Abby S.
Photo provided by Abby S.
If you’re reading this, it’s ok to take it one day at a time.
Occupational therapy school can be very overwhelming at times, between classes, due dates, student loans, and wondering where you will be for fieldwork placements. I have caught myself on several occasions thinking about all these topics at once, which causes me a lot of stress. To help myself manage these stressors, I often use different modalities such as, self-talk, my planner, and exercise. I like to tell myself, “This is just the stage of life you are in. It will not be like this forever.” Additionally, my planner really helps me think one day at a time. If something is not a priority, I will get to it later and give myself time for something that makes me happy.
Abby S., Second Year Occupational Therapy Student
Q: Can you share a specific experience where you felt overwhelmed in occupational therapy school and how you coped with it?
A: My finances and student loans caused me a lot of stress towards the end of my first year. I took a gap year after college to work and save money, however all the expenses of graduate school started to drain my bank account. I felt like every time I left my house, I was spending money on school, food, gas, bills and other expenses. I started to feel very overwhelmed thinking about being in school for two more years and my finances. I am a problem solver, so I sat down and thought about my options moving forward. I decided to apply for the work study program at my university, because I could work on campus and in between classes. Having my work study job has been a game changer; my supervisor is amazing and knows that my studies come first, I decide when I work, and it has helped ease my anxiety about my finances.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received for maintaining your mental health?
A: When I was stressing about my finances and other school related stressors my therapist told me, “This is just the stage of life you are in. You will not be a student in debt forever. Also, remember to be intentional and enjoy this stage of life.” I like to remind myself of this whenever I am feeling stressed about something related to school. Additionally, it is a nice reminder to enjoy being a student, because you will never get that time back.
Q: What do you wish other people knew about the stressors of occupational therapy school?
A: Not only do students have all the stress that goes along with their studies, such as exams and practicals, but also the stress of where they will be placed for fieldwork. Fieldwork placement can bring out anxiety, because students are interviewing for different sites, trying to start new contracts, and some universities use the lottery system. This system can add on additional stress to everyday life, because not knowing where you will be placed and where you have to move is anxiety inducing. Something that I have learned during my fieldwork placement process after interviewing for sites or trying to start contracts, is that when one door closes, another door opens.
Q: What made you want to get involved with Stethos[Cope], and why did you want to bring it to the Medical University of South Carolina?
A: I first discovered IYRT in undergrad at Clemson University. I really resonated with their mission, and thought it was an incredible organization for empowering students to share their mental health stories. Upon completing my first semester of OT school, I continued to see the need for more mental health/mental wellness resources. The added stressors of school, life, and treating patients can be daunting. I wanted to get involved in Stethos[Cope] and bring it to MUSC because empowering students to share their stories with each other brings more awareness to mental health, and allows other students to know they are not alone in their struggles. Additionally, MUSC has forty-two academic programs, which excites me to learn and hear from a diverse group of students!
Several studies have revealed that medical students, physicians, and healthcare professionals experience mental health symptoms at rates significantly higher than the general population. Stethos[Cope] is a chapter of IfYoureReadingThis designed to help medical students and professionals cope with the unique stressors of medical training and change the narrative of mental health in medicine.
To read more letters and interviews from students, and to learn more about mental health in the medical community, visit the Stethos[Cope] home page.