lot more than my 9-5.

And now you completely missed my point 🙄. I'm not saying you can't complain I'm saying don't complain about everyone's life being easier. The patient thing was to remind you not everyone has it easier and you actively with PATIENTS.


This is where your slave comparison falls apart.

If you want to complain and vent about medschool I encourage you and the OP to do so but if you are comparing how worse your life is to another person give examples of successful friends not people doing manual labor.

 

[clinicallabguy]

This guy is a boss and I agree 100%. "oh poor me, I have to read a book and study." Did the school part of med school not tell you that? Jesus Christ, I love it when people cry they have to "work" hard and study. It's reading a goddamn book...you are not on a crusade so stop acting like you're somehow better than others (and yes that is the connotation of your thread "woe is me, feel bad for me, but I will persevere through the pain!!") for going to med school. Again, if you can't bear med school, seek a different path and cure yourself of your misery.

Indeed. You are not on a crusade so stop acting like you're somehow better than others. I think that applies to all of us, eh?

 

[shouldBstudying]

Wow, this thread got pretty harsh pretty fast, eh?

Let's put this to bed now....

Is medical school stressful? YES. Is it arguably one of the most demanding things many of us have yet to experience in our lives? YES.

Is there no other career / life experience that can/ever will top the stresses of medical school? NO.

The fact of the matter is, med school is tough, challenging, and demanding. Just as with any other job, if you superimpose any additional stressors on top of it (heaven forbid, personal problems / family issues) it gets bind-blowingly stressful.

I think the important thing to keep in mind here kids is that its all relative. Just as its really easy for Mr. pre-med to tell us all to man up (yep, I'm lookin at you random caller) it's also really easy for a non-trad who left a high-profile high-stress round the clock job to say "hey, this aint that bad". We can only compare this situation to what we've been presented with already...

 

[FutureMDSurgeon]

Ive been surfing this site for a while now but I had to create an account just to reply to the OP. Seriously dude, stop whining like a little kid, you knew what you were getting yourself into, your friends may be having fun now while you study your ass off, but at at the end of the day YOU will have the MD, not any of your friends.

 

[Yope]

Didn't the OP explicitly ask if others shared said opinions? People on high horses as well as low horses should be welcome. High horses need not apply.

 

[Mattchiavelli]

I think more people should work for a year or more between undergrad and med school just to get a better sense of perspective. I worked my tail off on my sub-i and even though it was more intense than my 9-5 I enjoyed the work and it was challenging...there were many points where I lost track of time, which never happened at my old job. There is something rewarding about knowing you're using your higher intellect to the fullest- something 9-5 friends don't normally talk about or realize but it's there.

 

[Perrotfish]

I think more people should work for a year or more between undergrad and med school just to get a better sense of perspective. I worked my tail off on my sub-i and even though it was more intense than my 9-5 I enjoyed the work and it was challenging...there were many points where I lost track of time, which never happened at my old job. There is something rewarding about knowing you're using your higher intellect to the fullest- something 9-5 friends don't normally talk about or realize but it's there.

I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, I really don't find this to be that fulfilling. I can see where it might on day be fulfilling to do the jobs I see my attendings doing, but my current role is mostly a waste.

 

[VenusinFurs]

Dude, get over yourself. Med school is stressful. We even had a class discussion with the faculty about when it is ok to cry and many of us have admitted to crying at some point. A study out of Vanderbilt found that 24% of their medical students showed signs of depression by a screen (see below). Data out of our med school (don't remember exactly where I heard this) shows that about 1/4 to 1/3 of each med school class seeks mental help or guidance from student health and they actively encourage us to get help.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21099385

Doesn't imply causation.

 

[augeremt]

I'm hesitating to post here because I'm a lowly pre-med, but I do have some life experience under my belt and can speak to the "real world" if not to med school.

Most people in their early and mid twenties who are not in med school are also busting their butts working their way up the corporate ladder. I'm not just talking about investment bankers and those in finance, but also those in other fields such as research or environmental fields. In short, at this age, you have to work hard to eventually have a good career.

It may seem like everyone you know goes to work at 9, gets off at 5, and then goes to the bar for a few hours. But that's not often the case. There are projects to be done, deadlines to meet, and bosses to please so it's not the cake-walk you imagine. And just because we leave work doesn't mean we stop thinking and worrying about it. I oftentimes find myself working on a project after dinner at home or on the weekend.

