Do I have what it takes to be a psychiatrist?

Psychiatrist Dr. Peter Goertz talks about various aspects of choosing a career in psychiatry.

[bqureshi]

Psychiatry resident here. I had developed a fascination for psychology and psychopathology during my undergraduate years. I am extremely happy with my decision, and residency has been very gratifying. I am really enjoying psychotherapy (which we have to do during residency training) and the inpatient wards. I initially had a predominant interest in mood disorders, but I have found thought disorders (schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders) extremely interesting. Psychiatry can be very challenging as the current understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases and the true mechanisms of the pharmacological agents we use to treat them is still limited.

I will say this: I have found that simply listening to your patients and genuinely being concerned for their health is therapeutic, and this cannot be understated. All the knowledge of the medications and their side effects, interactions, and etc. which will guide you in deciding which to prescribe to your patients will be null and void if you cannot gain the trust of your patients. You will encounter countertransference issues that can make treating some patients very challenging. I have difficulty with patients struggling with borderline personality disorder and those with mania involving an irritable mood.

It is an extremely gratifying career and I'm learning something new each and every day, and it keeps the journey fresh.

[NimNim]

First time I see a good video and an honest person who talks about challenges and pros and cons in this field. Every other over 10 videos I watched they all talked cliche and how they loved psychiatry and enjoying the residency and not even one single one of them could elaborate about challenges or difficulties they may face. Unfortunately in medical field it is very rare to find unbiased non cliche genuine people. They teach you to be a parrot, have a fake smile and always speak positively even if there is a deficit and chaos going on in that hospital. Thank you so much for sharing all these useful informations.

[SandraLeeWyllie]

"Better to lose your job than do something that is not right for you" - You are an amazing doctor!!

[ericshiel]

I'm a social worker and I can really appreciate and respect the psychiatrists I've worked with. It's great being able to consult with a colleague like this.

[EmilynRodriguez-pxng]

I’m watching as the bipolar bisexual patient this guy isn’t lying and I love my psychiatrist this had me laughing ….he is not lying.I’m thankful for you guys there’s a lot of stigma around BD and you guys are some of our allies.

[rashifarsya]

I am a medical doctor who has been dealing with bipolar disorder for years, I am on meds and have regular psychotherapy sessions as well. I want to say that something about you makes me very calm as you sound genuine and very heartwarming, it’s in fact kind of therapeutic. For that solely reason, I believe that psychiatry is your true calling. Thank you for helping people that’s dealing with these (mostly) invisible diseases and disorders. You’re truly an inspiration.

[vivmoire]

I'm currently in grade 10 and about 3 years ago, i was first asked what i wanted to pursue as a career. I had drawn a complete blank, partly because i had too many interests and partly because i was still a child and all my focus was directed towards what show i was watching or what new game was circulating among my social circle. Eventually i began watching a show which had a psychologist as a main character and the profession deeply intrigued me since helping people sort through complicated emotions has always been something i enjoyed greatly. However, i also greatly enjoyed sciences, and the stigma around choosing jobs other than being an engineer, doctor or lawyer is phenomenal in Indian society. It was around then that i discovered the profession of Psychiatry and it was in very simple words love at first sight. It had everything i was looking for, and even my parents supported my decision. This decision has stuck with me till now, over two and a half years which i find an accomplishment since i know how indecisive people can be at such a young age (its kind of sad that we have to make such major decisions at such a young age, most end up regretting them).

This being said, i've recently began to rethink a lot of things because i still do not know as much about Psychiatry as i would like and that makes me nervous and overall i do not exactly enjoy the feeling uncertainity. A lot of it was self doubt related nervousness too but moving on. Long story short, watching your video today made me feel so much more sure about my future career and i think i may have fallen in love with it even more!

Im aware that this is unnecessarily long but i like giving details and clarity and obviously this was a pretty complicated decision for me not only because of my personal capabilities but also other socio-economic factors. Though i still am in the process of research, this video has definitely made me feel more definitive in my choice and i thank you greatly for that.

[taton]

thank you so much for the videos! just now I found about your channel thanks to the algoritm, and I see I have lots of good videos to explore! It's very helpful for people, like me, who considering that career path.

[klementynakwiatkowska]

Brilliant. Just what I needed. To the point and concise

[Bradley]

Love watching your videos. They give me lots of insight into the profession. Thank you for taking time of your day to makes them. 🙏

[isaiahhealey]

Iv'e been feeling a calling to go into psychiatry as a career. Im currently in undergrad studying neuropsychology and chemical biology. I really enjoy watching your channel. I admire your informativeness, humbleness and intellect. Thank you for this channel, Doctor !

[Dth]

Very interesting concept, im pondering on the idea of becoming of understanding of someone like you, im just a security guard but I’ve graduated as a veterinarian overseas to where I originated from. I really do fancy the idea of receiving challenges in my career and to evermore stimulate thy brain.

[antonXD]

Thank you so much for your videos! They are well-structurized, highly informative and pleasant to listen to. Greetings from medical student from Russia! Please, continue to make your videos, I guess many people can benefit from them.

[anime]

Thanks for the amazing insight! Considering psychiatry!

[LEEHAMLOL]

Great video! I’m currently in my first semester of undergrad getting ready to really pursue this career path. It’s intimidating for sure, but I’m ready and determined. Thanks for the encouragement! Looking forward to seeing more videos from you

[sir.morris]

hi there mr goertz! i am currently studying as a medical student in ukraine and i am doing my last year before the residence. i was thinking about going either into neurology or psychiatry and your video is the last push that i needed to definitively choose the latter. there is going to be a lot of work to be done, with the full scale war still ravaging through my country, and i feel like it is going to be right to choose this field of healthcare over anything else. thank you so much for sharing your experience!!!

[JayatiP]

Thankyou so much Sir😊 Your videos make my will of becoming a psychiatrist stronger and stronger. I hope to get there soon!

[Schekersculptors]

I’m an IMG dr and I’m studying for the USMLE board with my hope to become a psychiatrist 👩🏻‍⚕️. Thank you dr you are amazing

[CFM-wvru]

Excelent video! Someday can you make a video about the influence of dealing with depressive patients in the mental health of the psychiatrist? Thank you!

[trixiebalbin]

I am currently suffering with Major Depressive Disorder and struggling with progress and healing. But I desire to win this battle and become a Psychiatrist to help other people.