How would you motivate despite illness?

[MDpride]

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Hii

i have seen people with chronic illness doing their work and living life with smile on their face.
I don't understand how it is possible to go about doing your work or studying when you are suffering from chronic illness.

If you were in medical school and u get diagnosed with chronic illness or no diagnosis for your symptoms yet, how would you motivate yourself to go thru med school and live life with smile on face ?

 

[ACSurgeon]

Hii

i have seen people with chronic illness doing their work and living life with smile on their face.
I don't understand how it is possible to go about doing your work or studying when you are suffering from chronic illness.

If you were in medical school and u get diagnosed with chronic illness or no diagnosis for your symptoms yet, how would you motivate yourself to go thru med school and live life with smile on face ?

Obviously this is easier said then done, but here it goes: I'd tell myself I had two options 1) live as if I'm dead and be miserable for it or 2) try to make the most of my life and remember that their are many less fortunate then myself (and be grateful as a result).

I think it's hard for us young healthy folks to understand because we have a lot going for us, and as an ortho attending puts it, we don't want it to get f***ed up! However, once you find yourself in a different reality, one of pain/illness/etc I think you adjust your perspective and start to enjoy what you have instead of being afraid to lose something or fail (or be greedy to gain too much more).

my two cents anyhow.

 

[howelljolly]

Hii

i have seen people with chronic illness doing their work and living life with smile on their face.
I don't understand how it is possible to go about doing your work or studying when you are suffering from chronic illness.

If you were in medical school and u get diagnosed with chronic illness or no diagnosis for your symptoms yet, how would you motivate yourself to go thru med school and live life with smile on face ?

Attitude is everything. For starters, there are plenty of motivational speakers out there... and plenty of videos of them on youtube. Throw a couple on there, sit back and watch. Just keep watching them until you have enough motivation and energy to really do something definitive for yourself. Once you have the energy, you need to get out of the house and:
-talk to friends, family, and your doctor
-read some self help books, or about whatever ails you, or whatever you like
-get into a healthy routine of eating right, exercising, and sleeping properly
-forcing yourself to do the fun things you always used to

 

[ar2388]

i also think about how many people are suffering from something with no visible signs, that most of the people i see on the streets probably have some sort of condition or disability and no one could care less about it and them.
thinking about how much worse off other people have it makes me appreciate the things that i do have and am able to do despite other circumstances.

 

[psipsina]

I've had to have 8 surgeries while in medschool and had to take a year off. Its easy to be discouraged at times but for the most part I'm not willing to let anything stop me. Sitting around feeling badly for my situation doesn't help me at all and doesn't change anything. If anything I've learned how much I am capable of doing despite being in pain etc.

 

[st0w]

1) live as if I'm dead and be miserable for it or 2) try to make the most of my life and remember that their are many less fortunate then myself (and be grateful as a result).

Pretty much. You either let whatever problem you have define you and your life, and probably live awfully as a result of it. Or it becomes an annoyance that you have to deal with, day in, day out, but that doesn't have to define you or your life. If you're in medical school and you want to be a doctor, that doesn't necessarily have to change just because you're dealing with some difficult **** (unless there are specific, interfering reasons).

howelljolly said, "attitude is everything." I think that's pretty much spot-on. 👍

 

[justdoit31]

I have 2 different chronic endocrine disease- one diagnosed junior year of undergrad and one diagnosed during MSI. I think for me it is about going for my dreams and being determined to push through even when I am exhausted, feeling sick, etc. My family has also been a big support- when i was diagnosed in med school my mom flew across the country to help me out while I gained strength so I could study more.

I think for me seeing people who are much sicker than I am (cancer, Crohns, etc) makes me know that if they can survive so can I.