The Most Mentally Draining Class You Have Taken So Far

[Reverend Mayhem]

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We have all been there, those classes that have you so exhausted by the end of a semester that you just want to sleep for a month, or you spend 50 hours a week studying for this class and yet you are still behind. From my experience, we all have at least one or two classes like that.

So i am wondering, what has been your most mentally exhausting, soul crushing class thus far? I guess this is a medical school forum, so it should probably be a med school course, and not one taken as an undergrad. Then again, i am too drunk to care right now.

For me, it was human biochemistry. I am pretty good at biochem, which made this course quite shocking when i actually started. I thought i would breeze through it, which in no way happened. I think it was the professor i had it with. I had to study 5x as much as every other class that semester just to get through it. There were a few times i was studying were i felt like my eyes were starting to bleed. It was painful, to say the least. However, i think the professor made it tough so that we would really know it, which actually seems like a good subject for someone going into medicine to really understand.

 

[VoiceofReason]

studying for step 1 was the worst period of studying i have had to endure so far.

 

[Knicks]

^^ As true as that is, the OP asked about a particular class.


I'd have to say psychiatry. Hate(d) it, hate(d) it, hate(d) it!

 

[ibleedorange]

^^ As true as that is, the OP asked about a particular class.


I'd have to say psychiatry. Hate(d) it, hate(d) it, hate(d) it!

So your saying that psych was more draining then anatomy and biochem? I think their much harder than psych, although learning all the drugs can be kinda difficult to. They're a lot of tough questions regarding ethical principals in psych that confused me. The best way to get those is to do a bunch of practice questions, otherwise you'll loose out on a lot of ez questions when it comes to the miniboard and step 1.

 

[SB100]

Anatomy for sure. When that course was over I had so much free time in my hands I didn't know what to do 😛

 

[dude1344]

I'm only a MS2 now so anatomy for me by far. 👎

 

[corbis11]

anatomy - first block/class of MS1...goddamn what a reality check that was

 

[DrDrToBe]

I'd have to say biochem, and that was the result of a mixture of the class being poorly taught and me not having a strong biochem background. I'm surprised at how many people thought anatomy was difficult, it was a lot of memorization but it was hands down my favorite class of med school thus far. It was extremely well taught and had great TA's. I get to TA this year...looking forward to it!

 

[student1799]

Anatomy, no question. Three months of sheer and utter misery.

 

[phospho]

anatomy hands down... yes, i'm only an M2, but I don't think anything can be worse than anatomy. I hated everything about that dam block.

 

[CBG23]

Definitely anatomy - 2 months of hell

 

[Encephalectomy]

Histology for me. While difficult, it wasn't the hardest class of the year, but it was so incredibly boring that putting in the necessary time was absolutely draining and miserable.

 

[Vulcan]

Head and Neck block. After spending 4 hours dissecting the cheek and pterygopalatine fossa i wanted to stab myself with a fork. Add in that it was combined with biochemical kinetics, and blood/lymphoid histo, and it made for a completely depressing 4 weeks.

 

[dude1344]

Head and Neck block. After spending 4 hours dissecting the cheek and pterygopalatine fossa i wanted to stab myself with a fork. Add in that it was combined with biochemical kinetics, and blood/lymphoid histo, and it made for a completely depressing 4 weeks.

That unit was pretty bad. But I would say the perineal region was worse. 😎

 

[mordounhas]

Neuroanatomy. Much worse than simple Gross IMO.

 

[GladifImakeit]

Honestly the academic content is a piece of chocolate cake. The hard part is interacting with people!

What I mean is that you can basically know nothing about anything and you'll still pass your rotations. If you don't get along with people, then you are in trouble.

 

[Ischiowhat]

Head and Neck block. After spending 4 hours dissecting the cheek and pterygopalatine fossa i wanted to stab myself with a fork.

I think anatomy would be easier if people spent more time studying and less time sorting through fascia (does any MS1 have any clue what they are dissecting, anyway?)

 

[C5toC9]

everything

 

[silverhorse84]

Neuroanatomy. Much worse than simple Gross IMO.

+1

Our neuroanatomy was part of one course that also included clinical head and neck. I liked some of the neuro stuff, but it was definitely the most draining class of the MSI year!

 

[MsKrispyKreme]

Anatomy

 

[Vulcan]

I think anatomy would be easier if people spent more time studying and less time sorting through fascia (does any MS1 have any clue what they are dissecting, anyway?)

