In this episode of Dr Tisdall Unfiltered, I sit down for a candid conversation about one of the most misunderstood parts of medical education: why learning medicine feels so uncomfortable. Many students assume that anxiety, embarrassment, or frustration means they’re doing something wrong. In reality, those feelings are often signs that real learning is happening.

I break down why learning physically and mentally “hurts,” how repeated exposure to not knowing creates anxiety, and why students are rarely taught what to expect during the learning process. We talk about the difference between memorization and understanding, why repetition matters more than confidence, and how structure transforms confusion into clarity over time. This episode is especially relevant for medical students who feel overwhelmed, behind, or discouraged despite working hard.

This conversation is part of an ongoing effort to be honest about how medical knowledge is actually built — and why discomfort is not a failure, but a necessary step toward mastery.

Follow the podcast to stay up to date with more expert discussions and deep dives into how medicine should be learned, understood, and practiced.

Buy the textbook:

Volume 1
https://www.amazon.com/clinical-pathophysiology-comlex®-medical-companion/dp/b0cf4j4bp2?utm_medium=social&utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=spotify_description

Volume 2
https://www.amazon.com/clinical-pathophysiology-comlex®-medical-companion/dp/b0cdz2qhhy/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=spotify_description

Watch the full video episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/PNrMGCl-IOw

Follow me on social @drphiliptisdall