Yes, there are many people who have those simple 9 to 5s that you're dreaming about. But those who work those jobs probably aren't going to end up in a well-paying, successful career like yours. To get one of those fancy shmancy jobs, you have to work hard in your 20s just like you guys are doing in med school.

I'm not saying it doesn't suck to be a med student because I have no idea about that (yet). What I am saying is that the 9 to 5s you hear about from your friends often turn into much longer work weeks, which include weekends. And most of us get 2-3 weeks of vacation a year, if we're lucky. So that travel you guys mention...well, we don't get to do it as much as it seems.

 

[DocDanny]

Uh that's to patients not people on a message board. Don't try to make it sound like Medical school is so much harder than everyday life and everyone else's life is peaches and cream. Especially since doctors have to deal with patients who have real problems other than studying for hours on end.

Medicine is a highly competitive field that a person didn't just walk into. People go through tons of different crap everyday and it is kind of selfish to want them to "understand" what you have to go through.

If you want to say Medical school is tough then just say it. Don't paint a bs picture about how everyone's life is all nice and everything.

OP titled this thread as being jealous of others who enjoy life and gave examples as mowing the lawn and painting...

I never said anybody else's life was easy, man. Everyone has their cross to bear.

But it isn't at all selfish to want people to understand what you are going through, and to give advice and support. How could that possibly be selfish? We all need that.

Maybe the OP is just having a hard time right now. The OP might be feeling lonely, having a difficult clerkship, may have an illness in the family.

Wouldn't it be more productive to say that "yeah, it sure can be hard sometimes. But I am sure it gets better", and to give some advice and support? Isn't that more helpful than saying that the OP is simply "whiny"?

 

[FutureMDSurgeon]

I never said anybody else's life was easy, man. Everyone has their cross to bear.

But it isn't at all selfish to want people to understand what you are going through, and to give advice and support. How could that possibly be selfish? We all need that.

Maybe the OP is just having a hard time right now. The OP might be feeling lonely, having a difficult clerkship, may have an illness in the family.

Wouldn't it be more productive to say that "yeah, it sure can be hard sometimes. But I am sure it gets better", and to give some advice and support? Isn't that more helpful than saying that the OP is simply "whiny"?

Well, to be fair, he does come across as whiny.

 

[clinicallabguy]

I'm hesitating to post here because I'm a lowly pre-med, but I do have some life experience under my belt and can speak to the "real world" if not to med school.

Most people in their early and mid twenties who are not in med school are also busting their butts working their way up the corporate ladder. I'm not just talking about investment bankers and those in finance, but also those in other fields such as research or environmental fields. In short, at this age, you have to work hard to eventually have a good career.

It may seem like everyone you know goes to work at 9, gets off at 5, and then goes to the bar for a few hours. But that's not often the case. There are projects to be done, deadlines to meet, and bosses to please so it's not the cake-walk you imagine. And just because we leave work doesn't mean we stop thinking and worrying about it. I oftentimes find myself working on a project after dinner at home or on the weekend.

Yes, there are many people who have those simple 9 to 5s that you're dreaming about. But those who work those jobs probably aren't going to end up in a well-paying, successful career like yours. To get one of those fancy shmancy jobs, you have to work hard in your 20s just like you guys are doing in med school.

I'm not saying it doesn't suck to be a med student because I have no idea about that (yet). What I am saying is that the 9 to 5s you hear about from your friends often turn into much longer work weeks, which include weekends. And most of us get 2-3 weeks of vacation a year, if we're lucky. So that travel you guys mention...well, we don't get to do it as much as it seems.

Well said.

 

[Slack3r]

I'm hesitating to post here because I'm a lowly pre-med, but I do have some life experience under my belt and can speak to the "real world" if not to med school.

Most people in their early and mid twenties who are not in med school are also busting their butts working their way up the corporate ladder. I'm not just talking about investment bankers and those in finance, but also those in other fields such as research or environmental fields. In short, at this age, you have to work hard to eventually have a good career.

It may seem like everyone you know goes to work at 9, gets off at 5, and then goes to the bar for a few hours. But that's not often the case. There are projects to be done, deadlines to meet, and bosses to please so it's not the cake-walk you imagine. And just because we leave work doesn't mean we stop thinking and worrying about it. I oftentimes find myself working on a project after dinner at home or on the weekend.

