I have panic attacks when I think I will be made to quit my studies. What should I do?
Dear Professor Nadine,
I am a 20-year-old girl. My parents dislike me because they were expecting a son but got me. They already had three daughters, and were not happy to become saddled with another. My brother was born two years after my birth but they never forgave me for not being a boy. I am suffering from severe depression because of their attitude towards me. They never show any love for me and on my slightest mistake they punish me strictly. I was good in studies and made it to medical school on merit, but they are still not proud of me. My father is still a little better and bears my expenses but my mother thinks educating me is a waste of their money. My elder sisters were not into studies and were married off one after the other very soon, and now my mother wants me to get married, although I need a little over three years to complete my MBBS. I am afraid my mother will have her way because in my family the trend is to get girls married as soon as possible. I have panic attacks when I think I will be made to quit my studies. What should I do?
Depressed Doc
Dear Depressed Doc,
It is sad how women demean their own sex by discriminating between their male and female children. Your mother is a typical woman who probably thought having a male child would secure her position. She let her disappointment traumatize you, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care for you. My dear, it is sad that you had a bad childhood but now you are an adult in a professional college. You are a very brave person and despite the lack of attention from your parents, you have done extremely well. All you need is a little confidence to tackle your parents. Talk to your father and ask him to let you complete your education. If he had wanted, he could have stopped you from taking admission in med school. I think he will let you complete your education. He is probably proud that you are becoming a doctor, and will handle your mother himself. Be brave and persistent and I am sure you will be allowed to complete your studies. Good luck!