Feeling Tired in Dental School

[childofthesacredheart]

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Hello everyone 🙂

I hope you all had a good Fourth of July Weekend. I wanted to write this thread to ask for your much needed help.

I am currently in dental school right now, and I am beginning to feel tired - not just physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and tired from the inside. I don't know what to do. I'm exhausted.

I spend all day in school with classes from 8:00am to 5:00pm. When I am done with classes at 5:00pm, there is still so much more work that I have to get done - more work in the sim lab - more preps that I have to learn - and more book learning that I have to do - and still more power point slides that I have to learn.

I can't stay on top of things.

I don't know what to do to help myself. I feel helpless - I feel overwhelmed. There is always so much work and I always feel as if I am too tired to finish the work that I have to get done.

I wish that I could help myself to know what to do to manage my time better but I feel so defeated.

I don't know how to get over this constant feeling tired.

I don't know who to talk to. When I express my hardships, then people judge/label me as "paranoid" or "nervous" or "stressed." This does not help me at all.

I have been advised to write a reasonable hour-by-hour daily schedule for everyday, but it is so hard for me to follow that daily schedule because when I sit down and try to work, my mind is so distracted and I don't want to be at school anymore.

If there is anyone out there who can help me or give me some advice, I would be so thankful.

Please keep me in your prayers.

 

[THS]

The biggest relief can be knowing that you aren't alone. This is a common feeling. And though your classmates may not show it, many of them are experiencing the same thing, I promise you.

 

[postpitadh]

As a predental student, I may not be qualified to give you advice.. but you have two options: give up, or keep pressing forward. Your school believed you could do it by accepting you and I think that just taking some time to remember what exactly made you want to pursue dentistry would fuel your motivation to carry on!

 

[hopeful_2018]

I just finished my first year, and even though we are on summer break, I still feel the exact same way.

 

[Bifenthrin]

I'm not sure what year you're in but... it gets better.

Second year had me wanting to drop out, but I pressed through. Now I'm in the beginning of D3 and it's just SO much better that I can't even believe it.

Just press through. It's only four years of your life, and then you get to have an awesome career. Make sure you're eating healthy, getting 6-8 hours of sleep a night, and exercising at least half an hour every day. That'll help keep your energy levels up.

 

[grassisgreen]

Pretty sure you are describing dental school correctly. Didn't get these fatigue feelings until fourth year. You are not alone. It gets better with rest. Take care of yourself and make time for exercise, and conversations with other peers. Study with classmates and friends, it definitely helps.

 

[Greyangel6]

I'm an incoming D1 and threads like this one scare me haha. But prayers to you, my friend. All shall pass. Hang in there. I've been told by upperclassmen that getting a good sleep schedule, exercise a bit, and get a hobby to prevent burnout.

 

[strep mutans]

I recommend exercising 30 minutes every day. I know it sounds hard to do when you feel like you already have so much to do and that you are behind on your studies, but study after study shows that exercise increases one's mood/happiness and improves one's memory and learning abilities, making study time more effective.

Try it everyday for 3 weeks and I promise you'll feel better.

 

[LaughingGas]

Incoming D2 here. You are not alone. Even the top people that I personally know felt burnt out and overwhelmed. My biggest regret is not exercising. Also, I changed the way I study to be more efficient.

 

[510586]

Incoming D2 here. You are not alone. Even the top people that I personally know felt burnt out and overwhelmed. My biggest regret is not exercising. Also, I changed the way I study to be more efficient.

Would you mind detailing a little bit about what you changed to be more efficient? Sometimes I feel very inefficient when I study, so any tips are welcome.

 

[DrJeff]

The key to life, especially as a dentist, which as a career is very rewarding, but it is also a career that while maybe not the most physically strenuous job, is a mentally strenuous job, is to learn how to balance your life. And what "balance" is WILL be different for most everyone. D school brings the stresses of a very rigorous schedule, and quite often for many who have typically been "over achievers" the majority of their lives, the first real time that they may be questioning if they can succeed at this, that can put plenty of mental weight on one's shoulders that affects them in many ways. After d-school, new, and different "stresses" will need to be faced, finding a job, paying ones loans, often finding a spouse, buying a house, children, running your own business, etc, etc, etc. It's very often not just "open wide and don't forget to pay on the way out" Finding things to do that allow you to both take a mental breather and also maintain your physical health are key. Realizing that what these things are will likely change as you evolve as a person and face new situations and/or stresses in your life is key.

For some people it may be some form of exercise. For others it may be reading or music or gardening, or ????? Try as we might at times, we can't keep going 24/7 at the same task, eventually it wears us down, and we become far less efficient at what we're trying to do, which further adds stress to the situation we're in. Finding that balance. and then realizing that "balance" in one's life is often a fluid, dynamic thing, not a constant, and that most people need to work at that balance regularly is key.


