Natalie S.
Photo provided by Natalie S.
If you’re reading this, you are more capable than you think.
Everyone’s experience with medical school is different, but everyone can agree that it is not an easy task to accomplish. The truth is that everyone in medical school is smart and everyone around you is really good at something. Being surrounded by so many highly-motivated people can be inspiring, but if you are someone who inherently compares yourself to others (like me), it can become overwhelming. The constant feeling of never doing “enough” can become debilitating if you let it. I’ve found that introspection and appreciation for my own strengths helps balance this. For example, I may not ever be the star of the intramural basketball team (I’m 5’2” and can’t dribble a ball), but I talked a friend through her breakup this week. And that’s enough. When you got into medical school, someone saw the strength in you that is required to become a good physician. Even though it’s hard to see that capability in ourselves at times, especially when it seems like everyone around us is doing so well, it’s still there.
Natalie S., Fourth Year Medical Student
Q: How do you cope with the stressors of medical school?
A: Having a strong support system was one of the most influential parts of getting through these stressors for me. Being able to vent to someone and have them simply listen helped me blow off the steam I needed in order to keep going. Different people can serve different roles in how you cope, and all of those roles are important. For example, my friends in medical school provided a space where I could work through stressors we were experiencing together. However, the support that came from those who didn’t understand what I was going through, like my family who is not in medicine, was the most crucial for me. Having someone believe in you to conquer a challenge they know nothing about takes faith, and it was comforting to know they had faith in me.
Q: How do you prioritize self-care and mental wellness amidst the demanding curriculum and workload of medical school?
A: As cliche as it sounds, exercise has been my escape throughout medical school, especially in pre-clinical years. Aside from the scientific rationale of exercise-induced endorphin release, it simply gave me something to do that was completely for me and was not advancing my education. Seeing improvement in my physical strength was rewarding, because no one was benefitting from that except for me. Medicine is essentially a selfless profession, and it is hard to find time to dedicate to benefitting you and only you. Especially if you have other commitments like a family or partner. Spending time exercising, however, will give you more energy to be more successful in the long run.
Q: How have you learned to cope better throughout medical school?
A: I grew up in a very competitive athletic environment where it was ingrained in me from a very young age that comparing yourself to others was the only way to improve and perfection is the standard. During medical school, I’ve had to try to unlearn that as best as I can, and it has been very hard. Everyone has a way of doing things in med school, and a lot of people believe their way is the only way to be successful. Trying to implement everyone’s “only way” is simply not possible, and you have to learn to do what works for you.
For example, when preparing for Step 1, I frequently heard “If you don’t use *resource*, you won’t pass”. Initially, I tried to incorporate every resource that I was told was “vital” into my study plan, but I quickly found that it is simply not possible. I then resorted to the study methods that had gotten me through the first two years, trusted in my abilities, and it worked. Do what works for you and ignore the other noise!
Q: What advice do you have for incoming medical students regarding mental wellness?
A: Before you start med school, identify two things that help ease your mind (ex. exercise, face masks, Taco Bell, comfort movies), and don’t lose sight of those. They will be what keeps you sane and lets you disconnect from the stress. Also, find a personality trait outside of being in med school. Don’t get me wrong, being in med school is a huge accomplishment, but it is not what makes you human, and it probably is not what you enjoy the most on this planet. Finding things you enjoy, even if it’s just hanging out with friends, will make you a better person and a better doctor in the long run.
Lastly, take advantage of the free counseling resources [your program may offer] and sign up for them early!
Q: What can readers of this interview do to help support medical student mental health?
If you’re in medical school, let this be your sign to be gentle with yourself today.
If you love someone in medical school, let this be your sign to hug them, tell them you’re proud of them, and let them know you believe in them. Your support means the world to them.
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.