There are lots of different ways to deal with stress and anxiety. I deal with stress in three specific ways:
(In no particular order)
- I eat
- I workout
- I sleep
Okay, I must admit that sometimes I cry (picture me, sobbing into my anatomy notes). But since Step 1 of the USMLE aka BOARDS were over in June, I have done a lot less crying. During final exams my freshman year of college I broke out in hives from stress. Apparently I had done that before as a kid- according to my mom.
My third year of medical school is coming to an end. I only have 2 more rotations left: general surgery and OBGYN. With fourth year around the corner, everything is becoming VERY real. I have to pick a specialty that I will do forever. I have to start my application for that specialty. I have to find letters of recommendation, write a personal statement, plan out my fourth year schedule leaving time to go on interviews. I have to make sure my resume is as perfect as possible. I’m feeling a lot of pressure to make sure my last 2 grades of third year are as high as they can be.
These things are all SUPER exciting and I’m loving every minute of planning my future. But I also can’t help but feel overwhelmed at times and anxious most times. I don’t think I’m stressed, I just have a slightly higher than normal bit of anxiety running through me 24/7.
To deal with this extra anxiety, I’ve been eating extra snacks, doing extra push-ups, and taking anxiety naps.
Anxiety naps are the worst.
An ‘Anxiety nap’ is when you are feeling overwhelmed in the mid-afternoon so you lie down to take a quick 20 or 30 minute nap and recharge. Throughout the entire nap your heart beats so strongly you can feel it in your chest. You become very conscious of your breathing. You try to take deep breaths and calm down. But your heart keeps on beating like you just ran up 8 flights of stairs. Your mind races with thoughts of “I shouldn’t be napping. I should be studying/cleaning/emailing/whatever.” You drift in and out of sleep mixed with pangs of anxiety until finally you give up and get back up. The only thing that will alleviate your stress is to get stuff done.
That is an anxiety nap.
I take them all the time.
Have you ever taken an anxiety nap?
Okay, enough of my craziness. You probably think I’m a huge medical school freak.
Breakfast
Instead of oatmeal I made a big batch of bulgar and topped it with a little maple syrup, almond milk and blueberries. Amazingness.
I did this 8 minute workout first thing in the morning to get my heart pumping:
- 50 jumping jacks
- 5 push-ups
- 20 sit-ups
- 20 mountain climbers
- Plank for 30 seconds
- 7 burpees
- Repeat 1 time
Then I was off to lecture at 6:30 am.
Lunch
I made a ginormous pan of skinny chicken enchiladas on Sunday. These will be eaten twice a day until my exam is over Wednesday afternoon. So delicious. I had my enchiladas on a bed of brussels sprouts salad (raw brussels sprouts put through the food processor) and topped with avocado.
Some quality studying was done at the white board. I am a HUGE fan of studying at a white board. I even vlogged about it here 
Workout
1 hour and 20 minutes on the treadmill while watching Revenge and studying. I did some walking on an incline, some jogging, some running, and then just regular walking when I got super into my notes.
After my treadmill time I did some quality stretching/yoga. My legs were pretty stiff from all that walking on an incline, so downward dog felt divine!!
Dinner
Told you I would eat these skinny chicken enchiladas twice a day until Wednesday afternoon!!! Recipe will be up tomorrow I promise!
Oh yes, I also ate 1/2 apple at lunch and the other 1/2 at dinner.
Dessert
I just had to have dessert while I was facebooking/reading blogs/online shopping studying. So I made myself a chocolate mug cake and man oh man was it yummy! I blended up 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 heaping TBS cocoa powder, 2 big spoonfuls of stevia, and a pinch of salt until it was all evenly mixed and the oatmeal had a flour-like texture.
Then I added in 1 TBS coconut oil and a splash of liquid egg whites. This made a brownie batter consistency. Lastly, I added in a bunch of chocolate chips I had left over from my chocolate cherry granola. Then I microwaved the whole thing for 1 minute until it was hot and gooey.
Well… judging by this picture you can tell it was good.
Questions:
How do you deal with anxiety?
Have you ever taken an anxiety nap?
Did you watch the new Revenge?? It was awesome!!
Ditto Rochford…minus the naps and push-ups
so then what are you dittoing? I miss college.
I’m pretty sure I take anxiety SLEEPS sometimes, too. Ugh. The heart pounding is the worst. It happens at least once a week for me. I need to chill.
That 8 minute workout looks great
Presley @ Run Pretty recently posted…Zero Drop It Like It’s Hot: Saucony Virrata Review
Anc
My phone posted a stupid comment and I can’t delete it! So sorry. But anxiety naps are the worst. They definitely just make things a million times worse. So excited for your steps ahead because I KNOW you’ll be amazing!
Um YOU are amazing
ahhh these days I SHOULD TRY THE ANXIETY NAP.
I tend toward anxiety Bravo TV
MizFit recently posted…I am six. Or twelve.
