#HAWMC Day 19.
What’s the best way you deal with stress? How do you like to let loose to escape common stressors? Share with us your favorite ways to shake off the stress. #shakeitoff
I’ve been stressed all my life!
It started at high school. Graduating from grade school, I got a partial scholarship. I studied hard to keep that scholarship. I also studied diligently to get stellar grades, to get in to the national university where tuition was low.
At that national university taking my premed course, I continued to push hard. I needed to get to medical school. As medical school was expensive, I had to get accepted to one particular medical school which only admitted 80 women yearly. How did I deal with the stress? I joined a student organization. I had a boyfriend.
Once I got into the top medical school in the country, I thought I could just relax. So I joined a medical sorority. I was still studious but I didn’t worry anymore about where to go next. I knew I was in the right place for the career path I wanted. Stress morphed into something else in residency and fellowship – bringing home the patients. Of course, one doesn’t physically bring home the patients! But I brought them home in my mind, and often in my heart. I worried about whether as a doctor in training, I was providing the best care possible. The hospital accepted indigent patients who were willing to be cared for by fledgling doctors. Most did not even have money for medicines. I was anxious everyday at rounds seeing missed doses and that yes, I’m going to have to talk to the social worker again or ask money from friends, or just dole out from my pocket. How did I deal with it? I joined fund-raising drives. I took an art class at the Cancer Institute. I found (another) boyfriend. I helped my department organize academic activities. I did research.
I’m now in private practice. I teach in the university. I lead a small academic unit. I’m a wife, mother and daughter. I wear many hats and have to juggle a lot. How do I deal with it? I sleep when I can! I rest. I wrote about this in a previous #HAWMC post: Day of Rest. I wish I can say that I sing. Singing relaxes me, but it stresses my family hahaha.
In my free time, I pursue my advocacies: elearning, health literacy and the use of social media in healthcare. I co-founded #HealthXPh. The tweet chat every Saturday 9 pm is a stress reliever! It feels like an after-dinner relaxing conversation with friends, learning new things.
I also PRAY. My mother taught me that. I’ve a special devotion to our Lady of Lourdes.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
Matthew 21:22