A broader outlook to reduce pre-exam stress

Abstract

Stress, depression, and job burnout are plaguing the medical field. These issues have many causes, one of which is a stigma or the fear of being stigmatized that leads the sufferer to deny the problem or delay seeking help. In this article, I will share a recent story of how a mind adjustment from a negative view of the past failure to a broader outlook quickly and effectively reduced the pre-exam stress of a student in a class I am teaching.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the student mentioned in the article for his kindness and generosity in giving me permission to share our email communications.

Disclosure statement

The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Serena Y. Kuang

Serena Y. Kuang, MD, PhD, Oakland University, William Beaumont School of Medicine, Foundational Medical Studies, Rochester, Michigan, United States.