Agreed, however the main reason it took us 4 hours was b/c our cadaver seemed to not have a maxillary artery

 

[justdoit31]

Biochem was the hardest for me so far- we shall see what MSII brings starting tomorrow 🙁

 

[engineeredout]

No way it was anatomy, we had so much free time during it by comparison.

End of 1st semester MS1, mico, biochem, physiology SIMULTANEOUSLY, sometimes with two exams on the same day. That was draining.

 

[ThaliaNox]

For me so far it has been pharmacology. Sure, drone on about dozens of drugs and then ask me what will happen when you give someone three of them simultaneously. What? You mean you forgot that this effect of this drug was due to the baroreceptor reflex which you blocked with this other drug? Ha! Now, what happens if the patient was 87? A newborn? Has diastolic heart failure?

Then they giggle and say that the drugs will have mostly changed by the time we're practicing and that docs now-a-days simply use programs to track interactions. But memorize them anyways. It all felt so useless. A seven week headache.

 

[Knicks]

For me so far it has been pharmacology. Sure, drone on about dozens of drugs and then ask me what will happen when you give someone three of them simultaneously. What? You mean you forgot that this effect of this drug was due to the baroreceptor reflex which you blocked with this other drug? Ha! Now, what happens if the patient was 87? A newborn? Has diastolic heart failure?

Then they giggle and say that the drugs will have mostly changed by the time we're practicing and that docs now-a-days simply use programs to track interactions. But memorize them anyways. It all felt so useless. A seven week headache.

OMG, soooo true!

 

[KnuxNole]

Anatomy. HANDS DOWN. Every other class I've taken hasn't compared to the hell that is anatomy.

Step I studying is a close second, but the "neat" factor of seeing everything integrate together and the feeling that you're actually learning something lessens the blow. Slightly. 1%.

 

[nativmd]

Biochem was the hardest for me so far- we shall see what MSII brings starting tomorrow 🙁

ME 2! I hate Hate BioChem and PSYCH OMg i slept during those classes...

 

[virusgirl]

Neuro. I had zero background in this, and my school decided to accelerate the class, so it was a whirlwind 5 weeks of essentially learning a new language. I'm sure that with more time a lot of what we learned would have made more sense, but we were basically just committing stuff to memory without having any sense as to WHY it worked that way. I did get a giggle out of learning about Kluver-Bucy though.

Anatomy was not exactly a happy time either.

 

[The Poet Sings]

Neuro. I had zero background in this, and my school decided to accelerate the class, so it was a whirlwind 5 weeks of essentially learning a new language. I'm sure that with more time a lot of what we learned would have made more sense, but we were basically just committing stuff to memory without having any sense as to WHY it worked that way. I did get a giggle out of learning about Kluver-Bucy though.

Anatomy was not exactly a happy time either.

i looked this up on wiki.
with symtoms 1 and 2 (docility and dietary changes) i was like " that's not nice to laugh at"
then i got to 3 and 4 (hyperorality and hypersexuality" and turned into " that is giggle worthy"
then i got to 5 (visual agnosia) and felt guilty for being amused at all 🙁.

 

[BlondDoctor]

Neuroanatomy. Much worse than simple Gross IMO.

This!
I had the worst time trying to get through neuroanatomy and nueroscience.
I just felt like I had no resources, no guidence, bad lectures and nothing we did for class felt like it would directly help me out for step 1. It just felt so random 🙁

 

[ArcGurren]

Definitely wasn't anatomy for me. Physically draining, sure, but not mentally as much now that I look back.

For me it was DEFINITELY our Physiology course. It probably doesn't help that it was just very poorly taught.

 

[Ana1982]

Anatomy was rough. I cried myself to sleep for that class...I hated the lab, it was awful... Biochem was rough for everyone...oh what does it matter, they're all hard. Well except ethics/behavioral science maybe.

I was a witness to huge multiple car accident in a parking lot in my M2 year a month before my Step 1. I was not involved in the lawsuit, but it was still a pain because the other cars were totaled and I had to testify as a witness, it was all caught on security camera so I couldn't just disappear...lmao! (my matter was settled out of court though) No one died or was injured thankfully but oh man was it a hassle for about a week or so. Yeah my school gave me some extra time...but I mean in that kind of mental state...I was just shocked by seeing the other cars smashed to bits in my face right before Step 1...it didn't help at all. Thankfully I wasn't really involved, just at the wrong place at the wrong time!

 

[fahimaz7]

Our head and neck anatomy, neuroanatomy, psych, and all the physio and histo related to the CNS/H&N were taught over two months. Fun and challenging class.

