Unsure of what career to pursue at my age?

83% Normal
16 Comments

I'm 26 years old and from Sweden, been in a relationship for over a year and lead a pretty normal life in general.

However, I'm currently in my second year of med school and I'm just not sure If I want to go on.

I've had bouts of clinical depression and anxiety for a long time (7-8 years), and I'm still in treatment.

The question is, should I take time off school to sort my problems out once and for all or would that just exacerbate my illness? You have to factor in age as well, I don't want to be one of those 35-year olds in a class of 18-30-somethings.

Is the ambivalence I feel about my medical studies a result of my illness(es) or is it my choice of career that's feeding my depression?

The main reason I applied to med school is because I've always been interested in pharmacology and physiology, but there was also some pressure from my family to pursue a career in medicine. My sister is an MD and my mom has a Ph.D in medicine (did I get that right?) so obviously that had some influence on my choice.

Any input would be appreciated.

Voting Results
83% Normal
Based on 94 votes (78 yes)
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Comments ( 16 )
  • Noonesperfect
    13 years ago

    Wow I would happily take your spot at med school I'm 17 n about roapply in few months but it so competitive in uk n gotta do work experience which I havnt started n my fucking grades needs to get better

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  • fracturedlight
    13 years ago

    Med school is usually stressful. I would stick it out since you've come so far already, but please see a physician about your depression. As a med student, you probably know that depression affects many people for many reasons and can have physiological roots, not just situational.

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  • iHatemF
    13 years ago

    Think about the money, that is all.

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  • Lockets
    13 years ago

    Could you alter career choice and decide to become a pharmacist instead? Not sure, but is a pharmcologist the same as a UK pharmacist?

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    • oxenstierna
      13 years ago

      Yeah there's always option of going into straight pharmacology, I've thought about it. But I'd miss out on the "detective-work" or however you put it of medicine, trying to find the right diagnosis..it's a bit of an addiction really. Having studied the human body and pharmacology on my own since I was 13 or something I tend to diagnose everyone I meet (in my mind). Come to think of it, that's actually somewhat insane. Hm.

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  • Gr8whitehype
    13 years ago

    Just bear down and finish up it will be worth it in the end

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    Your bouts of clinical depression and anxiety for 7-8 years pre-date 2 years at med school. And since you find pharmacology & physiology interesting that would seem a good match.

    Is there something you don't specifically like? Do you need a different career? Is it just school stress? Do you just need a break? Are you just unsettled because of your depression & would be in any event in or out of school? Would time out give you time to address your illness? Lots of questions.

    I can see how taking a year off might be good. Your decision, but what is the worse that could come of it. You'd know yourself better.

    Your concern about your age relative to other people's is not something i'd worry about.

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    • oxenstierna
      13 years ago

      I guess I'm worried that my mental problems will start affecting my exams and relations (is that the right word?) with the other students.

      I'm also concerned about the effect my anxiety might have on the safety of the patients I meet (we have weekly clinical work at various local medical centers), at this point we're just interviewing patients and working on doctor-patient social skills, with little focus on actually diagnosing anyone. All the patients get to see a real doctor afterwards, of course.

      Next year we'll be performing real tests and doing actual work, not just venipunctures and stuff like that. It's still under the supervision of a doctor and/or nurse, but this worries me a little.

      I have a tendency to undervalue my own abilities though, as my classmates were all impressed with my performance during clinical/practical tasks and interaction with patients while I just felt like a complete moron.

      I guess it boils down to feeling like I'm not doing as well as I could be doing if I were healthy. I'm leaning towards taking a year off doing something completely different, like working in retail or something and doing some traveling.

      Thanks for the input!

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  • kamilion
    13 years ago

    it is normal. take time off and rethink your life. i think your ambivalence is the result of you not doing what you ignoring to do what you really want and instead passively agreeing to do what others tell you to do. this could be could be the cause of your depression. if you are going through the motions and dedicating yourself to a career and life you have no passion for, of course you'll be depressed. in a way you've given up your autonomy and life because you complied to do this without really wanting it. now you are depressed and ok but the longer you do this the more you will hate yourself and resent your family. in the end your families approval does not matter and your own life does.

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    • oxenstierna
      13 years ago

      Ha ha, I'm such a sheep. I completely agree with you now and just hours ago I embraced completely different advice. Think I'm starting to see a pattern emerge. Thanks.

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  • rosewood55
    13 years ago

    Pull your head in! Take a leaf out of Nike's book, "just do it"

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    • d3l33tm3
      13 years ago

      @rosewood55: As if flippant remarks like that are going to be any help what-so-ever to someone receiving treatment for clinical depression. Pull your own head out of the mass-consumerism's ass.

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    Get a job.

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    • oxenstierna
      13 years ago

      Any openings in the Wehrmacht?

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  • DonaNovinha
    13 years ago

    I was also pressured into medicine but eventually I convinced my mom to let me go to nursing and then nurse anesthia school. It is less of a time commitment (in terms of schooling) and it leaves you time to have a life plus you still get all that pharmacology you like. With the depression, I would always be doing something because once you stop your life to "figure it out" you get more depressed because you have nothing to do with your day. I dunno, that's just my opinion. Don't do medicine if it isn't what you love.

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    • oxenstierna
      13 years ago

      Thanks for taking the time to read it, much appreciated. I've been thinking about switching over to nursing but I'm afraid it'll be "too basic" if you know what I mean. It probably isn't, and it's just the elitist side of me speaking (brainwashed since birth!) so I'll definitely look into that.

      And as for the whole depression thing, you're probably spot on. Having nothing to do but ponder my situation and feeling sorry for myself won't do me much good.

      Great advice, thanks!

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