Yes, there are many people who have those simple 9 to 5s that you're dreaming about. But those who work those jobs probably aren't going to end up in a well-paying, successful career like yours. To get one of those fancy shmancy jobs, you have to work hard in your 20s just like you guys are doing in med school.

I'm not saying it doesn't suck to be a med student because I have no idea about that (yet). What I am saying is that the 9 to 5s you hear about from your friends often turn into much longer work weeks, which include weekends. And most of us get 2-3 weeks of vacation a year, if we're lucky. So that travel you guys mention...well, we don't get to do it as much as it seems.

👍

 

[ProtossCarrier]

Ive been surfing this site for a while now but I had to create an account just to reply to the OP. Seriously dude, stop whining like a little kid, you knew what you were getting yourself into, your friends may be having fun now while you study your ass off, but at at the end of the day YOU will have the MD, not any of your friends.

May want to first go into M2 and beyond before you comment.

 

[shadowfox87]

If there's one emotion I don't feel, it's jealousy. I feel greed, hate, and all the other bad ones, but not jealousy. I just hate the fact that certain people will hate another person without knowing them just because they are doing "better" in some aspect. That's why I just eliminated jealousy completely.

I'm a thinker not a social drinker. I don't give a f*** if someone else is having more fun than I am. At the end of the day, I'll feel good just knowing that I worked my @ss off. I'd rather have that feeling than the feeling of guilt that I'm enjoying something without working hard for it.

Poor, suffering soul...all alone in a world of toil and hardship. My heart is brimming with pity. How is it possible that you were so unfortunate?... condemned to a life of misery and isolation while other people frolic around you in a state of bliss. I was moved to tears when you said you yearn for respite...to suck some pleasure out of a task as menial as mowing a lawn...like a man in the desert dying of thirst looking for a drop of water to moisten his lips. Oh kindred spirit, if I had a lawn, I'd let you mow it; if I had a dog, I'd let you pick up its ****. Damn the devil who duped you into going into medicine!

best post ever lol. Maybe you should have aimed for Pulitzer prize.

 

[clinicallabguy]

If there's one emotion I don't feel, it's jealousy. I feel greed, hate, and all the other bad ones, but not jealousy.

Blast! I should know where the lesion is on this. Oh well, so much for my 270. j/k.

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

May want to first go into M2 and beyond before you comment.

And you may want to get to Residency before you state that Medical school is hard.

M4 year is mostly pretty chill M3 depends on your rotations. M2 is bad during step but and very challenging but that doesn't mean that OP has it oh so hard.

I never said anybody else's life was easy, man. Everyone has their cross to bear.

But it isn't at all selfish to want people to understand what you are going through, and to give advice and support. How could that possibly be selfish? We all need that.

Maybe the OP is just having a hard time right now. The OP might be feeling lonely, having a difficult clerkship, may have an illness in the family.

Wouldn't it be more productive to say that "yeah, it sure can be hard sometimes. But I am sure it gets better", and to give some advice and support? Isn't that more helpful than saying that the OP is simply "whiny"?

I wouldn't have gotten on his case if he had just said Medical school is hard and that she/he is down in the dumps. I've been there too. I got mad when he compared nearly everyone (lawn mowers and painters not celebrities and other privileged people) and said that their lives were so much better which is why the OP got depressed or angry when they say someone painting or mowing.

It comes off as whiny and disrespectful because it assumes that if you are not in Medical School you have it easy. Hence all the replies that don't sympathize with the OP

 

[2012mdc]

And you may want to get to Residency before you state that Medical school is hard.

M4 year is mostly pretty chill M3 depends on your rotations. M2 is bad during step but and very challenging but that doesn't mean that OP has it oh so hard.



I wouldn't have gotten on his case if he had just said Medical school is hard and that she/he is down in the dumps. I've been there too. I got mad when he compared nearly everyone (lawn mowers and painters not celebrities and other privileged people) and said that their lives were so much better which is why the OP got depressed or angry when they say someone painting or mowing.

It comes off as whiny and disrespectful because it assumes that if you are not in Medical School you have it easy. Hence all the replies that don't sympathize with the OP

That's actually not what OP said. OP mentioned that he feels jealous of friends who have the time to do boring tasks/chores and at this point he would find having the time to do those things enjoyable. I might have missed it but I never saw where he said med school is harder than manual labor.

