Does anyone know if you can get accommodations for depression-related concentration issues?

[imanidiot7]

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My brain is zapped. My school permits so little time per question. I can't think or process information that fast anymore. On top of that, all of the noise from people taking their tests and getting up to leave is so distracting to me. I don't know that it would make much difference because my memory is so bad right now that med school just doesn't seem possible, but maybe getting to take tests in a quiet room or be allotted a little more time per question would help some.

 

[Goro]

Go see your student services people ASAP. If necessary, take a LOA. You have to be be able to handle answering Board exam questions at a clip of 90 sec/item.

Does your school allow noise cancelling headphones or earplugs?

Based upon your previous posts, get help ASAP.

 

[imanidiot7]

Go see your student services people ASAP. If necessary, take a LOA. You have to be be able to handle answering Board exam questions at a clip of 90 sec/item.

Does your school allow noise cancelling headphones or earplugs?

Based upon your previous posts, get help ASAP.

Yeah, we can wear ear plugs. I'll try that next time. It's not like I haven't tried getting help. The help just is never helpful.

 

[bananafish94]

You should see a psychiatrist, if you haven't done so already. The longer you wait the more detrimental it will be to your health and your career! I'm sorry you're going through this.

 

[Goro]

You should see a psychiatrist, if you haven't done so already. The longer you wait the more detrimental it will be to your health and your career! I'm sorry you're going through this.

This.

 

[imanidiot7]

I have seen a psychiatrist, two actually. Been on every antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication in the book. All of those medications just make me spacey-headed and further unable to concentrate.

 

[WingedOx]

Sleep schedule...

 

[ExecutiveDysfunction]

Have you considered therapy instead of just meds?

 

[imanidiot7]

Have you considered therapy instead of just meds?

I have done both. I spoke to my school's counselor too, and his input was basically that there's nothing that can be done about the reality of the way our curriculum is structured, so I should drop out now before I accumulate any further debt. That and that I could keep coming as much as I wanted, but all our sessions would really consist of was "venting" because I've already tried all of the usual things (breathing techniques, mindfulness exercises, etc) with my personal therapist.

 

[WiseOne]

Have you literally tried everything? (All classes of antidepressants). Can't give medical advice on here, but if I was in your situation, I would probably then look into more..alternative therapies. Med school will only get harder and although you might be able to get by in your preclinical years, but your clinical years are entirely different and you will not be able to get by with any clinically significant mental health problems that are not being adequately addressed in some way.

 

[imanidiot7]

I've tried alternative stuff too. I've wasted thousands of dollars over the years on acupuncture, supplements, nutritional counseling, chiropractors, even did reiki once...all kinds of things that I normally would never try but did out of desperation or just to give myself the illusion of trying. It's just hopeless. No one can say I haven't tried (well, they can, but they'd be a jerk).

If I leave med school, I have nowhere to go. I'd be on the street. That's the main reason I'm not just bailing and am trying to make things somehow work despite the near zero chances. I don't want to go into the specifics of the situation because they'd make me very identifiable to anyone who knows me.

Back to trying to figure out how the heck to shove all of this anatomy into my brain.

 

[WiseOne]

I've tried alternative stuff too. I've wasted thousands of dollars over the years on acupuncture, supplements, nutritional counseling, chiropractors, even did reiki once...all kinds of things that I normally would never try but did out of desperation or just to give myself the illusion of trying. It's just hopeless. No one can say I haven't tried (well, they can, but they'd be a jerk).

If I leave med school, I have nowhere to go. I'd be on the street. That's the main reason I'm not just bailing and am trying to make things somehow work despite the near zero chances. I don't want to go into the specifics of the situation because they'd make me very identifiable to anyone who knows me.

Back to trying to figure out how the heck to shove all of this anatomy into my brain.

ketamine clinics, ayahuasca ceremonies, arizona cacti, st. john's wort, psilocybin...not much I can say I guess then. saying this only half-jokingly.

 

[Goro]

I've tried alternative stuff too. I've wasted thousands of dollars over the years on acupuncture, supplements, nutritional counseling, chiropractors, even did reiki once...all kinds of things that I normally would never try but did out of desperation or just to give myself the illusion of trying. It's just hopeless. No one can say I haven't tried (well, they can, but they'd be a jerk).

If I leave med school, I have nowhere to go. I'd be on the street. That's the main reason I'm not just bailing and am trying to make things somehow work despite the near zero chances. I don't want to go into the specifics of the situation because they'd make me very identifiable to anyone who knows me.

Back to trying to figure out how the heck to shove all of this anatomy into my brain.

Tried ECT? tPEMF?
I am not sanguine as to what will happen with just the status quo.

 

[imanidiot7]

Tried ECT? tPEMF?
I am not sanguine as to what will happen with just the status quo.

I have had thoughts of trying ECT but could never afford it. Obviously not gonna go get it in the middle of med school, and taking a LOA to get it wouldn't work b/c I couldn't afford it and would be homeless. I'm honestly just to the point of being very grateful that it is impossible for these challenges to go on forever because, well, no one lives forever. I know hearing that makes people uncomfortable, but as we've established, I've tried all of the usual suggestions multiple times plus some. It is very frustrating to be told to "go to a psychiatrist" or "go to a therapist" every time I try to "reach out" as if the 500th go at doing the same thing is going to produce different results. I'm exhausted.

 

[gyngyn]

This thread has been reported by several users due to the comments about self-harm. SDN takes such statements seriously and we would like to remind the OP and all posters that SDN should not serve as a place to obtain counseling or other advice regarding significant psychological issues. Anyone who is contemplating harming themselves should immediately seek professional counseling advice, not rely on SDN or other non-professional resources.