depression in med school

[scienceguy]

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duplicate posts.....orignal here (http://www.valuemd.com/ftopic32079.html)

[RossMD2006]

If you are feeling depressed, you should get help from the school, Dr. Sharma and some other psychologists on the island.

Sure, students get depressed living on the island away from home. When you are in unfamiliar surroundings as in Dominica, it can get to you. Again, I do not know the extent of your depression, but I strongly advise you to seek help if you need to.

-Good luck

[Shah_Patel_PT]

are there any people who have had to deal with depression while in medical school, specifically in the carribean. If so haw did you handle and deal with it. Did you have to deal with it every day. Medicine is all i have ever wanted and was just hoping my situitation is not unique at schools such as SGU ROSS AUC etc.

any feed back would be so greatly appreachiated
thankyou :D

I personally knew friends of mine...who used to tell me they were really depressed and were on Prozac! I reassured them all as usual...and now they are off the island all passed with the basic sciences!

Depression is no very uncommon as a medical student, in dominica or in the usa.

[scienceguy]

i am getting tx seems to be working ok, but still very worried, its al newt o me, and just wondered if there were any students in similar situitations. Thanks for the replys and please keep them comming

[Dru]

Oh, boy...psych is not my forte, but I do have some opinions on the topic. Those of you who know me personally understand that I much prefer my patients to be tied up, sedated, intubated, and on a jungle of support drips (and I'm in control). :oops:

According to the National Mental Health Associations, we as Americans, are afflicted by depression at the rate of 18.8 million cases each year. If you are planning to attend med school, let me suggest some of the following:

1. Food has a lot to do with depression, or I should say combatting or even preventing it. The latest research is showing that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (cold water fish) and plant products (canola oil and walnuts) have a significant antidepressant effect. Hmmm...I'll just bet if you are living on an island you could find some cold water fish.

2. The above comment regarding the importance of getting help cannot be over-emphasized. At present there is a rate of 80% who go untreated. The administration of antidepressant therapy is currently rated as effective in 35 to 45 % of those treated. Cognitive behavior therapy currently has an 80% relapse rate in the long term. Slightly better rates are predicted for those who have both meds and cog. therapy. In short, if you don't seek help, you won't get help.

3. It's important to try to determine the why's of your depression. Short-term or exogenous depression is from a loss or trauma. If you go thousands of miles away from your family or loved one(s), I guarantee you will sustain a sense of loss. If you plan to head for a carib school, it will be important for you to pre-plan some strategies to combat this. It may be as simple as taking along a photo album or scanning some family pictures to tape to your fridge. It may be as easy as setting up a dial pad account so you can talk to someone at home on a daily basis or making the commitment of emailing back and forth on a daily basis. Chronic or exogenous depression from a childhood trauma, depression from a genetic cause, or structural trauma (specifically to the hippocampus or frontal region) will require treatment whether you are at home or away on an island. The important thing with all of these is to know that you understand the cause. You will require effective control, and you may never achieve "recovery".

4. If you are depressed at home or on an island, it will be important for you to create relationships to meet your needs. You will be required to identify your own personal patterns of behavior and recognize when you are out of control. The important question becomes: Is medical school able to offer you a safe, supportive, nonjudgemental group environment? Judging from some of the comments from some of the students on the forum, this may or may not be true.

5. If medical school can offer you a good relationship with a therapist or physician, you may be successful. If medical school will serve to boost your self-esteem and confidence by earning good grades, it may be theraputic. If the island offers you a chance to perform moderate exercise to release endorfins and repatterning movements to decrease pain, your depression may actually improve. If medical school offers you the chance to meditate, pray, or relax, you may do quite well. If you study to the point of becoming exhausted and can maintain a balanced and regulated sleep pattern, you may actually improve. If medical school offers you a chance to learn how to manage your stress, you may gain a new lease on life.

6. Keeping in mind that depression has the propensity of striking in the age of our 20's, is worsened by financial strain, can cause insomnia and stress, medical school may be just the thing that pushes you over the edge. (sorry that was not a very positive or cheerful statement)

7. On a BRIGHTER side, if you suffer from SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder, going on an adventure to a sunny tropical caribbean island may be just what you need. :wink: :D :wink:

Best wishes to all of you as you continue your journey in life.

Dru (the Ross mom and ICU RN)

[Dru]

Not sure who or how this thread got locked, but I've unlocked it. Sorry.

[obadya00]

depression is very much alive and thriving on campus. however, i have seen a lot of students help their fellow classmates with depression. i am a big advocate of keeping the lines of communication open with your loved ones in the states at all times.
during finals i would call my friends just so i can here them talk about weekend or the new person they are dating. i always would find that amusing. meanwhile, my friends here are running around trying to cram every ounce of biochem/anatomy in their brain before the final/shelf.

[Dru]

OK, I see that the orig. poster did multiple postings and the threads are all locked and linked to the Main Forum. I will relock it, so kindly refer to the Main Forum.