 

[medstudent87]

That's actually not what OP said. OP mentioned that he feels jealous of friends who have the time to do boring tasks/chores and at this point he would find having the time to do those things enjoyable. I might have missed it but I never saw where he said med school is harder than manual labor.

You took the words right out of my mouth

 

[random cell]

We even had a class discussion with the faculty about when it is ok to cry and many of us have admitted to crying at some point. A study out of Vanderbilt found that 24% of their medical students showed signs of depression by a screen (see below). Data out of our med school (don't remember exactly where I heard this) shows that about 1/4 to 1/3 of each med school class seeks mental help or guidance from student health and they actively encourage us to get help.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21099385

Weak.

 

[2012mdc]

You took the words right out of my mouth

I know how you feel. Felt similar at times while studying for Step 1. When I did I knew it was a time to take some time, no matter how small, to do something to feel like a regular person again.

 

[Slack3r]

Ah, yes, the false perception of others living life up while you study. For god sakes, medical students, you are not losing out on life just because you are a medical student.

You seriously think making anywhere from $25k to $75k, going home every night at 5:00 PM, watching the same TV shows every week, going to bed at the same time every week night, eating out once a weekend, and having sex once a month with your significant other is living up life?????????????????

 

[ProtossCarrier]

And you may want to get to Residency before you state that Medical school is hard.

M4 year is mostly pretty chill M3 depends on your rotations. M2 is bad during step but and very challenging but that doesn't mean that OP has it oh so hard.

Not sure if I stated med school is hard on this thread. For me it's managable. But I can see it being diffcult for people. I see that your school did not screen for compassion.

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

That's actually not what OP said. OP mentioned that he feels jealous of friends who have the time to do boring tasks/chores and at this point he would find having the time to do those things enjoyable. I might have missed it but I never saw where he said med school is harder than manual labor.

Yes he feels jealous that his friends have enough time to do these tasks and that since he is in medical school he doesn't have time do do these things. Jealous meaning he would like to have the time to do those things but he doesn't.

OP is jealous that they have "free time" to do chores and he is jealous of that. So medical school is more time consuming and in his perspective harder, since his friends can do wondrous things such as paint their house and mow their lawn. If he didn't feel this way he wouldn't be jealous of them doing these things. And the OP is studying for STEP not in 3rd year or residency, while you are busy for many hours you need to take breaks to be productive. He can find time to do these things no one is chaining him to his desk. While many M2's studied their buts of in preparing for step the still had like an hour or two a day to relax.

Not sure if I stated med school is hard on this thread. For me it's managable. But I can see it being diffcult for people. I see that your school did not screen for compassion.

No I'm compassionate to many things not I'm not so compassionate for a medical student being envious of his friends who have so much free time that they can do chores.

 

[ProtossCarrier]

No I'm compassionate to many things not I'm not so compassionate for a medical student being envious of his friends who have so much free time that they can do chores.

I see, what if a depressed student is placed under your care in the future?

 

[medstudent87]

Yes he feels jealous that his friends have enough time to do these tasks and that since he is in medical school he doesn't have time do do these things. Jealous meaning he would like to have the time to do those things but he doesn't.

OP is jealous that they have "free time" to do chores and he is jealous of that. So medical school is more time consuming and in his perspective harder, since his friends can do wondrous things such as paint their house and mow their lawn. If he didn't feel this way he wouldn't be jealous of them doing these things. And the OP is studying for STEP not in 3rd year or residency, while you are busy for many hours you need to take breaks to be productive. He can find time to do these things no one is chaining him to his desk. While many M2's studied their buts of in preparing for step the still had like an hour or two a day to relax.



No I'm compassionate to many things not I'm not so compassionate for a medical student being envious of his friends who have so much free time that they can do chores.

You, sir, are a douche.

 

[2012mdc]

Ah, yes, the false perception of others living life up while you study. For god sakes, medical students, you are not losing out on life just because you are a medical student.

You seriously think making anywhere from $25k to $75k, going home every night at 5:00 PM, watching the same TV shows every week, going to bed at the same time every week night, eating out once a weekend, and having sex once a month with your significant other is living up life?????????????????

Some medical students need a reality check.

