Rotations Burnout

[member4259]

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I'm about halfway through clinical rotations and am feeling completely physically and mentally drained. In the beginning, I used to feel like I was in a constant state of panic -- racing heart and sweaty palms for 10-14 hours at a time. In the last few months, I feel increasingly numb, my concentration is completely blown, and sometimes when communicating with patients or housestaff, I struggle for words. Regardless, when I come home every day, I feel like a complete zombie and want nothing more than just to pass out in bed.

I feel like there's no one out there that I can truly talk to about all this. After a long day on the wards, I come home and dump all of my pent-up rants to my poor husband, who tries his best to commiserate, but who I can tell I am stressing out too. It seems too that all my classmates are doing a much better job at coping than me.

My only salvation (and probably more a deterrent to seeking real help) is that none of this has yet been reflected in my clerkship grades.

My fears:
- That maybe I need to be seeing a counselor/psychologist/psychiatrist. (But how does one do that with an 80-hour work week?)
- That I'm wreaking havoc upon my body and mind by keeping quiet
- That I won't be able to handle the more intense physical/emotional demands of residency
- That maybe medicine is not for me

😕

 

[MilkmanAl]

It sounds like you already know that you should probably find someone other than your husband to unload on. The school counselors are often very good for that and happen to have done the exact thing you're struggling through at some time in the past. You can most certainly leave your rotation (preferably after you've taken care of your work for the day) to see him/her. Perhaps a close friend or two might also be of assistance. In any event, it sounds like you're eating yourself alive from the inside and need to vent somehow. I'd take care of that sooner than later.

 

[winkleweizen]

Agreed, seek help and if you begin to feel extremely depressed take a rotation off perhaps? You could easily make most of them up fourth year.


GL

 

[DrCoffeeBean]

You need to see someone to work on the coping strategies. Medical training is notorious for constantly throwing curve balls and you need to have a set of defines mechanisms to cope with them. Take time out to see a councillor, you should be able to make time for it.

 

[Substance]

I'd steer clear of consulting a psychiatrist. Any psych history or diagnoses have to be disclosed on licensing forms, which could affect your ability to practice in the future. Ditto for any counsellors associated with your school.

Furthermore, you're experiencing what people would call "stress". I think that's normal to feel that way. I know I did.

If you really must, see if there is a psychologist(ologist, not iatrist) that does some non-pharm therapy and won't have you forever stigmatized with a psych diagnosis. See if he accepts cash and will do it "under the table" which means that you "never saw him".

 

[Sheldor]

I'd steer clear of consulting a psychiatrist. Any psych history or diagnoses have to be disclosed on licensing forms, which could affect your ability to practice in the future. Ditto for any counsellors associated with your school.

Furthermore, you're experiencing what people would call "stress". I think that's normal to feel that way. I know I did.

If you really must, see if there is a psychologist(ologist, not iatrist) that does some non-pharm therapy and won't have you forever stigmatized with a psych diagnosis. See if he accepts cash and will do it "under the table" which means that you "never saw him".

Most licensing boards have changed the wording of the question regarding psych diagnoses, and as such simply seeing a psychiatrist wouldn't need to be disclosed. Also, most counselors associated with the school have a strict confidentiality duty towards the students.

 

[surftheiop]

Most licensing boards have changed the wording of the question regarding psych diagnoses, and as such simply seeing a psychiatrist wouldn't need to be disclosed. Also, most counselors associated with the school have a strict confidentiality duty towards the students.

Yeah Im pretty sure the student Psychological Services people at med schools would get sued to oblivion if they let anyone know about your issues.

 

[ArcGurren]

I'd steer clear of consulting a psychiatrist. Any psych history or diagnoses have to be disclosed on licensing forms, which could affect your ability to practice in the future. Ditto for any counsellors associated with your school.

Furthermore, you're experiencing what people would call "stress". I think that's normal to feel that way. I know I did.

If you really must, see if there is a psychologist(ologist, not iatrist) that does some non-pharm therapy and won't have you forever stigmatized with a psych diagnosis. See if he accepts cash and will do it "under the table" which means that you "never saw him".

The idea that psych records will put a black mark on ERAS is total crap. I know people previously diagnosed with depression who matched into ortho. It's a HIPAA violation to disclose anything of that sort.

 

[Bartelby]

Fourteen hours of sweaty palms and a racing heart was normal for you guys?

OP, med school is stressful. You seem to be having a harder time with the stress than most. This does not mean that you are not cut out for medicine or that you will be a bad doctor. All it means is that until you find a way to handle the stressors differently you will probably keep feeling bad. You can either give it more time and see if it gets better as your skills grow or try talking to a counselor, you just have to weigh what is best for you.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I'd steer clear of consulting a psychiatrist. Any psych history or diagnoses have to be disclosed on licensing forms, which could affect your ability to practice in the future. Ditto for any counsellors associated with your school.

Furthermore, you're experiencing what people would call "stress". I think that's normal to feel that way. I know I did.

If you really must, see if there is a psychologist(ologist, not iatrist) that does some non-pharm therapy and won't have you forever stigmatized with a psych diagnosis. See if he accepts cash and will do it "under the table" which means that you "never saw him".

This is the very mindset that causes surgeons to have the highest suicide rate of all physicians (there was a recent article on this exact catch 22. That there is still a stigma in the profession against seeking help so people won't). We should be the generation to change that - there is nothing wrong with getting help for stress, depression, etc.

Some licensing boards ask about major stuff: schitzophrenia, necrophilia, fetishism, pedophelia - you know the stuff that really might be criminal or affect the kind of doctor you are. Its unlikely any residency or licensing board will know or care that you saw your school psychiatrist a couple of times for stress.

I saw mine for anxiety in 2nd/3rd year. I was never truly 'diagnosed' or put on meds. In fact, wouldn't have even occurred to me to list it on any paperwork.

Your school counselors are there so you can safely, conveniently and confidentially seek help - go take advantage of them.