Skip to main content
Home

Main Navigation

  • Admissions
    • ADMISSIONS
      • Admissions Overview
      • Admissions Requirements
      • Admissions Assessment
      • MCAT
    • FEES AND FUNDING
      • Tuition and Fees
      • Scholarships
      • Financial Aid
      • Student Finance
      • Partnerships
      • HBCU & HSI Partnerships
    • APPLICANTS
      • How to Apply
      • Canadian Applicants
      • Transfer Applicants
      • International Applicants
      • Career Changers
  • MD Program
    • PROGRAM
      • Program Overview
      • Program Objectives
      • Hospital Affiliates
      • Simulation Institute
      • MD-MPH Combined
    • CURRICULUM
      • MD Curriculum
      • Medical Sciences - Years 1 & 2
      • Clinical Education - Years 3 & 4
      • Clinical Home Offer
      • MedOrigin
    • ACADEMIC RESOURCES
      • Academic Calendar
      • Resources and Student Support
      • Career Advisement
      • Residency Appointments
      • USMLE Information
  • Student Life
    • STUDENT LIFE
      • Student Life Overview
      • Housing
      • Campus Tour
    • STUDENT CULTURE
      • Explore Barbados
      • Teaching Facilities
      • Clubs & Organizations
      • White Coat Ceremony
    • STUDENT SUPPORT
      • Campus Services
      • Safety & Security
  • About
    • ABOUT
      • RUSM Overview
      • Why Ross Med?
      • Facts & Figures
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Accreditation & Approvals
    • IN THE MEDIA
      • Newsroom
      • News
      • Blog
      • On-Demand Webinars
    • LEARN MORE
      • Faculty & Staff
      • Dean
      • Mission & History
      • FAQs
      • Testimonials
  • Apply Now
    • Start Your Ross Med Application
    • Submit Your Common Application

Secondary Mobile Menu

  • Incoming Students
  • Events & Webinars
  • Information for
    • Alumni
    • Admitted Students

Utility Navigation

  • Request Info
  • Apply Now

Secondary Navigation

  • Incoming Students
  • Events & Webinars
  • Information for
    • Alumni
    • Admitted Students
    • Current Students
Search
Cancel Search
Home Home

RUSM Main navigation

  • Admissions

    Explore Admissions

    Are you a strong candidate?

    Take an Admissions Assessment

    Ross Med applicants have a wide range of MCAT and GPA scores.

    Take the Admissions Assessment
    • ADMISSIONS
      • Admissions Overview
      • Admissions Requirements
      • Admissions Assessment
      • MCAT
    • FEES AND FUNDING
      • Tuition and Fees
      • Scholarships
      • Financial Aid
      • Student Finance
      • Partnerships
      • HBCU & HSI Partnerships
    • APPLICANTS
      • How to Apply
      • Canadian Applicants
      • Transfer Applicants
      • International Applicants
      • Career Changers

    Information For...

    Admitted Students

    Parents

    Premed Advisors

    MERP

  • MD Program

    Explore MD Program

    Do you have a question?

    student asking question

    Our goal is to help you reach yours.

    Speak to Admissions
    • PROGRAM
      • Program Overview
      • Program Objectives
      • Hospital Affiliates
      • Simulation Institute
      • MD-MPH Combined
    • CURRICULUM
      • MD Curriculum
      • Medical Sciences - Years 1 & 2
      • Clinical Education - Years 3 & 4
      • Clinical Home Offer
      • MedOrigin
    • ACADEMIC RESOURCES
      • Academic Calendar
      • Resources and Student Support
      • Career Advisement
      • Residency Appointments
      • USMLE Information

    Related Links...

    MCAT Information

    Why Ross Med?

    Match Day

  • Student Life

    Student Life

    img for new Mega Menu
    Overview
    new Mega menu Square 5
    Housing
    New Mega Menu Image 6
    Campus Tour
    • STUDENT LIFE
      • Student Life Overview
      • Housing
      • Campus Tour
    • STUDENT CULTURE
      • Explore Barbados
      • Teaching Facilities
      • Clubs & Organizations
      • White Coat Ceremony
    • STUDENT SUPPORT
      • Campus Services
      • Safety & Security

    Related Links...