Medical students just need to focus on studying, get the best scores you can on your Step exams, complete residency and then perform the duties of doctoring. Then see how those 21 year old nurses, the 23 year old assistant PAs, the 20 year old techs, etc, etc, etc are living up life...lol...lol.

None of my friends from college live a life like that. I'm happy with the choice I made but I am sometimes envious of them being further along in their careers, owning homes, traveling to Europe, Africa, Caribbean, Vegas etc, and usually having the weekends free to do whatever they want.

None of my good friends live that "Office Space" type generic life you describe. It's all relative, you are more likely to consciously or subconsciously compare you life to those of fam and good friends. Of course you can find people in much less desirable situations.

That's not the point, the point is that medical school sometimes sucks and when looking at friends who are comparatively living it up it feels like it sucks even more and sometimes you just need a forum to vent about it.

Overall I have enjoyed med school and have no regrets about choosing this path but that doesn't mean I don't get upset/jealous when I have to miss a close friend's wedding because I only get 1 day off a week in Surgery or when I have to miss a legendary Hawaii trip because I have a damn shelf exam. I'm not a damn machine

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

I see, what if a depressed student is placed under your care in the future?

You mean clinically depressed? Then treat them like any patient and even if they are down in the dumps. Are you saying the OP is depressed?

You, sir, are a douche.

Why for explaining what I think about your post?

 

[2012mdc]

Yes he feels jealous that his friends have enough time to do these tasks and that since he is in medical school he doesn't have time do do these things. Jealous meaning he would like to have the time to do those things but he doesn't.

OP is jealous that they have "free time" to do chores and he is jealous of that. So medical school is more time consuming and in his perspective harder, since his friends can do wondrous things such as paint their house and mow their lawn. If he didn't feel this way he wouldn't be jealous of them doing these things. And the OP is studying for STEP not in 3rd year or residency, while you are busy for many hours you need to take breaks to be productive. He can find time to do these things no one is chaining him to his desk. While many M2's studied their buts of in preparing for step the still had like an hour or two a day to relax.



No I'm compassionate to many things not I'm not so compassionate for a medical student being envious of his friends who have so much free time that they can do chores.

Overall 3rd year has been less stressful and less time consuming than STEP studying. Only two rotations: Surg (Surpasses the stress + time) and IM (may match it) compare with STEP studying. 3rd year has been so much better

 

[hotchocolate]

Wow. Depression is common in med school and it is also common in residency. It's not a sign of weakness and it's not a character flaw. Apparently people didn't pay much attention during their psych rotations....

I think mental health screening should be done a lot more frequently in med schools and residencies than it is now. Med school is stressful. So is residency. So are lives of non-medical people. Med students and doctors are, like non-medical people, also human beings who are vulnerable to mental health problems under stress.

Empathy can unfortunately not be taught, so there are a lot of d-bags in the medical profession who have no compassion for their colleagues. This is harmful from a public health point of view because d-bag colleagues/classmates who define mental health as a character issue can discourage their classmates from seeking help. OP, you should seek professional help for proper mental health screening-- and ignore the jerks who posted here.

 

[muhali3]

Wow. Depression is common in med school and it is also common in residency. It's not a sign of weakness and it's not a character flaw. Apparently people didn't pay much attention during their psych rotations....

I think mental health screening should be done a lot more frequently in med schools and residencies than it is now. Med school is stressful. So is residency. So are lives of non-medical people. Med students and doctors are, like non-medical people, also human beings who are vulnerable to mental health problems under stress.

Empathy can unfortunately not be taught, so there are a lot of d-bags in the medical profession who have no compassion for their colleagues. This is harmful from a public health point of view because d-bag colleagues/classmates who define mental health as a character issue can discourage their classmates from seeking help. OP, you should seek professional help for proper mental health screening-- and ignore the jerks who posted here.

+1. IQ is high in medicine, EQ is low.

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

Wow. Depression is common in med school and it is also common in residency. It's not a sign of weakness and it's not a character flaw. Apparently people didn't pay much attention during their psych rotations....

I think mental health screening should be done a lot more frequently in med schools and residencies than it is now. Med school is stressful. So is residency. So are lives of non-medical people. Med students and doctors are, like non-medical people, also human beings who are vulnerable to mental health problems under stress.

