How to maintain good mental health while at SGU

[SGU06]

Hey everyone. I am coming to the end of my undergraduate career, and I have learned that when you dedicate yourself entirely and exclusively to school, your mental health can often suffer. Sometimes this deterioration is not really noticed when your are in the midst of academic concerns, but when all is said and done after the semester, you realize the toll it has taken.

I know the next 2 years of basic sciences are going to be considerably more challenging then undergrad. That is why I am asking current SGU students how they maintained good mental health throughout the first 2 years of med schools?

I feel that an important thing is to stay close with a few positive people. Your roommate should be cool and a great person, and just a circle of friends to go through it with can help reduce any mental health problems. In addition to this, can someone suggest some other ideas/suggestions?

Thanks for the help everyone.

[scienceguy]

Hey everyone. I am coming to the end of my undergraduate career, and I have learned that when you dedicate yourself entirely and exclusively to school, your mental health can often suffer. Sometimes this deterioration is not really noticed when your are in the midst of academic concerns, but when all is said and done after the semester, you realize the toll it has taken.

I know the next 2 years of basic sciences are going to be considerably more challenging then undergrad. That is why I am asking current SGU students how they maintained good mental health throughout the first 2 years of med schools?

I feel that an important thing is to stay close with a few positive people. Your roommate should be cool and a great person, and just a circle of friends to go through it with can help reduce any mental health problems. In addition to this, can someone suggest some other ideas/suggestions?

Thanks for the help everyone.

i could not agree with you more
and know exactly how you feel, i too am concerned about this issue, and would love to hear everyones suggestions

[drnick07]

Great questions to ask. Knowing in advance that med school will not be like undergrad will put you ahead of many of your classmates. There are many things to do in grenada to unwind, and most of them are actually healthy. Unfortunately, sometimes it is hard to find out what all is available and how to acquire the means to do those things.

I just converted the URLs from the old VMD version to the new one of a list of threads devoted to the fun things students do. Enjoy!
http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-university-school-medicine/19138-fun-relax.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-university-school-medicine/19138-fun-relax.html)

http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-university-school-medicine/19237-free-time-question.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-university-school-medicine/19237-free-time-question.html)

http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-university-school-medicine/32060-nightlife-studentlife-sgu.html (http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-university-school-medicine/32060-nightlife-studentlife-sgu.html)

[IndianBabu]

Its all about balance folks. You cannot study 24/7 without taking breaks, and making time for yourself.

Watching a movie, playing a computer game, working out, whatever it is that you do to relax, DO IT in grenada too.

And as always, make sure you sleep. Being alert, and awake, makes you learn so much more efficiently. It'll go a long way for you mentally.

Good luck,

IndianBabu

[vtrain]

Babu is right, balance is key.

You have to find an outlet to relieve the stress of med schoo. For some it was running and kayaking, for other is was going to the gym or playing basketball. The problem in med school is that you always feel like you have to study 24/7. You have to learn to put aside this feeling and take breaks on a regular basis.

Oh yeah, and try to not lose touch with your friends and family back home. It's not easy but they give you alot of perspective down here on the island.

[Flounder]

Hey I know many people who were stressed out and a few that broke down and cried. They made it through just take it one day at a time and if you have a fun hobby like play a musical instrament then bring it down with you (if you can) and use that to de stress... Just don't spend all of your time in your room.

[viraj2]

paxil.

-v

[teratos]

paxil.

-v

Nah, too much weight gain....Lexapro.

[envivany1]

hahahaa paxil, well i found that you study more effectively after taking breaks to do other things, as opposed to reading the same page for one hour coz you cant take anymore. So try to find your balance, the most difficult thing is to figure out your own way, and the rest just falls into place

[andrew]

Xxxxxxxxxxx

[daguru]

it's funny how many people i know who do NOTHING but work. like....after one exam is over, they go home, have some lunch, and go back and start studying some more. and i mean, sure, maybe they spend more time studying, but two things, 1. yeah, i take breaks, but that keeps me from going INSANE. i know i am ok, somewhat relaxed and sane....whereas i know those people are going to snap one day. and 2. i find that when i TRY to be like them, i just end up going to the library and wasting time, because i cant focus. that's why i know it's better to just take some time to relax, chill out, watch a movie, play bball, whatever.....and it helps. dont worry, if you are smart, you will take time off, regardless of how much work you have to do....

[seagoddess]

I know I'll probably just recapitulate what others have said before but I'm too lazy to read all other posts.

Everything in life is about finding the proper balance which I did not find until the very end of first semester. At first, I would drink lots of vanilla coke (ewww, I can't believe I put that much sugar into my system) to stay up and then I started getting really really homesick because I wasn't sleeping enough and retaining very little.

Anyway, I learned how to cook and found a lot of joy and relaxation in that. Now I love cooking.

The next important thing is to accept the fact that you won't know EVERYTHING which then again may take a while. The least you concentrate on grades but instead on learning the material the better you'll do. So, if you are reading the same page for 20 minutes go take a break because forcing yourself won't make you learn it. If you like to watch movies go for it. Reward yourself during the weekend if it takes away some of the pressure that way. Enjoy Grand Anse!!! You'll miss Grand Anse in St Vincent. But then again that's assuming you like the beach.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of getting enough sleep. We all know the benefits of sleep. By the time I got to Vinnies I would go to bed by 11 pm regardless of what I had learned for the day. And this worked just fine!!!

Take some time to travel whenever you get a chance. St Maarten is the best!!! I don't know how anyone can study at AUC...

Also, keep in touch with family and friends back home. You'll need a support network more than ever. And also take advantage of the cultural diversity at SGU and meet people even if their ideas clash with yours.

[Flounder]

I know I'll probably just recapitulate what others have said before but I'm too lazy to read all other posts.

hehe you said recapitulate... maybe later we can look at some walt disney's

[seagoddess]

I understand my approach is beyond your grasp...

hehe you said recapitulate... maybe later we can look at some walt disney's

[drnick07]

I understand my approach is beyond your grasp... Does anyone have a Hershey bar to share?

[RussianJoo]

I find that rewarding yourself with a nice strong Rum and Coke at the end of the day is a great way to up keep your mental health.

To Alcohol the cause of and solution to all of life's problems!

[CaptainInsaneO]

You gots to be kidding me!

Medical school will be a vacation compared to the shite me gots dragging me down in this dem parts...

Da man be keeping me downs and medical school makes me happy, ya know

[CaptainInsaneO]

I find that rewarding yourself with a nice strong Rum and Coke at the end of the day is a great way to up keep your mental health.

To Alcohol the cause of and solution to all of life's problems!

Ya, but you muslims ain't allowed to be drinking, ya knows~!

[jaywalk81]

Ya, but you muslims ain't allowed to be drinking, ya knows~!
russianjoo is a muslim now? whoa...

[RussianJoo]

I am not a muslim...