    Merchandise Store

    Diversity & Inclusion

    Mission & History

  • About

    About RUSM

    Start Your Road to Residency

    medical students

    You're not just studying medicine. 
    You're practicing it.

    Request More Information
    • ABOUT
      • RUSM Overview
      • Why Ross Med?
      • Facts & Figures
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Accreditation & Approvals
    • IN THE MEDIA
      • Newsroom
      • News
      • Blog
      • On-Demand Webinars
    • LEARN MORE
      • Faculty & Staff
      • Dean
      • Mission & History
      • FAQs
      • Testimonials

    Related Links...

    Contact Us

    Campus Location

  • Apply Now
    • Start Your Ross Med Application
    • Submit Your Common Application
  • Request Info
  • Apply Now
    • Start Your Ross Med Application
    • Submit Your Common Application

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About
  3. News
  4. I Learned to Manage Paralyzing Anxiety
Care for Caregivers

I Learned to Manage Paralyzing Anxiety and Now Help Others Do the Same

Tue, 05 Oct 2021

Get Started Today

You'll submit your completed Ross Med application online in our application portal.

Apply Now
Intro Image
Maria Mejia 6
Self-Care / Wellness

The anxiety merry-go-round is draining but not being able to control or break free from the constant spin can crush the spirit and create havoc on the body. Painfully aware of this reality is Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) Wellness Counselor Maria Angelica Mejia, PhD, LMFT, who knows firsthand the atrocities of burn out and the importance of creating a ‘new normal’ for future physicians.

“I have constantly been afraid of doing the wrong thing since I was eight years old and we had to leave everything behind,” said the Colombian native whose family was forced to abruptly flee the country because of kidnapping attempts and violence. That was four years after she witnessed her first traumatic event in which her then pregnant mother almost died, which caused Mejia to develop a stutter. “It was the first time I experienced anxiety. When we moved to the United States and had to adapt to this culture, I was told failure was not an option, so I always had the pressure of being the perfect, ideal student. I thought if I just keep busy, I can manage my anxiety.”

Maria Mejia 2

At the time, mental illness was not a subject readily discussed so Mejia found creative ways to fill her day, not allowing herself moments of quiet because that may trigger an attack. She started working at a shopping mall at 14 years old; her schedule consisted of school from 7 am to 3 pm, work from 5 to 10 pm, homework from 11 pm to 1 am, then sleep and repeat. “The more I kept busy, the more I thought I was keeping ahead of the anxiety. I started getting physically sick but not too much.”

 

Events Caused Relapse

Her parents’ divorce brought the stutter back and started a new symptom — social anxiety. Her go-to solution — diving into academics and working exhaustively — led to respiratory illnesses and heart palpitations. Trying a rigorous exercise routine resulted in broken tendons. It wasn’t until pregnancy that Mejia realized her actions could have dire consequences. “People praised me saying I was superwoman, and it fueled the toxic cycle until I realized the person who was going to suffer most was my baby.” The therapist-in-training began prenatal yoga and hypnosis birthing techniques. After welcoming a son, she returned to her normal fast-paced routine, but it backfired. That’s when she met the doctor who changed her world.

“It was the first time someone took my full history and saw me as a patient who deserved attention; he didn’t judge me as a minority female who fit the stereotype of a drug user or seeker, a tired mom, a stressed-out student, an emotional woman or someone on state aid. Always advocate for yourself and seek different opinions if you don’t feel heard.”

Championing for Herself

Maria Mejia 3

That doctor opened Mejia’s eyes to the importance of her personal wellness and the negative impacts of burn out. “I’ve always been an advocate for mental health but never with me. That’s not ok. This is real. I realized I had to manage my anxiety and make intense lifestyle changes if I wanted to keep living.”

Mejia is now healthy, thanks to a great support system, a mental shift in how society values hard work and daily recognition of her triggers — especially at night when her mind becomes active. She takes meal breaks, stops work on time, exercises and meditates with her 10-year-old son. She still has bad days but no longer feels as though she’s stuck in a funk.

