Surviving medical school with depression episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 10, 2021 · 14 MIN

Surviving medical school with depression

from The Podcast by KevinMD

"I was first diagnosed with major depressive disorder as a preteen after my teenage sister died. I attempted suicide three years later. This would be the first of several attempts and the first of countless times I felt my life was not worth living. But I am not unique. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 person dies by suicide every 11 minutes. My depression is like a chronic autoimmune disease — constitutively present at a low level with flares. But there's no Humira for depression. At baseline, I am exhausted, anxious, lacking motivation, and full of self-doubt. When severely depressed, I am at the bottom of the sea, struggling to breathe and unable to swim. I am paralyzed by a high-pressure, heavy and humid darkness. Through physical or mental isolation, I may not see another living creature for hours, days or weeks. I can look up and see the sun shining beyond the water surface, but the surface is miles beyond my reach. I must physically force myself to breathe as my mind tells me to stop. Trying to take a test, see patients or study can prove impossible." This anonymous medical student shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Surviving medical school with depression." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/06/surviving-medical-school-with-depression.html)

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Surviving medical school with depression

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This episode was published on November 10, 2021.

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"I was first diagnosed with major depressive disorder as a preteen after my teenage sister died. I attempted suicide three years later. This would be the first of several attempts and the first of countless times I felt my life was not worth living....

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