My name is Sarah Martone

docx

School

University of British Columbia *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

374

Subject

Nursing

Date

Nov 24, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by dakshajayendra

My name is Sarah Martone, I am a public health professional, and I also have depression. Like most people, the COVID-19 pandemic was an incredibly difficult time and took a toll on my mental health. The pandemic overlapped with my time in graduate school, pursuing my Master of Public Health degree, at the University of Guelph. While this was by far the most difficult time of my life, I am incredibly grateful to my friends who supported me through the hardest days and have helped me reach the other side. I hope those of you who are reading this, will have the fortune of meeting equally compassionate, understanding and kind friends during your graduate studies and in life. There is a lot of pressure to be an outstanding graduate student. There are never enough extracurriculars, publications or journal clubs to be a part of. You might feel the pressure to take on every single opportunity that comes your way, as each one will seem critical to your success. And even when you are finished, you may find that you are still comparing yourself to classmates as you all find jobs in a similar field. These are all factors that I found weighed on me, and eventually led to me burning out in my last semester. I had put so much pressure on myself to pack everything I possibly could into two years, that I stopped taking care of myself, mentally and physically. The isolation of the pandemic, the pressure of finding a job, the student debt hanging over my head, and trying to uphold the high expectations I set for myself as a student were too much. I stopped exercising and gained weight, I was irritable and pushing away my loved ones, I was slacking off at work and eventually it felt like this was the only state I would ever be in, and the self-hatred I felt was unbearable. Eventually it became too much, and I knew that I needed help. I had previously seen a counsellor at the University of Guelph who was really helpful in navigating the stresses and anxieties of graduate school. I had seen her every two weeks but felt that in my current state that I would need to see someone on a weekly basis. I also reached out to my doctor because, even though I was terrified, I thought that maybe medication was what I needed. Finding a therapist on campus was surprisingly simple, just locate your on-campus counselling service and set-up an intake appointment, but this will vary based on institution. Finding a counsellor outside of your university can be a bit overwhelming as there are so many options. I personally found Psychology Today to be a great place to start, as there are so many ways to filter therapists including by price, speciality, and the types of therapy they offer. I would also recommend that you check out your schools’ benefits, as most will have coverage for mental health services and prescriptions. Counsellors on campus, or ones you find in private practice, will be able to help navigate the challenges your face in school and in life. For me, the scariest was going on medication. I was scared it was going to change me, I was scared I would never be able to get off them and I was scared of the stigma that came along with them. Like most individuals suffering from depression, I started on a common selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). As time went on, I didn’t feel the change I thought I would. I was expecting a surge of motivation and energy but found that I was relatively unchanged. My doctor recommended I double my dosage, which is a common practice, and for me, this made things

significantly worse. To reiterate, this is my specific experience, but I think it is important for you to know that sometimes medications won’t work, and can even make things worse, and it is important to advocate for yourself, and track your feelings over time to see any patterns. I was on a medication that did not work for me, and I would not have even realized this if it wasn’t for my therapist, who helped me identify my unhealthy thoughts as a sign that something was not working. I am now on a medication that works for me, and am doing a lot better, but this was not an easy road to find. Taking medication for a mental health issue can make you feel like you are not strong enough to fight them on your own, but they are just one tool in your toolbox. I found the hardest thing to comprehend when I was at my lowest, was that this feeling wouldn’t last forever. I was desperate for any solution to the deep feeling of hopelessness that felt like it hung over my head. What I know now, is that there is no single solution, no matter how hard I wished it to be. To quote the great Robert Frost, the only way round, is through. I was able to move through this time with the help of my friends, my family, my therapist, and medication that worked for me. As I write this, I am in a much better space, I am enthusiastic about my future and getting back to doing the things I love. It was not an easy, or quick journey, but I am a long way from where I started. To end this narrative ramble, I would like to share a few pieces of advice to anyone who finds themselves struggling while they are pursuing a graduate degree, or if you feel you are struggling in general. Identify your on-campus counselling services and the mental health benefits that are covered by your student health plan If you start a medication plan for a mental health issue, be an advocate for yourself with your doctor, talk to them about the reality of negative side effects, these can be particularly prevalent in women as well Don’t be afraid to say no to opportunities if you feel like your plate is full, you don’t have to push yourself to the brink to be successful I want to thank those of you who took the time to read this lengthy post and allow me to share my experience with you, I hope none of you can relate to it but if you can, don’t hesitate to reach out, my inbox is always open. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Environment and Climate Change Canada or the University of Guelph.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Related Documents

ENG (15).pdf

Week 3 Discussion.docx

REPLY TO EWA.docx

5982103 - Capstone Essay Training Nursing - 17th Aug.docx

Gaps.edited.docx

NURS 530 Revised 22222 Policy Critique Rubric 1 (1).docx

Lilley's Pharmacology for Canadian Health Care Practice 4th Edition by Kara Sealock, Cydnee Senevira

TEST BANK FOR INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL CARE NURSING 8TH EDITION SOLE KLEIN MOSELEY -GRADE BOOSTER -2

FORO 6.1.docx

Patient%2520Safety.docx

Audio podcast peer Response 2.docx

_nclex_-64.pdf

Recommended textbooks for you

Intro To Health Care

Health & Nutrition

ISBN:9781337338295

Author:Mitchell

Publisher:Cengage

Principles Of Pharmacology Med Assist

Biology

ISBN:9781337512442

Author:RICE

Publisher:Cengage

Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Co...

Biology

ISBN:9781305251052

Author:Michael Cummings

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Medical Terminology for Health Professions, Spira...

Health & Nutrition

ISBN:9781305634350

Author:Ann Ehrlich, Carol L. Schroeder, Laura Ehrlich, Katrina A. Schroeder

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Understanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billin...

Health & Nutrition

ISBN:9781337679480

Author:GREEN

Publisher:Cengage

Human Biology (MindTap Course List)

Biology

ISBN:9781305112100

Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillan

Publisher:Cengage Learning

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Intro To Health Care
Health & Nutrition
ISBN:9781337338295
Author:Mitchell
Publisher:Cengage
Principles Of Pharmacology Med Assist
Biology
ISBN:9781337512442
Author:RICE
Publisher:Cengage
Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Co...
Biology
ISBN:9781305251052
Author:Michael Cummings
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Medical Terminology for Health Professions, Spira...
Health & Nutrition
ISBN:9781305634350
Author:Ann Ehrlich, Carol L. Schroeder, Laura Ehrlich, Katrina A. Schroeder
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Understanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billin...
Health & Nutrition
ISBN:9781337679480
Author:GREEN
Publisher:Cengage
Human Biology (MindTap Course List)
Biology
ISBN:9781305112100
Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillan
Publisher:Cengage Learning