F.E.A.R.

mne·mon·ic (\ni-ˈmä-nik\) - From the Greek (just had a "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" flashback) mnēmonikos, from mnēmōn mindful, from mimnēskesthai to remember. — 1: assisting or intended to assist memory, 2: of or relating to memory

I love mnemonics. I use them all the time. And for me, the dirtier, the better (and easier to remember). For fear of having this site shut down for violation of Dutch decency laws, I'll save the best ones for another time (like when I leave Statia for good).

An example of one is for this block of instruction is the order of contents, from medial to lateral, in the flexor retinaculum at the ankle:  "Tom Dick And Not Harry"...Tibialis Posterior, Digitorum longus tendon (flexors), Artery (Tibial), Nerve (posterior Tibial) and Hallicis (flexor to the big toe). In a pinch, it'll work wonders when the brain cramps during a timed exam. It is such an important technique that there are entire web sites devoted to this technique of learning medicine, like http://www.medicalmnemonics.com/ .

One of the professors talked about mnemonics as a memory tool. His example was an interesting one: F.E.A.R. He noted it to mean "False Emotion Appearing Real." This was a bit surprising since it's clearly not medical, or is it? Some my classmate talked about the example and some of our own fears, mostly about failure.

Fear of failure in medical school is huge Most of us have taken a huge leap of faith to be here, leave family and friends, halt careers or job, and move in the direction of our heart to learn and practice medicine.  Here, that fear is also linked and related to fear of criticism and rejection...something type A, medical science types loathe.  But we realize that success at this task is about overcoming that fear of failure, and shed the incapacities of the past.  There really is not failure, only the possibility of learning, and feedback to be better providers...at least after reaching the threshold of "passing" the exams.

Truth is that we limit ourselves by allowing the fear to prevent action.  This group of students is different. We all will achieve more than we think we are capable of since we have left a certain amount of fear behind us. But in the end, it is a "healthy" fear that has us moving diligently toward succeeding on the next set of exams.  We have, after all, taken the first step with bold, decisive action to be here, and it's scary.

I watched in lab today as the class helped each other study for tomorrow mornings anatomy lab exam, sans instructor for a large part of the time. We are really helping each other. The combination of fear and real caring is so evident in this environment. People are willing to help others overcome, or at least manage, their fears. Together, we are overcoming the inertia of fear, and really learning the science of medicine. It is so gratifying to be a part of it all.

Although, I am scared silly about those little brain farts that might prevent me knowing the femoral nerve from the obturator nerve tomorrow, I think I'll be OK. I just need a mnemonic. "Fear Overcome"

...femoral...obturator. I got it!! These really are my false emotions appearing real.