Empathy can unfortunately not be taught, so there are a lot of d-bags in the medical profession who have no compassion for their colleagues. This is harmful from a public health point of view because d-bag colleagues/classmates who define mental health as a character issue can discourage their classmates from seeking help. OP, you should seek professional help for proper mental health screening-- and ignore the jerks who posted here.

No one said Medschool isn't stressful. I'm saying having a warped view on free time shouldn't be catered to nor should anger or jealousy for others for having time to do necessary things. Even in therapy for depression, it is not a hold your hand session. Some therapists have to be very tough on their patients for their own good.

It is harmful from a public health standpoint to have a view that those who aren't in medical school don't have it as bad as you.

This isn't a thread about the debt you have to pay or the hardships of residency or patients dying. It is not primarily about how med school does a number on your social life/love life (I sympathize with this).

It is a thread about how good others apparently have it compared to Medschool( do not sympathize with this). That is what people have a problem with and why posters are saying it is not that bad.

The OP states that he is spending the best year of his life reading books while everyone else is regularly going out for food and drinks, traveling, making $$, getting laid, etc. Which makes him depressed. Coddling this attitude will not make his depression go away in fact, having this world view is pretty unhealthy. He did not make the comparison to the wealthy and celebrities but to his friends who have time to do chores which means that he does not have time to do these things.

The users who many are saying are "dicks" are telling the OP to live life now and to manage his time better. You accomplish nothing by feeling sorry for yourself or being mad at others for not studying. Or you can just wallow in pity and assume that your friends all have free time. The OP should tell his friends how he feels and let them show him that maybe there lives are not all that awesome because they do things on the weekends.



http://www.kumc.edu/som/medsos/tms.html

 

[QueenTut]

Honestly (and this probably won't make you feel any better), but I think your feelings are understandable. I'm in my 30's and I can't IMAGINE what it would have been like if I had gone straight through. I was so restless in my 20's and I got EVERYTHING I needed out of my system!!

That being said, there must be some way that you can find time for fun. One of my closest friends went to Emory straight through, and she traveled WAY more than I did. In fact, the first time that I ever left the country was with her, and she was doing her internship (emergency medicine), so she prioritized her fun. She's an attending now, still having fun, making a crapload of money :-/ So don't worry about it too much. Just try to schedule some fun w/ your studying.

 

[dienekes88]

Love some of the responses in this thread.

Anyway. OP, I do get envious when I see other people (even my classmates) having fun on the weekends. I'm just not that strong, so I have to work harder than my peers. Oh well.

 

[DocDanny]

And you may want to get to Residency before you state that Medical school is hard.

I wouldn't have gotten on his case if he had just said Medical school is hard and that she/he is down in the dumps. I've been there too. I got mad when he compared nearly everyone (lawn mowers and painters not celebrities and other privileged people) and said that their lives were so much better which is why the OP got depressed or angry when they say someone painting or mowing.

It comes off as whiny and disrespectful because it assumes that if you are not in Medical School you have it easy. Hence all the replies that don't sympathize with the OP

Medical school IS hard.

Jesus, man. The OP said that he was missing his old life, missing the things he used to be able to do. He isn't trashing ANYBODY. He doesn't mention gardeners or painters, just the ACT of gardening or painting. He just misses the way things were. Maybe he IS depressed. Or not. But there is no need to jump at him like this.

I reread his post, and I don't see where you are getting any of this. Nowhere does he say that other people have it easy. And to be honest, people aren't sympathizing with him because some of the posters on here can be dicks, and aren't really empathetic.

 

[greatnt249]

Weak.

Funny, that's the word I'd use to describe your contribution to this thread thus far; another one would be "irrelevant."

 

[scarshapedstar]

Oh to be a pre-med again.

Naw, what you really want to be is a perpetual reapplicant, listening to erstwhile high school classmates 'stress' about MATCH DAY, and reading other people's admissions packets saying "cheer up, the hardest part about med school is getting accepted!" while you check the mailbox 12 times a day in between refreshing your school's SDN thread, and every conversation begins with "SO DID YA HEAR ANYTHING YET?" and ends with "LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU HEAR SOMETHING!" and whenever someone asks you what you do you say "Well, I'm waiting to hear back from med school..." and they say "Oh, cool, maybe you'll see my friend, she's almost finished with med school" and... and... well, then you will know true bliss. 😀

 

[High Roller]

wow. Depression is common in med school and it is also common in residency. It's not a sign of weakness and it's not a character flaw. Apparently people didn't pay much attention during their psych rotations....

