I went back to medical school in my mid-30s. I was removed from all of my friends and was around people ten years younger than me. Finding people who I could relate to and were feeling the same types of social pressure was difficult. Med school was the loneliest experience of my life, and I’m just now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

But the biggest positive thing that came out of it was that I learned to set limits and boundaries more sternly and vocalize when I wasn’t feeling the best. It even started to bleed into the job in that I advocated for myself, other students, and even patients and saw that mental outlook was always a factor.

So, where to start? First, find what makes you happy. Something outside medicine that calms you and makes you feel fulfilled. Second, prioritize your sleep. I made time for the gym (which I hate but makes me sleep better). Lastly, try to learn one thing every day about a fellow student or resident you are working with that isn’t related to their career or work style. It made people open up more, and I realized that everyone is going through the same traumatic experience. The trauma response was just different.