Just about everyone in this profession has been through what you're going through. You're not alone, and will get through this. So don't feel bad about taking a few minutes every now and then (daily even) to proverbially "stop and smell the roses", you'll likely find a recharged, fresher perspective after having done so

 

[toothexplore]

i felt the same in DS2 and thought it would get better. The 9-5 classes were killing me. Now in the senior year, I only realize it gets worse... 7:30-6pm + after hours lab work + weekends + boards. I'm exhausted, but you habituate and everyone is in the same boat so I don't feel alone. It makes it more bearable

Honestly the most difficult part about school is troubleshooting. If every clinic session went smoothly I wouldn't mind the long hours. But when appts take forever, or when prosth rarely goes as planned after you put in so many extra hours...... mental breakdown


I used to go to the gym every day without fail in D1,D2 even during finals. Once clinic hit I was rarely going in D3 and now i haven't been in 8 months just from sheer exhaustion

 

[childofthesacredheart]

thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the advice 🙂 almost everyone on this thread spoke about exercise - I have to agree - I will try my best to exercise as much as possible.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please keep me in your prayers 🙂

 

[gsquared]

I feel you--I felt the same way when taking biochem one and two with a research tutorial and two labs. Here's what worked for me: caffeine when I was feeling down, and no caffeine after 4PM. Melatonin 45 minutes before bed and intermittently cycling off of it to avoid tolerance issues.

Yoga to calm down and center myself--I shoot for 4 one-hour classes a week.

Find your groove and this may even become enjoyable.

 

[PaxRoma]

Dental school is hard, especially the first 2 years. My best advice is to find people in your class to vent with. I am sure there are plenty of people in your class who are in the same situation.
Be optimistic, share your feelings, and you will make it!

 

[Incis0r]

I feel you--I felt the same way when taking biochem one and two with a research tutorial and two labs. Here's what worked for me: caffeine when I was feeling down, and no caffeine after 4PM. Melatonin 45 minutes before bed and intermittently cycling off of it to avoid tolerance issues.

Yoga to calm down and center myself--I shoot for 4 one-hour classes a week.

Find your groove and this may even become enjoyable.

Does Yoga really work?

 

[gsquared]

Yoga, translated from Hindu, means "to bind" or "yoke." A traditional practice focuses on connecting your mind, body, and breath through a series of poses that are simultaneously challenging and relaxing. Does yoga effectively connect your mind to your body? I'd imagine that it does; otherwise, it wouldn't still be around (the earliest yoga sutras are well over 2k years old from what I recall). Food for thought.

 

[Incis0r]

Yoga, translated from Hindu, means "to bind" or "yoke." A traditional practice focuses on connecting your mind, body, and breath through a series of poses that are simultaneously challenging and relaxing. Does yoga effectively connect your mind to your body? I'd imagine that it does; otherwise, it wouldn't still be around (the earliest yoga sutras are well over 2k years old from what I recall). Food for thought.

Nice! Thanks 🙂 I'll give it a shot.
Btw, Hindi is the language, Hindu is a member who follows Hinduism; common mistake 😛.

 

[oralcare123]

Make sure, that your health is fine, take multivitamin, sleep enough. Set priorities. Do more important things first, try to set a time limit for other tasks - this way you can learn to do things faster. Lastly, learn to be imperfect. Not everything has to be done perfectly all the time

 

[gsquared]

I typically conflate the two. I'm not fluent, but I should be more conscious of this. Give it a shot and let me know what you think!

 

[FlyingSky]

Hold on my friend, it will get better because it cant get any worse, I know the feeling, I felt miserable too
You will be a dentist soon and you will be so proud that you made it
I will have you in my prayers, I know the feeling and how much miserable you can feel, I wont say all dental students go through this, but LOTS of them do, you have to keep pushing forward and never give up. Your efforts will pay off, never give up on yourself, you are strong and you can make it, everyday is a new challenge and you will make it.
If you can, try to spend time with people you love, I was far away from my family but when I could visit them, it was a relief, also spending time with non-dental-students friends

 

[kingtal0n]

when I feel fatigue, exercise is definitely at the top of the list. I don't usually realize it before hand, or during the first half of the workout, but after I accomplish a workout that challenges my entire body (see: squat/bench/dead/clean) I feel absolutely amazing, like I can accomplish anything if I can survive what I just went through in the gym.

And then... a huge meal, followed by good sleep. You have to sleep and eat to recover. I wake up feeling so happy and energetic it gets on everybody's nerves haha.

Another thought that helps... I just remember that I could be doing nothing at all.

Hope you feel better
.

 

[jenfromdablock]

We all feel it.

 

[OSUkid]

Nice! Thanks 🙂 I'll give it a shot.
Btw, Hindi is the language, Hindu is a member who follows Hinduism; common mistake 😛.

Whats your favorite bollywood movie?

 

[OSUkid]

Friends,
when I feel tired I grab some sugar cookies, wash them down with a big glass of cold orange juice, take a nap with my teddy bear @tooth knockn , and believe me the energy I have is pouring through my veins when I awake

 

[Marmalade]

Sounds familiar. That's how I felt for the first 2 years. Exhausted. Stressed. Long commute. Baby at home. High expectations. Loans. Sleepless yet tired all day. I'm pretty sure I started a Fight Club.

A lot of us go through it.

I wish I'd discovered OTC sleeping pills earlier - they really helped me sleep soundly after the second baby (but, yes i could still be awoken to feed him, but the pills allowed me to go back to sleep each time).

That or how to relax. Depression/anxiety eat away at you.

It gets much better. Focus on your studies. Relax. Repeat.

All the best.

 

[PocketRocket]

Getting laid can sometimes help with the stress

 

[OSUkid]

Getting laid can sometimes help with the stress

 

[romoxx23]

Try to look at the perspective of school. I watched these videos (they are free) and it helped me reroute my thinking in the difficult situations that I have gone through in dental school. I know your pain.


dentalmaverick.com/free-student-videos/

 

[Dentalogist]

Getting laid can sometimes help with the stress

so true! It helps release those pesty hormones. on another note it's healthy!