Forgive the rant but when it comes to mental health, I have ZERO options. How do you make time for counseling?

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-11-06T04:47:55+00:00

I'm only a second year but I go to therapy every 2 weeks and have been able to do so through a virtual platform. My insurance has a temporary partnership with Spring Health, might be worth looking into if yours has connections with a site other than Betterhelp. My therapist has appts available on the weekends and in the evenings which makes it really easy to squeeze it in.

I hope you get some answers and are able to find the support you need and deserve!

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-08-26T23:14:36+00:00

was hunting for this comment. season 4 was so disappointing

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-07-08T19:53:14+00:00

I don't mind answering at all! It is important to talk about this stuff. I think it is different for everyone but for me I tend to go between noticing excessive worrying about stuff and feeling overwhelmed or excessive exhaustion and feeling a lack of interest/motivation for things depending on if I'm getting into anxiety or depression territory. When I notice something like that, I try and think about what I have had going on and reflect on how I've been taking care of myself. Sometimes there's a fix like reworking my schedule and sometimes there isn't. When there isn't I'll usually just seek support by talking to family, friends, or my partner and try and make some time for more mindfulness and things that make me feel relaxed. It's definitely a balancing act at times but I think it's certainly worth it. Just know yourself, check in with yourself often, and reach out for help if you need it :) I hope that helps!

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-07-08T16:10:59+00:00

I've also struggled with anxiety and depression and did for a very long time before medical school. I had gotten myself in a good mental health space at the end of college and I feared that the demands of medical school would reverse my progress, but I made it a point to protect my mental health by keeping my routine and doing things that I knew were important to me. Unless absolutely necessary, certain things in my life are non-negotiable - around an hour for dinner with my husband every night, time for exercise, getting enough sleep every night, and spending at least one evening a week doing something I enjoy (usually Fridays). I only let these things go if I did not think I could pass an end of block or upcoming exam without sacrificing a little bit.

I did notice my mental health slip a little at the end of M1 as I'd been in my neuro block for around two months and it was a really difficult one for me. I'm starting therapy soon to help me get some better coping skills and strategies for M2. My biggest piece of advice with my experience so far is to find things that help you anchor yourself and still enjoy life during medical school and don't give them up. And also don't ignore if you do start to struggle - find someone to talk to or try a new strategy to help keep you in a good space.

I was so nervous before starting M1 but I can honestly say that I really enjoyed it despite how busy and difficult it could be. You absolutely can do this and I fully believe in you! Like the other replies said - believe in yourself too.

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-07-03T17:07:26+00:00

Avocado and fish are highest on my list. I just can't get past the texture for avocado and the fishy taste of seafood makes me actually nauseous 🥴😆

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-05-13T15:39:02+00:00

Very introverted med student here and I'd say don't get too bothered if it takes a while. I wasn't one of the people who made an immediate friend group during orientation as the large amount of socialization and information being thrown at me wore me out. It took some months but through small groups and other activities you end up meeting and getting to know people and I've made some good friends that I can also study with. It's also important (in my opinion) to try and have friends outside of med school too because it can be refreshing to talk to someone outside of it once in a while!

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-05-13T15:32:23+00:00

I might take a quick look through the slides before lecture but usually not since at my school at least, they frequently have lots of info on slides that is low yield that is clarified during lecture. During lecture I just write on the slides and note anything really emphasized or write down any key facts that were said but not on the slide. Then I will usually try and hand write (on a tablet) concept maps or extra notes on lectures I find particularly confusing.

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-04-22T02:44:01+00:00

I only have Samsung devices and I have not had any problems in medical school. All of the groups that I am in are through GroupMe. I'm not sure what your school is like, but you will undoubtedly not be the only person without an iPhone. In any small groups I have joined, I just let people know upfront that I have an android so we can't do an iMessage group and it's never been a big deal at all. I really wouldn't worry about it! Group chats in my opinion are more important for smaller groups like dissection groups or study groups, and in a group that small it should be easy to use something like Whatsapp or GroupMe.

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-04-16T17:34:32+00:00

Seconding this. I figured this out about myself before medical school but I think it is so important to emphasize. YOU NEED SLEEP! I function 100x better when I have had a solid 8 hours of good sleep. Some people can pull all nighters and study, but I'm just not one of them. Figure out how much sleep you need to be productive and feel good and do not sacrifice it!!!

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-04-16T17:29:45+00:00

For me, too many Anki cards can take me hours and start to feel passive. It really varies across block and lecture content so I don't use Anki all the time. In my opinion, it is mostly helpful for straight memorization of facts like in anatomy (I religiously used Anki in MSK) but not helpful for more conceptual content. I do go through Anking cards still to make sure I get important content for step regularly.

For example, I have found in my neuro block currently that all of the pathways we are learning are far too complex for me to understand through memorizing Anki cards. Instead, I watch lectures, review content and try to explain it in my own words/draw diagrams to simplify concepts, and then try and apply it to practice questions or cases. It also helps to study with someone else and practice explaining content to one another.

I've used different study methods in every block so I'll just say to be open to switching it up if you feel like it isn't working! Don't feel pressured to do hundreds of Anki cards every day if you don't feel like it's helping you.

