Is residency really that bad? I hear scary stories of burning out and a lot of crying.

Dear QMR, 
Is residency really that bad? I hear scary stories of burning out and a lot of crying. 
Sincerely,
Clerk and Afraid 

Dear Clerk,
Just like the rest of life, residency has good and bad days. You will finish some days feeling on top of the world, and you will also finish some days at your lowest. It’s okay – it happens to all of us. In your days at QMed, you will establish relationships that will last you a lifetime. Hopefully somewhere in this wonderful group of people (and among those in your personal life), you’ll find a few close friends that will support you through your worst days. Hold on to these people. To echo the wise advice of Dr. Murray, it’s not such a bad idea to have a “failure friend.” 

In addition, figure out the things that keep you well and set aside time in your day to make them happen. Whether it be yoga, rock climbing, running, swimming, innertube water polo, Dragonboating, reading, or your dog, don’t let these things fall to the wayside when life gets busy. It’s also a good idea to step back from time to time and actually ask yourself whether or not you feel well. If you do, reflect on the things that are helping to keep you well, because this way you’ll know what to fall upon in the future. If you don’t feel well, you should actively work to change that -- recognizing when you are beginning to burn out and nipping it in the bud is key. Do you need a vacation? (You probably do.)

Use every single one of your vacation, education, and lieu days. Get good sleep. 
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Above all, remember this: you had a hard day today because medicine is hard, not because you are bad doctor.