Epilepsy & Panic Attacks in Medical school ?

[Slytheryn]

A few weeks ago one of our classmates confessed that she has regular panic attacks since we started Medical school. When another classmate heard this, she told us that she knows another person who developed Epilepsy since Med school started. We asked her whether she was sure about that and she told us that the doctor arrived to the conclusion that the constant stress + lack of sleep ( especially ) can induce an Epilepsy even in healthy individuals.

Do you know other similar stories ?
Do you think these persons would have developed these conditions even if they wouldn't have been in Medical school ?

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[Taddy Mason]

Do you know other similar stories?

Numerous. Both to med students and non-med students.

Do you think these persons would have developed these conditions even if they wouldn't have been in Medical school ?

Depends on those individuals' internal predisposing risk factors and exposure to external stressors/triggers.

 

[Goro]

Yup. This is why I constantly warn people that medical school is a furnace, and I've seen it break even healthy students. I've had a few withdraw due to overt psychosis, but much more to depression. We've never lost a student to suicide, thankfully.

A few weeks ago one of our classmates confessed that she has regular panic attacks since we started Medical school. When another classmate heard this, she told us that she knows another person who developed Epilepsy since Med school started. We asked her whether she was sure about that and she told us that the doctor arrived to the conclusion that the constant stress + lack of sleep ( especially ) can induce an Epilepsy even in healthy individuals.

Do you know other similar stories ?
Do you think these persons would have developed these conditions even if they wouldn't have been in Medical school ?

 

[Slytheryn]

Yup. This is why I constantly warn people that medical school is a furnace, and I've seen it break even healthy students. I've had a few withdraw due to overt psychosis, but much more to depression. We've never lost a student to suicide, thankfully.

And what response do you usually get ? Are people willing to take your advice ? Are they defensive ?
What is the best way of telling someone that they need help and you or a professional could help them ? ( If we talk about A-type, proud students )

 

[Stagg737]

And what response do you usually get ? Are people willing to take your advice ? Are they defensive ?
What is the best way of telling someone that they need help and you or a professional could help them ? ( If we talk about A-type, proud students )

Sounds cheesy, but having a heart to heart and just reassuring them helps a lot with this. If she's having panic attacks and it's starting to affect her, then I'd encourage her to seek help. I've found the biggest things are to be understanding, reassure her that there's nothing wrong with seeking help and that plenty of people do seek help, and don't try and force her or push too hard to get help. Not everyone wants help, and if they don't then trying to push them into it can just make them more resistant. She needs to understand that it's a medical condition and not something that's happening because she's "weak", and that getting help doesn't mean she's failed or less of a person.

 

[Goro]

Some people go into the eyes open, and others come here seeking only the answers they want to hear. A surprising number of people still look upon going for help as a sign of weakness, or losing face.

I have no idea if they end up taking my advice or not.

And what response do you usually get ? Are people willing to take your advice ? Are they defensive ?

You list the problems that are affecting their functioning and suggest getting help. If needed, provide list of resources.

What is the best way of telling someone that they need help and you or a professional could help them ? ( If we talk about A-type, proud students )[/QUOTE]