Medical school is demanding, often causing stress, anxiety, and burnout. Long hours, heavy workloads, exams, and emotional exposure to patient care can lead to sleep deprivation, low mood, and self-doubt.
Common issues:
Anxiety and panic
Depression
Burnout
Stress-related physical symptoms
Strategies to overcome it includes,
Peer and family support.
Mindfulness or relaxation techniques.
Structured study schedules.
Professional counseling when needed.
“What were the biggest challenges you faced as a medical student, and how did you overcome it?”
During my MBBS years, a deep sense of underconfidence quietly held me back, causing me to walk away from many opportunities that I might have otherwise embraced and cherished. It wasn’t a lack of ability or interest, but a persistent self-doubt that made me hesitate, question my worth, and stay in the background when I could have stepped forward. Looking back, I realize how many enriching experiences and moments of growth I missed—not because they were beyond my reach, but because I didn’t believe I was ready for them. That realization has since become a powerful lesson, shaping my resolve to approach future opportunities with greater confidence and self-belief.
Mental and emotional struggles are a constant during the journey of medical students , there is therefore a heightened need for a support system to tide over phases of overwhelm.
The hardest part was juggling the never-ending needs of research with the emotional weariness of patient cases. Overcame it with rigorous no-study weekends to rejuvenate, weekly peer study groups for accountability, and daily 20-minute mindfulness breaks. My sanity was preserved by structure.