Pruthvi C.
Photo provided by Pruthvi C.
If you’re reading this, you are capable because you have been chosen.
You’re probably in the middle of something that you have dreamed of and feel bigger than you expected. Whether it is a big test or an interview or asking your crush out on a date, the feeling of being overwhelmed is something we all feel. In my experience people expressed how medical school is a beast but I didn’t understand until I was in it. The volume, the pressure, and the constant feeling of being behind becomes a lingering thought in the back of your head. There’s no real way to prepare for certain things but just to have trust in yourself. It will stretch your confidence, your time, and sense of self, but that is what will push you to grow into your future self and the version of you that you will be proud to show. And yet, you’re here. You probably feel like you’re under water, but what matters isn’t having everything figured out or feeling ready, because most days, you won’t. What matters is having the trust within yourself to move forward when you are feeling uncomfortable and scared for what is to come next. So, you might ask, I must be fearless in front of adversity... well... not quite. Many of us are worried, scared, and stressed but how about we move even in this feeling. We take steps forward, day by day, only focusing on the task at hand with these feelings. This life we live is a marathon not a sprint and the only thing that matters is putting one foot in front of the other. You have been chosen to be in this position for a reason, it's a good sign, you have the capabilities to achieve things far greater than you imagine, just keep moving in that direction.
Pruthvi C., First Year Medical Student
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Bradenton
Q: How do you prioritize self-care and mental wellness amidst the demanding curriculum and workload of medical school?
A: Whether I feel burned out of being unmotivated to study, a simple 45 min lift session has always done me good. I think a healthy body is a healthy mind and vice versa and having that balance of physical activity during the day helps to study more effectively. Exam weeks are definitely hard to manage, but I think a foundation of consistently going to the gym has been something that gets me out of a rut.
Q: What is your motivation when medical training/education gets hard?
A: I think I can speak for most medical students when I say, it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you have thousands of Anki cards and hundreds of videos to watch. Motivation is definitely a low point many times than I can count. But one thing that has helped me keep a good perspective is visualizing the future and seeing the lives I will be changing with the information I am learning right now. One day in the future in between the needle of life and death I will know exactly what to do to save an innocent person’s life because of the curiosity and the willingness to learn. I think those are the moments where you think it was all worth it.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self-regarding coping and mental wellness?
A: My younger self definitely had no idea what he was doing when he chose medicine as a future career. The thought of being a doctor sounds nice until we are actually going through the training of being one. But when the first stages of questioning yourself come up, I think I would tell him that if you are having these thoughts then there are many other people also going through the same thing. I would also say, don’t compare yourself to others because you won't be grateful for the things that you were able to accomplish which ultimately drives us to continue to push the needle forward.
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.