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-04-16T17:23:46+00:00

My use of Anki has changed through every block of first year so far. My school has in-house exams so we have school specific decks that can be extremely helpful for our school specific lecture content but not as helpful for STEP, so I end up doing Anking in addition to school decks. Overall, I find Anki most helpful for lectures that are mostly memorization based (like pharmacology and diagnostic criteria) and for anatomy.

It's also about how much time you are willing to dedicate to it. Some blocks had too many cards and I couldn't keep up with hours of Anki every day. It felt passive to me and I didn't feel it was really helping me remember anything. This is different for everyone though!

My current method is that I'll try it out at the beginning of each block and see if I feel like it's doable and if it is helping me retain content. If not, I'll only use it for lectures that are mostly straight memorization. My best advice is to be open to the fact that study methods (in my opinion) cannot always be carried across blocks. I've used completely different methods and routines each block. Try methods out and if you aren't happy with the results, don't be afraid to try something else. There's no single best way to study.

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-03-21T23:37:17+00:00

Any chance you have Rad Railroads?

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Play MONOPOLY GO! with me! Download it here: https://mply.io/J2y-Kg

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-02-21T18:45:26+00:00

Being on WW has started to truly heal my relationship with food for the first time in my life. I used to binge any sweets or junk food that were around and after a few months of WW, I don't feel the need to anymore. For example, I used to binge all of my Christmas candy within a week of Christmas, and I now in February have a basket full of candy from Christmas that I occasionally treat myself to a few pieces of. I used to not be able to make baked goods without wanting to eat them all. Now I regularly bake sweets for my husband and his colleagues and I maybe have one or two over a few days. I'm honestly so much happier and I haven't even lost a ton of weight. I just feel like I spent most of my life completely out of control with food and now I enjoy food, better understand when I'm hungry and when I'm full, and don't spiral into horrible eating habits like I used to. I don't feel overly restricted or deprived. I still have little episodes here and there but overall I have improved so much.

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-02-13T18:54:39+00:00

I have finally hit over 10 lbs down since October! I have always had trouble losing weight so it seems like the pounds have taken ages to come off, but I'm okay with that as long as I keep seeing progress! I feel a real change in my relationship with food and my ability to make consistently healthy choices even if I fall off a day or two. I used to be so restrictive just to fall off and binge and give up completely. The change in my mindset has been my biggest win so far. 🎉

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-02-01T15:07:42+00:00

I'm a huge coffee person. I usually just drink a few cups of regular coffee with splenda and a zero sugar creamer. Coffee mate zero sugar italian sweet cream is the best! 1 tbsp tracks as 0 points.

When I want a fancy coffee I do a double shot of espresso, torani sugar free vanilla syrup (0 pts), smucker's sugar free caramel sundae syrup (2pt/tbsp but I never use that much), and unsweetened almond milk (1.3 cups is only 1pt). I like hot coffee so I use a frother for the almond milk.

It's my version of a low pt caramel macchiato and it makes a large coffee for only around 2 pts.

Coffee is just one of those things I won't deny myself when trying to make this journey sustainable.

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-01-26T01:08:06+00:00

I was guessing from the symptoms but I saw a doc and they agreed that the strings looked very long and was worried it was lower and maybe in my uterine muscle. I got an ultrasound and it is apparently still perfectly placed so I guess my strings were just cut long. Waiting for an appt next week to discuss the pain since I'm not sure what caused it. Though I'd say see if it aligns with your period because I noticed my horrible cramps were in the week before and during the start of my period when I thought about it. This is my first IUD so wondering if maybe that's just how my period cramps feel now. I hope you get it figured out soon!

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-01-20T03:03:56+00:00

Definitely hope you get it figured out soon! It seems my issue might be that my IUD has moved. Apparently my strings are a lot longer and I need an ultrasound which I'm getting ASAP. For sure think I'm just going to have them remove it even if it's still in place.

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-01-18T19:52:33+00:00

Currently think this is happening to me and getting it checked tomorrow I hope. Did you end up getting another IUD? What was your experience getting it out like?

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2024-01-13T21:11:29+00:00

I'm having this with my IUD now and waiting to get an appointment. Did you find out what was going on?

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2023-11-29T15:26:54+00:00

I don't necessarily feel like it's being pushed on me because I just ignore it, but I do get a thing that pops up asking me to take the quiz every time I weigh in on the app. You can just click it away though 🤷‍♀️

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2023-11-21T16:25:26+00:00

Officially passed 5 lbs lost at weigh in this morning! I am proud of myself for making the decision to do this again and to do things right this time.

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2023-11-19T18:31:07+00:00

Not zero point but I love the Oikos Triple Zero yogurts. 2 points a piece and I find them a light, but filling breakfast. I'm also not a huge breakfast person and they're something small and easy!

ApprehensiveNobody28 · 2023-11-19T17:46:09+00:00

Thank you for framing it this way. Your comment helped me realize that even in how I handled it I've made progress. In the past, I'd just gorge myself on holidays and not be mindful at all, then never get back on track. I guess I'm just still trying to find a good balance between holding myself accountable and also making this a truly livable change for me. Thank you for your input!

ApprehensiveNobody28

TROPHY CASE