August M.

Photo provided by August M.

If you're reading this, take a deep breath.

Live in this moment. When something feels too big or difficult, I try to remind myself that challenge can lead to so much growth. Finding joy in completing uncomfortable tasks makes these times (a little) more palatable. It isn't about embracing or searching solely for obstacles but building a repertoire of skills to combat situations that put us out of our comfort zone. I try so hard to constantly remind myself to let go of my tensions and love the time I am given.

Entering medical school, I grappled with its competitive nature. I constantly compared myself to others, which strained my mental well-being. Feelings of inadequacy crept in, testing friendships. At the end of the day, what helped me was participating in teaching. Doing tutoring and a fellowship year of teaching in the middle of medical school rekindled my passion for medicine and learning. My competitive anxiety became more of a nurturing philosophy towards myself and others. Being there for my fellow learners made me feel like I was a part of a team. Teaching also transcended to my patient interactions. I felt that educating individuals on their medical situations furthered my humanism and connection with them. Sharpening these skills helped dissolve my feelings of inadequacy.

A concept that I consistently preach in medical school includes focusing on only a few resources. With so many ways of learning, it is easy to become overwhelmed. At first, I consistently changed my learning approach, and this negatively impacted my grades and retention of information. Once I started diving deeply into one resource (such as the beauty of Anki), I noticed incremental improvements in my efficiency and effectiveness. Besides topics like Anki and UWorld, this also correlated to using mental wellness resources. In my third year of medical school, I started realizing how impactful meditation can be for keeping me grounded. I started listening to a mindfulness podcast daily whenever I found time. Examples of these moments include before going to bed and on my drive to rotations (I promise I didn't close my eyes while driving). Participating in this consistent habit helped me then and has continued to be a part of my daily routine.

Supporting the mental health of others involves a multi-step approach. Prioritize self-care and find what works for you. Once in a comfortable rhythm, begin asking questions. Ask yourself questions about what has worked for you and then start asking other people questions. In some situations, being blunt and asking direct questions is a necessity, but in many cases ask simple, conversational questions about a person’s day. Sometimes we don’t have a lot of time with a person (such as ~15 minutes with a standardized patient) but practicing getting a feel for how someone is doing in a short time is a very valuable skill. Once you start being able to gauge a person's well-being, be open to adapting to their situation and how you can aid them. For me, I always ask how I can help them instead of jumping to assumptions on how they want to be helped. There are some people that will not want help, so another skill to work on is listening and being patient with friends and other trainees. Do not give up on someone! We are a part of a team and that requires a challenging, concerted effort from everyone involved. At the end of the day, be yourself and listen to others around you while continuing to sharpen your skills as you become a compassionate medical professional.

For me, time is going way too fast. Something that really helps me refocus is being aware of where I am, how far I have come, and putting a smile on my face (even though that isn’t always so simple). Thank you for spending the time reading this, and take another deep breath for the road!

August M., Kansas City University

Class of 2024

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 Stehos[Cope] home page.