How damaging is taking a leave of absence?

[492618]

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OMS2.5. For various explicable and inexplicable reasons, I've been feeling extremely down mentally the last half year or so, not happy with life, keep thinking the worst is gunna happen, and drained. I'm in my dedicated, but I have zero focus and motivation towards my boards. I'm a month and half out from them and haven't done much studying (or pre-studying other than classes), but I guess I could force myself to study and hope to pass. I still love medicine/career, but a huge part of me just wants to pack my bags and drive back home, spend time with family again, and try to 'reset.' I want to take a LOA, which in my school means joining next year's class, but I haven't been formally diagnosed with any medical condition yet, so I don't know how I'd explain it a PD during interviews. I also can't help but think if there was some crazy situation where if I get physically sick or something in 3rd or 4th year, that would be another year.

Basically, don't know whether to take a LOA despite the fact that I want to, and wondering how damaging is it as a red flag? I'm okay with kissing my chances at anything competitive away, as long as I'll match in primary care or something in the future.

 

[navigator]

Do it. Your mental health is way way way more important.

 

[Sleepingdoc]

Take the time off if you need it, many people do it...

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

The problem will be explaining it. Mental health issues are, unfortunately, frowned upon in the profession. They will wonder if you can handle the stress of residency. If you also take it before boards, they may think you weren't prepared and delayed as an excuse. It's a tricky situation, but I'll say take the gamble if it is a legitimate issue that you're going through. It will be massively worse if you fail boards or the situation gets worse and out of hand

 

[dr.wieners]

If you know you aren't interested in a competitive specialty, then do what you need to do. Just be willing to accept the consequences of having a "red flag" and consider if that is going to cause you more stress than what you are already experiencing. Good luck to you!

 

[2021Doctor]

The LOA will be a red flag to some programs. A month and a half of full-time studying for boards should be enough. Why not just study hard for a month and a half and move on from there?

 

[BorntobeDO?]

How you explain the leave will have a lot to do with how its precieved. If taking this time off will really make you come back stronger and better then do it. If your just doing it cause your tired, I wouldn't. Basically decide if this leave will actually help you do better for real, and if so, will it be enough to make up for the demerit it will be on your MSPE. Stress is a big deal, and you have to decide how you will deal with this. Follow your gut tho, you probably know better than anyone if you really need this. 6 weeks is enough to get past boards otherwise.

 

[smukke]

Any chance you'd be able to swing a "research" year? Like others have said it will be a red flag, how much is program dependant and how you are able to frame it.

If your only options are to either take LOA and deal with the fallout or go into M3 already burned out and depressed, I'd very strongly consider the LOA.

 

[2021Doctor]

How you explain the leave will have a lot to do with how its precieved. If taking this time off will really make you come back stronger and better then do it. If your just doing it cause your tired, I wouldn't. Basically decide if this leave will actually help you do better for real, and if so, will it be enough to make up for the demerit it will be on your MSPE. Stress is a big deal, and you have to decide how you will deal with this. Follow your gut tho, you probably know better than anyone if you really need this. 6 weeks is enough to get past boards otherwise.

Some residency program directors are not fans of medical students that cannot handle stress. Residency is stressful. The concern is that a medical student who cannot handle stress would become a resident who cannot handle stress. So if you decide to take the LOA be thoughtful about the reasons you give.

 

[ortnakas]

The red flag of a LOA is smaller than the red flags you risk bringing on yourself by not taking one if you need it (and, of course, the personal/health repercussions, which you shouldn’t ignore.

 

[navigator]

It'd only raise a red flag if you took the LOA and weren't able to use the time to make an improvement in your mental health... which is very unlikely. Do it.