Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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I'm currently going through my internship in surgery. It's very tough and I hardly get any days off, which makes going to the liturgy almost impossible these days. I spend so much time at work I get very depressed and lonely. Do you have any advice for me?

You are under a lot of pressure from your internship. Please do not let  it deceive you and get you to forget that it is through the Holy Spirit, and the Lord residing in you that you can have power over all things. What you are feeling is common when we do not take regularly the spiritual power from God. Now that we are in the Holy Great Fast, churches celebrate several liturgies during the week, if not daily. You need to make a point through your very busy schedule to attend any of these liturgies and partake of the communion. Do not let this internship have control over your spiritual life. Look at your schedule and fit in it time for daily prayer even if it means cutting on time of eating or sleeping. Remember always St. Paul saying, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13). Another point is that you need to learn how to relax during your very busy schedule. I think you need to get some time off for yourself during  which you forget completely about everything and  just relax. You need also to develop your own support system (your family, your godly friends, your colleagues at work) and turn to them when you feel that you need to speak with somebody just to ease off  this pressure.
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