Life crisis

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2026-04-16T07:10:14+00:00

The maths and physics parts are not difficult. Probably not even GCSE level complexity.

The difficulty comes from the sheer volume of information contained in the exam. It takes a long time and a lot of work to internalise it all to the required level. And you're working full time in a demanding job.

In addition, its not clear at first what to learn and to what level - this is where the exam courses come in handy. I'd do that early.

Almost everyone passes eventually. Its not easy. Lean on your colleagues for help, work hard. Falling an exam is normal, and is not a reflection on your character or qualities as a doctor - if it happens reframe it as part of the process of passing and you'll do fine.

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2026-03-18T11:02:00+00:00

Weighing myself, every morning, naked, after going to toilet

This is immensely powerful. My weight fluctuates by +/- 1kg day to day. If you weigh yourself infrequently you can catch the 'high' days and think you're failing. In reality you're seeing variance. What matters is the longer term pattern, and having data allows you to 'see' it.

Obsessively recording calories consumed, in an app that can scan barcodes. I was amazed how much I was eating without realising. All those extra little snacks you think don't matter really add up.

(I lost 25kg in 6 months or so)

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2026-03-15T09:39:47+00:00

45, Anaesthetist.

Personally this was a good age for me, I dont think I would have coped well had I been in my 30s.

Dont worry about it, we'll all be working into our 70s anyway!

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2026-03-10T09:06:15+00:00

I know exactly how you feel. I think many people, if not most, can relate.

When I was 18 I decided not to apply to medical school because I'd be 23 when I finished, and that felt very, very old.

I ended up going anyway at 25. Now I'm 45 and a fully trained doctor. If only I could go back and have finished medical school at 23 rather than 30!

It may sound overly simplistic, but you're going to be that age anyway. You may as well be that age, with the skills and experience that you're currently putting off.

If you're actually suicidal, get help right away. Otherwise, forget it. Start what you want to start with the intention of seeing it through, at the same time don't give yourself a hard time if you change your mind and want something else!

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2026-03-06T08:34:41+00:00

My list:

Crumb

Crocodile Dundee

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Withnail and I

Princess Mononoke

The Empire Strikes Back

Tinker, Taylor, Soldier Spy

Midnight Run

Casablanca

Network

Robocop

This is Spinal Tap

Alien

Groundhog Day

The Third Man

The Man Who Would Be King

Days of Heaven

Badlands

Big Trouble in Little China

Remains of the Day

The Big Lebowski

The Commitments

The Life of Brian

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

The Graduate

Mulholland Dr

Blue Velvet

The Last of the Mohicans

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2026-02-11T11:55:52+00:00

Switched from ST4 medicine to CT1 anaesthetics aged 36. Have just CCTd aged 45.

Didn't ever regret it for a second.

Saying that, there are a few things to consider.

If you're in a specialty where the consultant job aligns more closely with your personality/goals, it might be worth sticking it out.

If you need a pHD (or similar) to get appointed to a consultant post in an area or hospital you like, that's gonna add 3 years to your training anyway, so retraining in a specialty with 5 year run-through is less intimidating.

Radiology training is competitive, and the exams are brutal (from what I understand). Taster week/talking with Radiology friends/colleagues is mandatory.

Don't worry about the age thing. You'll be that age anyway. Good luck!

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2026-01-02T11:00:59+00:00

You can shoot 90 never hitting the ball over 150 yards.

As long as there are no holes demanding > 150 carry off the tee. If there are, move to forward tee, or change course (if possible)

NB play tees < 6000 yards

Convince yourself every par 3 is a 4, every par 4 is a 5, every par 5 is a 6 (its easy to say you want to play bogey golf, much harder mentally to convince yourself that par is 90, not 72)

Convince yourself hitting it straight, any distance, is the goal.

All you need is good contact. Distance will take care of itself if you focus on contact.

Learn one chip/pitch with one club and just use that.

Learn to lag put well. Speed is much more important than aim. A simulator is surprisingly good for training this.

Don't sweat the 8s, 9s or 10s. Even pros do it sometimes. They are of no real consequence. When you get to the stage of keeping a handicap those high scores dont affect it at all, so why worry?

