Alicia U.
Photo provided by Alicia U.
If you’re reading this, it is okay to sometimes feel like you don’t belong or that you are not doing enough.
Your entire life, you have worked to be where you are now, yet there may be moments when you question whether your work truly paid off or if it was a stroke of luck. That doubt does not erase the years of discipline, sacrifice, and resilience that brought you here.
It is okay to reminisce on who you were before medical school and to notice who you are becoming during this transformative experience. Enduring the discomfort will shape you into a stronger person after it ends.
It is difficult to stand among extraordinary people and sometimes feel below average yourself, but you need to remember that you will move past that moment. The next day, your work might pay off in an unexpected way. Not everyone’s road to where we are now has looked the same, but each journey tells a story that is uniquely its own. Take the opportunity to get to know those stories, but try not to compare them to your own or place pressure on yourself to work harder simply because someone else’s journey looks different. We have all been resilient, gritty, and tenacious to get here. There are only 24 hours in a day, and work will always be there, but being present for yourself becomes more difficult as time quickly moves forward.
We are future physicians: professional, hardworking, intelligent, but most importantly, we extend grace to others, often more readily than we do ourselves. We strive to reach perfection, even though we have been told since a young age that perfection is impossible.
During our medical training, we should begin to start listening to those quiet truths we grew up hearing but often ignored. Use this time in medical school not only to find yourself — who you are, who you want to become, and who you are growing into — but also consider the impression you want to leave on others as you move forward on your path.
Always be true to yourself. Do not change who you are to accommodate others. At that same tone, be mindful when setbacks arise because growth is never linear and you are not enduring this alone. Find comfort that numerous others are facing similar thoughts, concerns, and questions, even if they do not always feel comfortable sharing them. Be their voice when needed, but leave space when appropriate.
If you’re reading this, you are not alone and I can promise that you are doing better than you think.
Alicia U., First Year Medical Student
Q: What advice do you have for incoming medical students regarding mental wellness?
A: During the time before medical school, and especially after applying, allow yourself to celebrate! You worked incredibly hard to get to this point, regardless of the outcome. At the same time, this is also a chance to set yourself up to be most successful in medical school in ways that go beyond academics.
During this period of limbo, find what makes you most happy and something you can always rely on to brighten your day when your light feels dim. For me, that looks like going to studio workout classes, walking around New York City, visiting friends and family outside of the school bubble, and staying connected within my institution in ways that extend beyond academic responsibilities. Ensure you develop strong relationships before starting, because those connections will help ground you when things feel overwhelming. These will be the people who will celebrate your wins, steady you during setbacks, and remind you of your worth when you forget it yourself.
I think one of the main stressors for medical students, which takes a toll on their mental health, is loans, affordability, and wealth management. During this time before you start, begin to save money if you are able. Start living like a medical student slowly so that the lifestyle change is not as drastic.
Q: What change do you hope to see when it comes to mental health in medical trainees?
A: I would like there to be more transparent conversations around mental health in medical training. To ignore the mental health challenges trainees experience would be a disservice to the medical profession. We are responsible for caring for others, but if we ignore our own needs, that responsibility becomes impossible to sustain.
All of the new skills and knowledge we learn in medical school will carry into our careers, but so will the coping mechanisms we develop along the way. If we begin by ignoring our thoughts and feelings, pushing them aside, or stigmatizing them, that pattern will follow us. Over time, it can lead to earlier burnout and even resentment toward a profession we once felt called to serve.
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.