I think mental health screening should be done a lot more frequently in med schools and residencies than it is now. Med school is stressful. So is residency. So are lives of non-medical people. Med students and doctors are, like non-medical people, also human beings who are vulnerable to mental health problems under stress.

Empathy can unfortunately not be taught, so there are a lot of d-bags in the medical profession who have no compassion for their colleagues. This is harmful from a public health point of view because d-bag colleagues/classmates who define mental health as a character issue can discourage their classmates from seeking help. Op, you should seek professional help for proper mental health screening-- and ignore the jerks who posted here.

*fist bump*

 

[Slack3r]

...people aren't sympathizing with him because some of the posters on here can be dicks, and aren't really empathetic.

Burnette's Law?

 

[2012mdc]

I don't know how old you are, but what I described is the average lifestyle of the average worker. Get up at the same time, have the same coffee, sit at the same desk, do the same job functions, rotate the same clothes, have to put up with the same "people" every day, then drive home at the same time every day, eat the same food because you can't only afford certain food, eat the same time every night (most often), go to bed at the same time at night, rinse and repeat every work week. Those houses force them to work in the same city for a long time (not easy to sell a house in this market and they lose leverage on the job front), and those vacations are not that often.

But, I guess that summer "off" between M1 and M2 is such a bad thing, that winter vacation during Christmas is such a hard thing, the ability to sleep in until 8am is such a tough thing, the ability to stay up until 11pm is such a tough thing....you don't have it that hard. You just make yourself think you do.

Exactly. That's why I referred to it as the generic Office Space-type job. However, my friends do not have that life, they have more exciting and fulfilling lives. Birds of a feather flock together and I would venture to say that a lot of med students have college friends who do not lead the boring average worker life you describe. Those vacations are that often - I have friends in LA who can go to Vegas whatever weekend they please at the drop at the hat.

No, med school isn't impossible but I think it's asinine to suggest that there are important aspects of the lives of non-med students that us med students can't be envious of. Trust me if I actually enjoyed law I would easily trade places with my lawyer friends

Of course med school is easier than someone who busts their butt 60-70 hours a week and makes less than 50K with few benefits. But those aren't my friends. I look at my friends making 6 figures working decent hours and going on plenty of trips

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

Exactly. That's why I referred to it as the generic Office Space-type job. However, my friends do not have that life, they have more exciting and fulfilling lives. Birds of a feather flock together and I would venture to say that a lot of med students have college friends who do not lead the boring average worker life you describe. Those vacations are that often - I have friends in LA who can go to Vegas whatever weekend they please at the drop at the hat.

No, med school isn't impossible but I think it's asinine to suggest that there are important aspects of the lives of non-med students that us med students can't be envious of. Trust me if I actually enjoyed law I would easily trade places with my lawyer friends

Of course med school is easier than someone who busts their butt 60-70 hours a week and makes less than 50K with few benefits. But those aren't my friends. I look at my friends making 6 figures working decent hours and going on plenty of trips

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3301274

Law is way worse than medicine.

 

[Slack3r]

Exactly. That's why I referred to it as the generic Office Space-type job. However, my friends do not have that life, they have more exciting and fulfilling lives. Birds of a feather flock together and I would venture to say that a lot of med students have college friends who do not lead the boring average worker life you describe. Those vacations are that often - I have friends in LA who can go to Vegas whatever weekend they please at the drop at the hat.

No, med school isn't impossible but I think it's asinine to suggest that there are important aspects of the lives of non-med students that us med students can't be envious of. Trust me if I actually enjoyed law I would easily trade places with my lawyer friends

Of course med school is easier than someone who busts their butt 60-70 hours a week and makes less than 50K with few benefits. But those aren't my friends. I look at my friends making 6 figures working decent hours and going on plenty of trips

Well your friends seem to be the exception, not the rule. Of all my friends, the highest paid is making $63k, the lowest $30k. And that's not including the ~40% that are either unemployed or working as a waiter because they can't find work in their field. It's not the panacea you make it out to be.

As everyone keeps saying...it's all relative. You live in the richest country in the world training for a career that will put you in the top 1% of earners in the US.
What do you want people to say? Sucks to be you? My friends make money and I don't? Sucks, but you did choose this, and you could have it much, much worse.