Paying it Forward

Using her lifelong struggle as motivation to educate and demonstrate resilience, Mejia focused her academic research on burnout and interventions, and now counsels future physicians. She explains to students that being praised for excessive work is counterproductive; instead, she encourages them to slow down, practice wellness, implement lifestyle changes and learn coping skills.

Maria Mejia 4

“Perfection is not possible, and failure is not a character deficit; it doesn’t mean you’re broken. It’s inevitable and we all need to learn how to grow from it. You’re not a failure if you ask for help; we’re social beings and asking for help is human. I felt like I was running a race that had no end; to not feel, I would push through the physical and mental pain to the point of numbness. Now I pick myself up. I’m still going fast but at 20 or 30 miles per hour, not 100. And I am no longer afraid of my thoughts and feelings.”

Two years ago, Mejia joined RUSM. “I need to be the voice of reason for our students. If I help one future doctor become like the one who helped me, then thousands of people can be truly supported in their lifetime.”

 

RUSM Support / Resources

Please visit the RUSM Wellness & Counseling Center webpage to learn about upcoming wellness sessions and email the Center to schedule a free and confidential appointment. If you need additional support, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) national hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) in the United States or Support Services Counseling at 246-245-1622 in Barbados.

Share This Article

  • facebook
  • tiktok
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • email

The information and material contained in this article and on this website are for informational purposes only and should not be considered, or used in place of, professional medical advice. Please speak with a licensed medical provider for specific questions or concerns. Ross Med is not responsible for the information maintained or provided on third-party websites or external links.

Related News

Benjamin Taylor and Family
Student
Medical Student Benjamin Taylor Effortlessly Saves Lives Because It’s His Job
Wellness Course 1
Campus
Let’s Keep Mental Health a Priority Year Round
Fiorella Castillo 2
Alumni
RUSM Alumni Resident of the Year Fiorella Castillo Recognized for Leadership in Pediatric Care
Ross University School of Medicine
Apply Now
Contact Admissions

Campus Address:

Two Mile Hill St. Michael
BB11093
Barbados

 

Admissions Address:

10315 USA Today Way,
Miramar, Florida, 33025
Phone: +1 754.707.5547
Email: Admissions@Rossu.edu

RUSM Footer Sub menu

  • Information For
    • Admitted Students
    • Career Seekers
    • Current Students
  • Navigate
    • About RUSM
    • MD Program
    • Admissions
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Student Life
    • Contact Us
  • News & Events
    • Blog
    • News & Press
    • Events & Webinars
    • On-demand Webinars
    • Academic Calendar
Branded Element

© 2025 Ross University School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

Hands-on From the Start®

Academic Catalog | Student Handbook | Student Consumer Information | Online Cookie Policy | Accessibility Statement | Office of Nondiscrimination and Access | Cost of Attendance | Privacy Policy

 

Policy on Non-discrimination

Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) is committed to providing an education conducive to the personal and professional development of each individual and to maintaining an academic environment free of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy or parental status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law in the admission to, access to, or treatment, or employment in any of its programs or activities. RUSM will not tolerate, condone, or allow discrimination or harassment, whether engaged in by fellow students, faculty members or non-faculty colleagues.

Connect with Ross Medical School

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Ross University School of Medicine is accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP, www.caam-hp.org).

 

CAAM-HP is the legally constituted body established in 2003 under the aegis of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), empowered to determine and prescribe standards and to accredit programs of medical, dental, veterinary and other health professions education on behalf of the contracting parties in CARICOM.

Accreditation by CAAM-HP is a rigorous, peer review process which examines all aspects of a medical program. The CAAM-HP board, an independent and autonomous body of professionals, only certifies medical schools which are operating at the highest levels of industry standards.

Through this accreditation, the CAAM-HP provides assurance to medical students, graduates, the medical profession, healthcare institutions, and the public that programs leading to qualifications in medicine meet appropriate national and international standards for educational quality, and that the graduates have a sufficiently complete and valid educational experience.

CAAM-HP logo - transparent

Secondary Footer Navigation

  • Call
  • Chat
  • Request Info
  • Apply