Overly empathetic?

[Eli_23m]

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Hi everyone,
My mind is set on going to medical school, I enjoy the science behind it and I love helping people. I can't image myself doing anything else.
However, I am overly sympathetic. And while this doesn't seem like a problem, it is.
When I see someone in pain, I identify with them so much as if I was feeling the pain, and I end up fainting.
This happened 3 times during my volunteering at the hospital, and in all three times the patients were in severe pain. I spoke with a doctor whom I shadowed, and he said I'm having a vasovagal responses and said I can over come it.
So my question is, is this something that I can overcome in the first place or is medicine just not for me? Thank you



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[Papa Oso]

So my question is, is this something that I can overcome in the first place or is medicine just not for me? Thank you

Yup.

 

[keemobad]

Hi everyone,
My mind is set on going to medical school, I enjoy the science behind it and I love helping people. I can't image myself doing anything else.
However, I am overly sympathetic. And while this doesn't seem like a problem, it is.
When I see someone in pain, I identify with them so much as if I was feeling the pain, and I end up fainting.
This happened 3 times during my volunteering at the hospital, and in all three times the patients were in severe pain. I spoke with a doctor whom I shadowed, and he said I'm having a vasovagal responses and said I can over come it.
So my question is, is this something that I can overcome in the first place or is medicine just not for me? Thank you



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Sorry but I laughed at this.
Exposure therapy will get you over it

 

[ArtistOfManliness]

Hi everyone,
My mind is set on going to medical school, I enjoy the science behind it and I love helping people. I can't image myself doing anything else.
However, I am overly sympathetic. And while this doesn't seem like a problem, it is.
When I see someone in pain, I identify with them so much as if I was feeling the pain, and I end up fainting.
This happened 3 times during my volunteering at the hospital, and in all three times the patients were in severe pain. I spoke with a doctor whom I shadowed, and he said I'm having a vasovagal responses and said I can over come it.
So my question is, is this something that I can overcome in the first place or is medicine just not for me? Thank you



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I'll defer to the person who went to medical school and say yes, you can overcome it.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

You can overcome it. I've seen it happen a lot in the OR and in the military. Don't lock your knees, remember to breathe, and take a break if you need to. Exposure will help.

 

[Eli_23m]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate it


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