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- Nov 12, 2007
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I'm in the second half of my first year of medical school, my boyfriend of 6 years was diagnosed bipolar Type II in December, and is on several medications that have leveled out his mood swings, but he's now clinically depressed. This relationship is a very significant one in my life, and as we live together, trying to manage his illness has taken a terrible toll on my grades. Our Student Promotions Committee recommended I consider a leave of absence, but I was wondering if anyone knew what residencies think about taking a leave of absence for a reason like this?
Will they look down on me for setting medical school aside for 9 months to take care of a key relationship in my life? Will I have to tell them exactly why I took the time off? I feel like if he had prostate cancer, or something that it would be easier to explain. But, clinical depression, if you've never lived with someone who has it you just don't know how debilitating it can be, it just seems harder to explain.
At this point I'm thinking a leave of absence will look better than a semester's worth of failing grades, but was hoping someone with a similar experience could relay any relevant information?
Will they look down on me for setting medical school aside for 9 months to take care of a key relationship in my life? Will I have to tell them exactly why I took the time off? I feel like if he had prostate cancer, or something that it would be easier to explain. But, clinical depression, if you've never lived with someone who has it you just don't know how debilitating it can be, it just seems harder to explain.
At this point I'm thinking a leave of absence will look better than a semester's worth of failing grades, but was hoping someone with a similar experience could relay any relevant information?
