How to Deal With Anxiety & Depression in Med School

Don't let hitting the books harm your mental health.

Academic demands can be stressful for anyone, but the pressures imposed on medical school students are intense. In fact, suicide is the leading cause of death for this group. (See Reference 1) There are, however, effective strategies for helping students deal with anxiety and depression while juggling the rigors of a challenging class load. These steps do not need to be done in order. Instead, experiment with different tactics to see what applies or works best for you. If your symptoms are debilitating or last longer than two weeks, see your physician for additional help.

Instructions

1. Add comic relief to your daily routine if pressures are mounting. Go to http://www.hippocritis.com or http://mvmedstudent.wordpress.com/funny-quotes to give your brain a rest.

2. Expect to be anxious during patient rotations and remind yourself that nothing is wrong with you. Anxiety levels will decrease significantly as you gain experience.

3. Check whether your university offers courses in procedural skills or mind-body medicine. These classes have been found to reduce anxiety levels for medical students. (See Reference 1)

4. Find ways to get adequate rest, or at least sleep as much as your schedule allows. Lost sleep exacerbates anxiety and depression.

5. Spend time with family and friends. A rigorous academic schedule can be isolating, but maintaining strong relationships will improve your emotional health.

6. Get regular checkups. Physicians are prone to neglecting their mental health and blaming themselves when they become ill. (See Reference 1) Establish good habits now to carry you through medical school and beyond.

7. Cultivate nurturing relationships with fellow students and support one another in your efforts to excel. Be mindful that peer competition, perceived threats and a sense of anonymity can contribute to feeling tense and depressed. (See Reference 2)

Tips & Warnings

• Students in their first or second year of medical school report significantly higher levels of binge or at-risk drinking than those in their third or fourth year. Those with the highest stress levels are more prone toward abusing alcohol. Despite this, medical school curriculum generally does not address problem drinking. Set responsible limits for yourself if you are one of the 85% of med students who regularly drink. (See Reference 3)

• A 2002 survey of internal medicine residents found that 32% of males and 40% of females experienced four or five symptoms of depression during their residency. (See Reference 1) Take care of your mental health from your first day of med school to reduce the likelihood of your becoming part of this statistic.

References

• Association of American Medical Colleges
• Pub Med
• Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science

Resources

• Association of American Medical Colleges