Serious Question: Does Psychiatry really really worth it?

Question

ONLY SERIOUS ANSWERS PREFERABLY FROM PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS/PSYCHIATRISTS. NO STUPID ANSWERS BECAUSE I WILL REPORT YOU.

I am seriously thinking of entering a Medical School. My parents are like "It's too many years etc". What i want to know about is:
-What grades you need to enter medical school? B's or higher or straight A's?
-What do potential Psychiatrists do in medical school?
-In what science do they have to be really strong in? Math?Bio?Physics?Chemistry?
-What do people really think about Psychiatrists?
-Does society really need Psychiatrists or does eveyone settle for Psychologists nowadays?
-How much money does a Psychiatrist really make?
-Is it possible to have a degree in Psychiatry and not be able to find a job?
-What field in Psychiatry is really needed now? Clinical Psychiatry? Child Psychiatry?
-Overall do all those years in Med School and Residency really really worth it in the end? If not, then what medical field really does?(except surgeons)

Thanks

Answer 1

I'm not sure where you live, but in America (and in most countries?) you can find two types of mental health doctors. Psychiatrists, like you are considering, are medical doctors who specialize in mental health. Psychologists are non-medical people who are just as good (or better) at treating mental illness -- but they cannot prescribe medication.
In order to get into medical school you need very good grades (mostly A, maybe some A-, possibly a B+) as well as a good background in science. Talk to your advisors about the academic requirements. But if you want to do it, do it. Be decisive.
In medical school, psychiatry people do all the same things as their fellow students. They learn anatomy, physiology, surgery, pathology, pharmacology, etc. At the end of medical school everyone is exactly the same.
After medical school you choose a specialty, such as psychiatry, and you spend some more time studying, usually as a resident. This is similar to an apprentice. You work in the field and you learn from a more experienced doctor. At the end of that training, which usually takes three or four years, you are free to go work on your own.
A psychiatrist can make as much or as little money as he or she chooses. If you work in a fancy neighborhood you might charge more money (if people can afford to pay) and if you work for the good of the public you might not charge anything at all. But remember that you have to eat.
You may or may not find a job as a psychiatrist. That depends on what you do and how much you charge, as well as where you live, etc. I don't know any doctors who don't have jobs, and it seems like we will be needing more doctors in the next ten years.
People do not "settle" for psychologists unless they feel that a psychiatrist is too scientific and that they want to discuss their problems and solve them without medication. Increasingly a psychiatrist's job is simply to prescribe medications and make sure they are not causing too many side effects. Psychologists, on the other hand, do not prescribe medications (although they can ask a psychiatrist to do it for them) but instead they spend more time talking about ways to solve problems and ways to get support. But psychiatrists do that, too.
Here is the bottom line. If you want to be a doctor, go to medical school. Once you are a doctor, if you want to be a mental health specialist, become a psychiatrist. If you want to be rich as a doctor, become an anesthesiologist or a neurosurgeon, or an oncologist. But even after medical school your choices will still be open.
Hope this helps.

Answer 2

You'll be able to find out what actual earnings in the field are by checking sources such as the Occupational Outlook reports. I'd suggest doing a regional search if you're interested in living in a particular area, as it does vary regionally. Psychiatry does make a difference, as often mental illness doesn't respond to the "talk therapy" treatments that psychologists can provide. Often mental illness is the result of an imbalance, and can be treated by medication. This can make a great difference in the lives of your patients and their families. I'd also like to caution you, if you're considering a medical profession because of parental pressure or because you believe the money will be worth it, there are other ways of making money that will bring you a lot more with less time invested in education or less worry. Bowing to parental pressure will ultimately lead to a feeling of emptiness, if you are talked into a profession that you don't, personally and passionately love. Go for your heart, for the profession that you love, and you'll be a lot better off. Of if you just want money, spend a little time now finding out which occupations provide the most renumeration, and then hone your skills in those occupations. The goal isn't really to please mom and dad, or even to have the most toys, but it is to find something that you really want to do day after day.

Answer 3

Psychiatry is hogwash; tomfoolery. It's one of the few professions that harbors professionals of the branch that are against it. There are many anti-psychiatrists -- that's the term -- who are psychiatrist. In short, and not to sound too biased, the profession presumes, after years of knowing nothing, effectively zapping minds or shocking them, to know it all, in the sense that they prescribe potentially hazardous meds and play guess and check with a persons mind -- all the while thumbing their noses at "alternative" practices effective for milennia. I think it was no more than a decade ago that the FDA started to require black labels to notify parents that certain drugs cause impulsive behavior and thoughts of suicide -- a bad combination -- when taken by adolescents. It's as if precedence replaces reverence or common sense: don't use unnatural means to patch up natural problems. If you want to help people, be a social worker or a psychologist, even, but stear clear of donning the spectacles and white coat and asking, "do you believe you have supernatural powers?," with that sort of non-challance.

