Tuesday, March 4, 2014

medical fear factor

Happy March yall!
The month of March heralds the melodrama of match week for thousands of fourth year medical students, and non traditional applicants for residency. We find out where we match aka  where  (which hospital and which state) we get to become indentured servants  for  the next three years.  Although I have been through the drama before, it’s a little nerve racking for me.

I am more impatient than fearful because I want to know where I end up. I felt like I haven’t been able to really plan my life because everything has been temporary. It has always been at the back of my mind that I have to move again.

I read a blog post on a medical blog about fear in medicine.  It was about how the younger generation in medicine is constantly being scared silly with advice.
Because medicine is so hierarchical, people on the lower totem pole constantly have to ask for advice from those higher ups.

First years  ask second years advice for surviving first year

Second years ask third years about studying for and passing step 1

Third years ask fourth years about matching and the match process

Fourth years ask interns about surviving intern year …and so forth as you move up in your career.

It never stops.

Some of the advice I received  was priceless because it helped; some of it did more harm than good because I was constantly anxious about the next step.  Medicine is an extremely demanding career and sometimes it’s difficult to make it through without some sort of mentorship :however, advice should be given with more encouragement and less doomsday predictions that discourage.

When I give advice I try to paint an accurate and realistic picture. I keep In mind proverbs 12 vs 25
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

The next step is always difficult but I try to add a little spice of encouragement with my advice when possible…
However ,try as I may I could never find anything encouraging to say about Anatomy or Surgery in med school. I still can’t but the key word is try. J

Next time someone I am asked to give advice I will “try” to give that advice with a spoonful of sugar. 

Speaking or more appropriately writing about sugar, I had the most amazing foodie weekend in long island with my bffs  I wish I had a good camera or I was into taking pictures, but alas I can only mentally catalog the Colombian steak, Indian curry, American diner brunch and the most delicious french toast ever that we ate. 

Anyway , see yall folks, until we meet again. 

15 comments:

  1. Great verse. Something else I try to do is balance my asking for advice with being content where I am right now - I'm not always very good at it though.

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  2. It doesn't help that us medical folk tend to be Type A, high-strung individuals! So we often accidentally scare the sh*t out of the people we're giving advice to, haha.

    Good luck with match day!!

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  3. Catching anxiety in med school is like catching the flu--everyone's got some strain and some are more virulent than others. But God's word and He himself provide good vaccination against such! I hope you're swell--when do you find out about matching?

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  4. Thank you for linking up!

    Med school, wow! I'd love to read more about it :)

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  5. @ sarah thanks for stopping by it always a battle within me too but in med school its the type A in us that makes us constantly need advice

    @ lisa LOL!!!! thank you! *fingers crossed*

    @ hopeful doc I am girl! march 21st :)

    @ mintu np. Thanks for stopping by

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  6. I hope you don't mind me saying so, but I think it takes some ballz to be in medicine. It can get really stressful!!! And to me, stress IS scary! ;) Great to have you with us for Medical Monday!!

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  7. @ your doctors wife LOL!! of course I don't mind.

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  8. Don't like medicine for anything....wish you courage to pull tru

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  9. @ onyo world Lol. Thanks a lot. I need Jesus and courage

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  10. The Lord is your strength and you'll come through successfully...

    I nominated you for the liebster award on my blog, do check it

    Ujesta.blogspot.co

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  11. Anxiety is a heavy load... thanks for the uplifting post. I should remember this next time someone asks about having kids, being married to medicine, or any number of things. Take a deep breath and let go of anxiety, I will try to do that today. Thanks for linking up with Medical Mondays.

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  12. @ uje thanks a lot! Just checked it out. I will be doing the liebster asap

    @ from a doctors wife thanks for stopping by.

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  13. Oh my goodness!!! Talk about March madness!!! The only thing that saved me was pre-matching into my #1 pick. Wishing you all the best, you will come and testify in Jesus name!!!

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  14. @inthemidst Amen oh! You prematched? Are you an FMG? Prematching is so rare nowadays. You were indeed favored.

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  15. Great blog!

    Lazioman.blogspot.com

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