I remember during the week of orientation before school began. There was a Professor of Psychiatry who came to talk to us–she told us that our parents, siblings, spouses, and friends would “grive for the loss of their loved ones” because medical school has such a changing effect on people. I think she was being overly-dramatic for effect, but the point she made has stuck with me.

That scared the crap out of me, and ever since then I’ve been very mindful of subtle changes in my personality. I don’t know if it can be avoided, but I hope to at least minimize the effects.