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I love Bravo…
ugh, I had EKG dreams before my cardio exam a few weeks ago..talk about heart pounding dreams
Heart pounding dreams. I love it. I’m so sorry you had to dream about EKGs but that’s great it’s over! I always learn EKGs and understand them really well for a week… and then a month later I don’t remember anything. Maybe when I learn them for the 30th time I will remember everything?
Ahhh! Revenge this week!! I sat stunned for a few minutes at the end. Love that show!
Sending positive vibes your way. You’re going to rock those last two rotations. One step at a time, that’s all you can do at any given moment.
I LOVED the end!! Good riddance Amanda! hahahaha Thanks for the good vibes girl- you are awesome
Thanks for finally putting a name to those naps! You aren’t crazy, it happens to me too and I HATE IT! Feels like time has been wasted and then I get even MORE stressed. urg.
Can’t wait for the enchilada recipe!
YES! So annoying.
Holy moly,I’m going to start using that phrase. Except I have entire nights of anxiety sleep. Anxiety sleeps are usually more for something big, like a family member in the hospital, but general school stress gets me sometimes too. I’m also an occasional crier over school things — no shame. Oh, and during my MCAT stage, I’d wake up in the middle of the night, reciting hormone facts or physics formulas… O.o Then the MCAT continued to haunt me and when I started teaching for TPR, I had a dream that my students thought I was a terrible MCAT teacher and woke up in a panic. Apparently I was anxious? All to say… You’re definitely not crazy, or if so, you’re at least not alone in it, haha.
Toni Lupro recently posted…What’s In Your Suitcase?
You know you’re losing it when you wake up at night saying science things. I’ve done that before too lol! Is TPR Princeton Review? I taught an MCAT class for Kaplan and I swear I was the worst teacher ever. When we did circuits in the physics section I was like, “yea… you guys can figure this out on your own”… I’m sure you are amazing!
Lol! Yep, Princeton Review. The Kaplan teachers have to be ON IT to teach every subject. I hadn’t taken any bio except the two intro courses before the MCAT so while I did well on the section, I don’t think I could have ever taught it without reading my notes straight up!
Toni Lupro recently posted…What’s In Your Suitcase?
1. I have totally taken one of those naps a few times but have never pinpointed what it was. You’re description almost made my heart start beating
2. Can’t wait to try the mug cake…OMG
3. Definitely going to check back on the whiteboard vlog. Miss that one, I feel like I would get distracted from doodling haha.
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Glad you can relate! Well, I’m sorry you have taken anxiety naps before… but I’m happy I’m not alone haha! Oh the mug cake is delicious and I think you could make it fit into your contest prep!
P.S. Christina- I tried to comment on your blog and it didn’t show up- so idk if it went to spam or if you had to approve it and I just didn’t see it.
I definitely took an anxiety nap last night on the floor of the costume crafts room. I swear I break down crying at least once a semester during grad school. A couple weeks ago, I was struggling getting a move right during capoeira and ended up crying, but really it was just because of stress from the current show I’m designing. It’s the biggest show I’ve designed yet and we go into dress rehearsal on thursday, so I definitely understand your stress!
HAHAHA Sandahl!! I am so sorry you are stressed but I LOLed at you sleeping on the floor of the costume room. You are incredible girl!! I cry at random things (like commercials on TV) when I’m stressed too- it’s just our emotions being more on the edge. Good luck with your show!!! I’m so excited for you!!
That 8 minute workout in the morning sound like a great idea! I get horrible anxiety that really bothers my stomach, and I think I take anxiety naps all the time before actually falling asleep at night! You seem so organized though, so I really admire you for that! So happy you’re still blogging
Thanks Alyssa!! Anxiety always hits my stomach first too. Even if I don’t realize I’m stressed or nervous, I will feel it in my stomach and then it registers. Let me know if you try that 8 minute workout!
I really don’t do anything to relieve anxiety except working out or singing. Sometimes, I just write things down to relieve some stress.
And, I can’t wait for the chicken enchiladas recipe. It looks yummy!
Helen recently posted…Delicious Shrimp Shirataki Recipe and my week’s eats
Oh I love singing! In my car. To broadway pandora stations… LOL! Hope you’re having a great week miss Helen! xox
I hate those frustrating naps!! I can never sleep when I’m stressed.
Good luck with everything girl!
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Thanks Clare! P.S. Your post yesterday was FABULOUS!! So happy for you!
Your such an inspiration to my pre-med mind, you dont even know! When I am feeling down, (pressure from school/life/family), I just pop-on over to your lovely blog and immediately feel better! Your blog is like my own personal SSRI, if that makes sense.
SMILING SO BIG RIGHT NOW!!! I will be your SSRI any time as long as you will be mine when I am pulling my hair out during my surgery rotation!!
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I take anxiety naps whenever I am on call….especially ICU call. LoL
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Enchiladas originated in Mexico, where the practice of rolling tortillas around other food dates back at least to Mayan times.The people living in the lake region of the Valley of Mexico traditionally ate corn tortillas folded or rolled around small fish..;
Good day
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