Anxiety and depression

[PA33]

1st year student here. Was just diagnosed with anxiety and depression today and put on meds. I’ve never had any Rx in my life outside of occasional  bacterial infections and such… 

Any others like this who’ve ended up seeking treatment while in school? I’ve never had any issues like this in the past.  And this is coming from someone who’s already done a masters degree in another allied health field a few years ago.

[Sunnyn]

Are you getting any special accomodations or may do so?

[PA33]

4 minutes ago, Sunnyn said:

Are you getting any special accomodations or may do so?

Haven’t even thought about it. May see how treatment goes first.

[ohiovolffemtp]

PA school is extremely stressful (as is medical school).  Many schools have cutoffs that can lead to dismissal, e.g. failing a retake on an end of session exam, failing a clinical rotation, etc.  There's a massive amount of material to memorize.  So, what you're experiencing is not at all uncommon.  Also, it's very common to have lifestyle changes that exacerbate they symptoms: sleep deprivation, loss of exercise, poor eating, etc.

The stress changes but continues your first 3 or so years of work as you pay the learning curve to really learn your branch of medicine.

[SedRate]

I second the above.

School was stressful enough to try to handle everything so I saw a school counselor for help with stress management. They were extremely helpful and also allowed my spouse to join. Free.

I also went to my PCP who was also helpful. They said this will pass and I need to take better care of myself, which I did. I also had low Vitamin D which was treated.

Exercise, sleep, eat healthfully, spend time laughing, pick up a hobby, and go outside. 

Edited November 17, 2023 by SedRate

[Sunnyn]

1 minute ago, SedRate said:

I second the above.

School was stressful enough to try to handle everything so I saw a school counselor for help with stress management. They were extremely helpful and also allowed my spouse to join. Free.

I also went to my PCP who was also helpful. They said this will pass and I need to take better care of myself, which I did. I also had low Vitamin D which was treated.

Exercise, sleep, eat healthfully, spend time laughing, pick up a hobby, and go outside. 

Did you end up going for any kind of therapy at any time?

[UGoLong]

Some of the PA students I advise as a faculty member get diagnosed with anxiety and depression. It's often something they had in the background and was exacerbated by the stresses of PA school. The OP did the right thing by getting seen for it and the advice above about trying to maintain some balance in their life is also spot on. 

You are not alone and have friends among the other students and faculty, as well as university resources you can lean on. And it gives you first-hand experience that you can draw on later in life when you have patients or children with similar issues.

Best wishes.

[CAAdmission]

On 11/16/2023 at 9:11 PM, Sunnyn said:

Are you getting any special accomodations or may do so?

OP, you should look into this. It can take weeks for your meds to titrate up to a level where they will do something. Your school will have a disability support office. Contact them. 

I'd also encourage people to think about career choice. My worst days in PA school were less stressful than my best days in practice. Make sure you understand what you are getting into.

Edited November 20, 2023 by CAAdmission
Typo

[Sunnyn]

Can special accomodations be achieved in this scenario if one goes through the process? Will they translate into these same accomodations automatically be granted for the Pance?

Can it hinder the licensing process in anyway later on? on the job?

Edited November 19, 2023 by Sunnyn

[EMEDPA]

7 hours ago, Sunnyn said:

 

Can it hinder the licensing process in anyway later on? on the job?

There are questions on state license applications about "mental health treatment". 

[Mayamom]

I would start your meds continue seeing a provider but my personal opinion is not to ask for any special treatment.  Unless it becomes unmanageable.  I have bad back cannot sit for any significant amount of time.   When I was getting ready to take the PANRE (not sure what # it was )  I simply asked that I could stand more frequently (not walk around just stand stretch)   Well forget it.   The questions got very invasive they wanted doctors notes from specialist, PT, etc.     I told them to forget it.  

[ventana]

On 11/19/2023 at 9:28 PM, EMEDPA said:

There are questions on state license applications about "mental health treatment". 

there is a pretty good push to change these questions to "Are you currently experiencing anything which would interfere" instead of the "have you ever" style questions....  which makes a huge amount of sense