I hate life as a med student

[studentdoc]

As a medical student, I tell you it is one of the hardest things to deal with. You are constantly under pressure and stress and that just makes the friggun stuttering worse. I remember when I was working and had pretty relaxed life, my stuttering virtually non-existant (emphasize virtually). Now, I stutter on almost every friggun sentence. I don't know what to do. :( As a future physician, this is going to hurt.

edit: I have no idea why I'm writing this, but I just need to.

[Dug23]

I hear you. My stuttering is pretty non-existent until stressful situations arise; whether taking interviews, presentations or telephone survey stuff. This is a big part of my life; as im doing lots of research. Your situation I am sure is even more stressful. I don't know if i can give you any tips. I think with me the main issue is confidence - the more confident i am the less i stutter and vice versa. Overtime im sure you will become more confident in the work you do and I think that will help you stutter less (im not an expert or anything but this is just from my experience). For example; i think the more public speaking i do - the more confident i will hopefully get = less stress and less stuttering.

Also i always try and think positively and encourage myself as best i can - just thinking 'right im going to relax and do the best i can' - try and keep self doubt out. Or just thinking; right im not going to let this beat me! It is really difficult but once you start the cycle of positive thought it helps. People aren't there so they can watch you fail - they are there to support you.

Most of the time i think those who stutter are a lot more aware of the fact they are doing it than those around them. Remember you may think its aweful but from experience its probably not half as bad as you may think.

Another thing that helps me but don't know how feasible it is for you is before a big interview or presnetation i listen to my ipod - close off everything around me and just try and calm myself down. It doesn't have to be some music of the ocean or anything likfe that; tell the truth my old favorite was 'eye of the tiger'. Sad i know - but laughing at myself also helps me to relax.

Finally one other thing i tried and i think it did help is something called 'rescue remedy'. You can find it on shelves in most pharmacies - you just drop some of it on your toung when your feeling anxious etc... and it should help you relax. Im sure half of what it does is psychlogical as opposed to actually having some chemical effect but it might help you.

Anyway this is just a few things from my own experience - i don't know if it will be any help for you but it may. :)

[one extra thing i thought of: being a med student do you drink a lot of coffee or caffiene products? I've founds that coffee when im in stressful situations makes things a lot worse in terms of stuttering. There is a thread further down i think on caffeine. So if you are taking lots of coffee i would stop and see what happens. It made a big difference fo me when i stopped)

[studentdoc]

Thanks Dug. I will definatley try that rescue remedy you metioned (what is it made for?). I did start drinking a lot of coffee recently for studying purposes and I stopped 2 weeks ago (no relief of stuttering yet) but we'll see if it goes back to normal. I was actually doing fine before I started drinking so much coffee... hmmm I will report back. Thanks for your response again.

[Dug23]

Heya. A company called: 'Bach' makes what is called: 'Rescue Remedy'. It is a very small bottle and is supposedly to 'comfort and reassure'. It is some kind of flower remedy and you don't need a prescription or anything. I live in the UK so I don't know about its availability beyond the UK but I am sure there other other similar products. It doesn't work for everyone but it might help.

Also with regards to caffeine you have to remember there are side effects whe you stop taking caffeine after you have had it for sometime. For example its been noted in studies that "often, people who are reducing caffeine intake report being irritable, unable to work, nervous, restless, and feeling sleepy, as well as having a headache." I would guess if you stop completely these affects may be heightened. So yeah, i'd give yourslef some more time and see what happens :) And stay positive.

[studentdoc]

Heya. A company called: 'Bach' makes what is called: 'Rescue Remedy'. It is a very small bottle and is supposedly to 'comfort and reassure'. It is some kind of flower remedy and you don't need a prescription or anything. I live in the UK so I don't know about its availability beyond the UK but I am sure there other other similar products. It doesn't work for everyone but it might help.

Also with regards to caffeine you have to remember there are side effects whe you stop taking caffeine after you have had it for sometime. For example its been noted in studies that "often, people who are reducing caffeine intake report being irritable, unable to work, nervous, restless, and feeling sleepy, as well as having a headache." I would guess if you stop completely these affects may be heightened. So yeah, i'd give yourslef some more time and see what happens :) And stay positive.

Thanks again for everything

[Invictus]

StudentDoc,

First of all, you should be proud that you are in medical school. 99.9% don't have the brains to get into medical school.

I got into medical school, but then changed my mind to a career in finance, since I found it more lucrative.

Anyways, back to the topic at hand. I once did a hospital rotation type work(HOSA) when I was in high school. I stuttered sometimes with doctors and patients.

The most rewarding thing was one day, a doctor told me I would become a great doctor, because I would be able empathize with the struggles/sickness of the patients in the hospital.

Another "a-ha" moment came a few months ago, when I talking to a friend and the issue of my stuttering was brought into topic. My friend said it was something that made me unique. You forget most poeple you meet, but there would be a reason people would remember your name.

Keep your spirits up! Cheers.