 

[chessknt]

This!
I had the worst time trying to get through neuroanatomy and nueroscience.
I just felt like I had no resources, no guidence, bad lectures and nothing we did for class felt like it would directly help me out for step 1. It just felt so random 🙁

Havent had anatomy yet, but amen. Neurology and neuroanatomy sucked.

 

[abmd]

biochem. awful and boring.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

biochem. awful and boring.

Finally! Someone knows my pain!🙁

 

[BlueElmo]

First week of class, and anatomy is already killing me. So much stuff to memorize...🙁

 

[DrDrToBe]

First week of class, and anatomy is already killing me. So much stuff to memorize...🙁

Netter's Anatomy Flashcards! I took those everywhere with me first year... went through them at least an hour per day because I took them to the gym and went through stuff while I was on the elliptical or bike. They also have online access to all the content. Try to enjoy your dissections and learn as much as possible before leaving the lab each day; my lab partners and I quizzed each other every day after class. We made up silly mnemonics and drew diagrams to help us understand how things were related instead of just memorizing random facts. By the end of the semester, anatomy finals were a breeze.

 

[Vulcan]

First week of class, and anatomy is already killing me. So much stuff to memorize...🙁

Mnemonics are your friend. My favorite from MS1:

For the branches of the Axillary artery- She Tastes Like Sweet Apple Pie

Superior thoracic
Thoracoacromial
Lateral thoracic
Subscapular
Anterior circumflex humeral
Posterior circumflex humeral
😀

 

[girlofgrace7]

First week of class, and anatomy is already killing me. So much stuff to memorize...🙁

At least we'll have it finished in 9.5 weeks... I'm just looking for the light at the end of the tunnel and hoping it's not a train. I think all of us are in the same boat though... the commiserating makes it nearly bearable.
On another note though, are you aware that people are walking around school yelling BlueElmo in an attempt to elicit your identity?

 

[ThaliaNox]

Mnemonics are your friend. My favorite from MS1:

For the branches of the Axillary artery- She Tastes Like Sweet Apple Pie

Superior thoracic
Thoracoacromial
Lateral thoracic
Subscapular
Anterior circumflex humeral
Posterior circumflex humeral
😀

Mnemonics can be great, but I was wary of using them in anatomy. Our professors putting together our anatomy practicals seemed to revel in the concept of "anatomical variation." In a practical setting always know where the vessels go, not only what order they're supposed to be in. (But often aren't.)

 

[sideways]

Mnemonics can be great, but I was wary of using them in anatomy. Our professors putting together our anatomy practicals seemed to revel in the concept of "anatomical variation." In a practical setting always know where the vessels go, not only what order they're supposed to be in. (But often aren't.)

Mnemonics aren't just about order. They're more about remembering the components involved.

 

[MegaProjectile]

Mnemonics are your friend. My favorite from MS1:

For the branches of the Axillary artery- She Tastes Like Sweet Apple Pie

Superior thoracic
Thoracoacromial
Lateral thoracic
Subscapular
Anterior circumflex humeral
Posterior circumflex humeral
😀

Awesome. Have anymore of these nuggets?

 

[Vulcan]

Awesome. Have anymore of these nuggets?

Cranial Nerves:

Oh Oh Oh, To Touch And Feel Virgin Girl's Vagina's, So Hot

I-Olfactory
II-Optic
III-Oculomotor
IV-Trochlear
V-Trigeminal (V1, V2, V3)
VI-Abducens
VII-Facial
VIII-Vestibulocochlear
IX-Glossopharyngeal
X-Vagus
XI-Spinal Accessory
XII-Hypoglossal


And to remember which ones do what:

Some Say Money Matters, But My Brother Says Big Boobs Matter More

I- Sensory
II-Sensory
III-Motor
IV-Motor
V-Both
VI-Motor
VII-Both
VIII-Sensory
IX-Both
X-Both
XI-Motor
XII-Motor


Enjoy!😀

 

[MegaProjectile]

Cranial Nerves:

Oh Oh Oh, To Touch And Feel Virgin Girl's Vagina's, So Hot

I-Olfactory
II-Optic
III-Oculomotor
IV-Trochlear
V-Trigeminal (V1, V2, V3)
VI-Abducens
VII-Facial
VIII-Vestibulocochlear
IX-Glossopharyngeal
X-Vagus
XI-Spinal Accessory
XII-Hypoglossal


And to remember which ones do what:

Some Say Money Matters, But My Brother Says Big Boobs Matter More

I- Sensory
II-Sensory
III-Motor
IV-Motor
V-Both
VI-Motor
VII-Both
VIII-Sensory
IX-Both
X-Both
XI-Motor
XII-Motor


Enjoy!😀

😱😀