Hello Everyone,
I was wondering if you could answer some questions for me.
I started my first year in med school last september 2012. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder the year prior to that and put on temporary medication but did not continue it.(very dumb but it was an ego thing) I am pretty sure if I had gone to the psychiatrist even as early as freshman year of college, I would have the same diagnoses. This has been a problem for me since high school. I was hoping that this issue would just "resolve" on its own and I began medical school with no medication or therapeutic support. It quickly escalated beyond what I could control and though I tried getting extensions to exams, I was still missing class for doctor's appointments for this GAD and the depression that went along with it. this runs in my family so its pretty serious for me and my relatives. My father has it as well as my sisters. It is hard to explain to epople and I feel the stigma of it being seen as a weakness. however it is very real to me and has never felt like a weakness. It honestly feels like a disorder and an imbalance in my system that is genetic.
However, I took a medical leave of absence as advised by my deans. Though they know what condition I had, I did not really tell anyone else beyond two or three friends, most of them not in the medical field.
I was wondeirng how this medical leave would effect my 1) residency application 2) my board certification. What would you suggest in terms of keeping a good rapport with my deans fmoving forward? I was concerned the behavior I exuded with them during my most severe moments of panic attacks would reflect in the letter of recommendation. I sent one of my professors a long email about how much I was struggling with class and I hope that was not taken as "she is going crazy". All of my deans were super supportive and my professors were as well. They were happy i took the time off but again i guesss I am somehwat paranoid at the negative impressions I may have left on the deans and faculty
During my time off, I completely changed. I honestly look back and cant even put myself in those shoes again. The intense feeligs of anxiety, shame and depression are so unfamiliar with me. I know treatment has put me on another level of confidence and I am extremely happy with life. In this time I also completed a required research prokect for my medical school so I saved some time I would had to spent doing that during summers. y dean is estactic I was able to complete the research project. I am restarting my first year again soon and was wondering how I can make sure to not let this affect me as I apply to residencies, get certified and get my dean's letter.
Any advice from those having taken a leave or know of students that did would be awesome. I dont anticipate going into it in itnerviews beyond a generic "for health reasons".
Will this haunt me forever moving forward?
I was wondering if you could answer some questions for me.
I started my first year in med school last september 2012. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder the year prior to that and put on temporary medication but did not continue it.(very dumb but it was an ego thing) I am pretty sure if I had gone to the psychiatrist even as early as freshman year of college, I would have the same diagnoses. This has been a problem for me since high school. I was hoping that this issue would just "resolve" on its own and I began medical school with no medication or therapeutic support. It quickly escalated beyond what I could control and though I tried getting extensions to exams, I was still missing class for doctor's appointments for this GAD and the depression that went along with it. this runs in my family so its pretty serious for me and my relatives. My father has it as well as my sisters. It is hard to explain to epople and I feel the stigma of it being seen as a weakness. however it is very real to me and has never felt like a weakness. It honestly feels like a disorder and an imbalance in my system that is genetic.
However, I took a medical leave of absence as advised by my deans. Though they know what condition I had, I did not really tell anyone else beyond two or three friends, most of them not in the medical field.
I was wondeirng how this medical leave would effect my 1) residency application 2) my board certification. What would you suggest in terms of keeping a good rapport with my deans fmoving forward? I was concerned the behavior I exuded with them during my most severe moments of panic attacks would reflect in the letter of recommendation. I sent one of my professors a long email about how much I was struggling with class and I hope that was not taken as "she is going crazy". All of my deans were super supportive and my professors were as well. They were happy i took the time off but again i guesss I am somehwat paranoid at the negative impressions I may have left on the deans and faculty
During my time off, I completely changed. I honestly look back and cant even put myself in those shoes again. The intense feeligs of anxiety, shame and depression are so unfamiliar with me. I know treatment has put me on another level of confidence and I am extremely happy with life. In this time I also completed a required research prokect for my medical school so I saved some time I would had to spent doing that during summers. y dean is estactic I was able to complete the research project. I am restarting my first year again soon and was wondering how I can make sure to not let this affect me as I apply to residencies, get certified and get my dean's letter.
Any advice from those having taken a leave or know of students that did would be awesome. I dont anticipate going into it in itnerviews beyond a generic "for health reasons".
Will this haunt me forever moving forward?