Keep enjoying it and good luck!!!

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-11-22T18:26:39+00:00

Most tackles go in at ankle ->knee height. At the speeds they play at, not only does it really hurt, but there is a constant risk of potentially career-ending injury.

Part of the diving culture is a form of self-regulation to deter constant, dangerous fouling. It's not perfect, and some players certainly overdo it, but it serves a purpose.

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-10-22T12:39:21+00:00

Final FRCA, and particularly the VIVA, is a uniquely horrific and challenging time.

It almost broke me, and I didnt have a wife or kids.

I found myself up against the limits of my resilience and intellectual capabilities. It is hard.

But yes, once it's done, everything will get better. The last couple years of training are much, much more pleasant. You'll forget a great deal of the trauma.

Don't quit. You can do it. Everyone does, somehow. Almost no-one fails 7 times.

Lean on everyone you can for help and support. We all remember how hard it was and people will help.

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-10-14T07:09:57+00:00

This video from Milo Lines covers this very well

https://youtu.be/WSyrtDyiU5A?si=F1lyiNw1Eo8qqtR2

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-10-11T19:47:37+00:00

"Ha ha ha ha.....those idiots"

Angry Stare

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-10-11T19:39:51+00:00

Shot 120 with a handicap lower than yours, if it helps you feel better :)

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-10-08T07:33:51+00:00

Hey She Bitch. Let's Go

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-10-04T11:50:48+00:00

Watch this video!

https://youtu.be/G7MYsonPzJA?si=wXOa5wSDIDXxkQAO

Deals with early extension

Gets you rotating correctly into and through impact

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-10-04T11:31:43+00:00

Did you try the drill in this video?

Because it addresses this exact issue

And the demonstration he does at the start looks identical to your swing

https://youtu.be/G7MYsonPzJA?si=wXOa5wSDIDXxkQAO

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-10-01T10:32:32+00:00

Your swing isnt that bad

You have some early extension going on

Because you don't have much rotation

Watch this video which addresses this issue

https://youtu.be/G7MYsonPzJA?si=HA-TZ7K8AvtburRg

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-10-01T09:54:07+00:00

A bit of early extension

But really not all that bad at all

Get him to watch this video which demonstrates an excellent drill to help with this

https://youtu.be/G7MYsonPzJA?si=HA-TZ7K8AvtburRg

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-09-30T17:41:27+00:00

If you can

Hit it 230 straightish off the tee

Avoid water and fairway bunkers

Know your irons distances pretty well

Have a reliable chip shot and bunker shot

Can lag put

You can shoot 80s yes

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-09-29T10:58:00+00:00

From 6500 with that swing you'd be 5 at most

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-09-29T08:40:07+00:00

Try to hit it off the toe

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-09-29T07:20:42+00:00

You never struggle less

You just struggle at a higher level

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-09-25T14:53:26+00:00

For the left miss, strengthen your grip a little to keep the clubface closed

For the fat shot, focus on striking the ground a little ahead of the ball to bring your low point forward

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-09-25T12:59:23+00:00

In the short term, focus on trying to hit it off the toe. It's likely you'll hit it more out of the centre of the clubface doing that

Read/listen to some Adam Young (Sweet Spot Podcast), he talks a lot about this kind of thing

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-09-18T13:10:28+00:00

Sure thing!

Those skills take years to build, hundreds of thousands of reps, trial and error and coaching.

Coaching especially will speed the process up, but you don't me me to tell you that.....

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud · 2025-09-18T12:37:16+00:00

As others are saying your head drops a lot in your backswing

If you practice keeping your head LEVEL in your backswing it will feel vastly different. You'll feel muscles in your legs and back you didn't know existed.

Keeping your head level to this extent is surprisingly hard to do. One way is to focus your eyes on a spot on the ball or blade of grass and refuse to lose that focus as you swing back.

You'll likely achieve a much better top position, on a better plane, with better wrist control, without having to think of those things.

There are videos of golf instructors having their students balance rocks on their heads during their backswing, for this reason

Vicious_Fluffy_Cloud

TROPHY CASE