Allison M.
Photo provided by Allison M.
If you’re reading this, it’s okay to be sad.
Be sad? What do you mean?
I mean exactly that. It’s okay to feel it - all of it.
I wish someone had told me that when I started medical school.
It’s okay to cry. To feel overwhelmed. To wonder if you’re cut out for this.
Because medicine is hard. Like, really hard.
When I left Philadelphia and moved to Florida for medical school, I knew it would be a big adjustment, but I thought the hardest part would be the academics. What I wasn’t prepared for was what it would feel like to leave behind the people who were once my support system. I wasn’t just moving cities, I had lost my support system overnight. The familiar faces, places, even seasons - all gone. And suddenly, I was in a new place, with new expectations, trying to hold myself together while everything around me felt unfamiliar.
The hardest part wasn’t just the exams - it was the everything. The constant pressure to be “on,” to perform, to keep up, to balance academics, research, extracurriculars, all while trying to find time to just be.
I remember one specific moment during my first year when we had three exams back-to-back. By the third one, I was exhausted, emotionally drained, and completely burnt out. I knew I wasn’t prepared, but I didn’t listen to what my body was telling me. I convinced myself to push through. I pulled an all-nighter and sacrificed my mental health to try and “perform”. I ended up doing poorly on the exam. But worse than that, I failed myself. I ignored what I needed most in that moment: to feel.
That was my turning point.
I realized that pretending I was fine wasn’t helping me. It was hurting me.
So, I decided to do things differently.
I started allowing myself to feel. Instead of judging myself for being sad, tired, or anxious, I started asking myself, What am I feeling? And then, What can I do next? Sometimes the answer was taking a long walk. Sometimes it was crying it out. Sometimes, it was calling a friend or my mom just to hear someone say, “It’s going to be okay.”
So yes, be sad. Let the tears fall in between study sessions. Let yourself miss home. Let yourself grieve the parts of you that had to change to be in medicine. Because when you allow yourself to feel, instead of burying those emotions, you make space for healing.
So if you’re reading this, and you’re sad, it means you’re human. It means you care. It means you’re still in this.
The more I’ve allowed myself to feel the hard stuff, the more I’ve grown. I’ve learned that emotions aren’t distractions, they’re information. They show me when I need to slow down, when I need support, and when it’s time to rest.
Let yourself feel what you need to feel. Then, when you’re ready, take a deep breath and ask yourself, What’s next?
Your feelings aren’t in the way. They are the way.
With Love,
Allison M.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self regarding coping and mental wellness?
A: If I could give my younger self any advice about coping and mental wellness, it would be this: mental health is not linear, and that’s okay. Some days you’ll feel like you’re managing just fine, and other days you won’t, even if nothing has changed. That’s normal. What really helped me was learning to plan time for myself, the same way I would plan time to study or go to class. Whether it was a therapy appointment, a workout, a quick walk, reading a good book, or even just making sure I got enough sleep, I started blocking that time off like it mattered, because it does. You don’t have to do everything all at once, but you do need something consistent that’s just for you. That’s what helps when everything else starts to feel like too much.
Q: Is there a habit or practice that changed the game for you regarding your own mental health/coping?
A: Something that’s surprisingly been a game-changer for me when I’m overwhelmed is taking a shower. I know it sounds simple, but it genuinely feels like a reset button. It forces me to pause, breathe, and just exist without doing a million things at once. There’s actually research behind it too - studies have shown that warm showers can lower cortisol levels and help regulate your nervous system. I always feel a little more like myself after. I know it’s small, but on the bad days, it helps.
Q: What made you want to get involved with Stethos[Cope], and why did you want to bring it to Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine?
A: I wanted to bring Stethos[Cope] to NSU because I know how isolating medical school can feel at times. Between the pressure of exams, rotations, and just trying to keep up with life, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and alone. When I first learned about Stethos[Cope] through Alex, I immediately thought - this is the kind of support and community I wish I had when things felt the hardest. I was drawn to its mission of normalizing mental health conversations in medicine and showing that vulnerability isn’t weakness, it’s strength. That message resonated with me, and I knew I wanted to help bring that energy and intention to my campus.
As an ambassador, I’m passionate about encouraging others to share their stories by leading with mine. I believe that when we open up about the hard stuff, like feeling burnt out, anxious, dealing with imposter syndrome, or anything in between, we create space for others to do the same. I hope Stethos[Cope] helps foster a culture at NSU where students feel safe, supported, and seen. We’re all navigating similar challenges, and no one should have to go through them alone.
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.