I think med school would be about perseverense. I could see how being a physician could be rewarding, but the body is very complex, so you probably would need to be wanting and capable of A's. Your field would determine what you need to know, I'd think. I don't see how chemistry would be so big, but biology must be a must. In any case, if you're passionate, you'll learn what you need to. So, If you're into bones, you'd likely need to know a lot about bones; if you were to become a heart surgeon, you'd need to know a lot about hearts and all. I doubt math is so required or essential when studying the human body. Overall, you'd likely take quite a few psychology courses to weed through all the hypochondriac and stress related nonsense people tend to be affected by; biology; communication -- english; and whatever other prerequisite or standard courses your school requires.

Answer 4

Honestly, I worked in mental health for quite a while before changing careers.

The pay is low, the benefits usually suck because the clients rarely have money and usually live off state assistance. So, the state regulates how much $ you make.

The burnout rate is alarming. When you talk to mentally ill people all day long you will find you have NO Patience left at the end of the day,, for you wife, children etc.

If you want to make $ in the medical Field,, Hospital administration is the only way to go. Those guys make all the big bucks and don't have near the liability Md's do.

If you want rewarding work pediatrics is the way to go. When kids whine it is because they don't feel good.
When adults do it is only to manipulate you out of something.

Answer 5

A good friend of mine (we graduated from the same high school) got a degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT when his father died from some surgery that was incorrectly done. We met each other a few months ago when he flew back to Florida and we told each other a secret that we had kept from each other over the last 35 years. We had both been ashamed to have academic difficulties in our senior years in college. We both got our degrees but we both experienced the humiliation of being on academic suspension. And we are both fairly intelligent guys who were just having difficulties with our studies. It happens.

He did a complete about face after he got his BS and decided to get a degree in Medicine and become an MD, which he did. He then went into psychiatric medicine and worked in that field all of his career. He worked in a county health office in San Mateo County, just south of San Francisco most of his career.

He just retired a few months ago although he maintains a small private practice. He was satisfied with his career but whether it is the career for you only you can determine.

You may notice that I didn't answer several of your questions. The reasons are that some of the answers would have changed in another 5 years and some of the questions, like how much are you paid, are not that important. If you don't love the work, don't go into it. No matter what you do, if you don't love doing it, it will not be work but torture.

It is very common for people to not work in the field they get their degree in. Often people just burn out in their studies and need to get away from their studies. My degree was in chemistry but I ended up in the Computer Programming field for my career. Now that I am retired, I'm teaching chemistry in high school to help out with the lack of science teachers.

Answer 6

Making the grade isn't the primary consideration for most people wanting to enter medical school; references from former professors is critical. I've seen many dash dreams of someone wanting to go into the field because they simply didn't like their personality but academically they were at the top of their class.

As for as Psyciatry. It is a truly fascinating field but it becoming more competitive as the years go by in part by the ability of PhD Psychologist to now obtain credentials that allow them to prescribe medications. Believe me its cheaper to hire a Psychologist than a Psychiatrist so most places given an option will go with the most cost efficient resource that equally meets the need. As far as sciences needed in school - yes, chemistry and biology are important as is math but also a strong background in anatomy and physiology. The pay scale for psychiatrist varies greatly between those who are in private practice and those who work for larger mental health institutions or hospitals. One of my best friends does both just to try to make ends meet to support her family and pay back school loans. I worry about her burning out a lot because she is so over-extended. As far as what field of specialty one might consider. Child psychiatry specialist are always hard to find and good ones even harder. Also women's psychiatry in the past has been an area dominated by men and I hate to say it but it really is in some ways better suited for a woman who has a strong background in harmonal and chemical imbalances that naturally effect all women. Too many male doctors are quick to prescribe psychotropic medications to treat what may actually just be a thyroid imbalance.

Is it worth it. I have a servant's heart so whether or not its worth it meaning getting rich is not the criteria that I used as a basis for my decision in going into the field. I am not a psychiatrist but a behavior therapist and I can tell you that the field of cognitive behavior therapy is busting loose. Most people don't have $160.00 to pay for psychoanalysis but can afford cognitive behavior therapy that gets them up and back on their feet much quicker as it doesn't focus on attempting to resolve issues from the far removed past as much as it focuses on what issues are currently impeding one's ability to function today. I think both areas are important and needed but I simply like doing the later better. It produces desired effects quicker and that aids me in avoiding burnout.

I could never tell you that the field is or isn't worth it in the long run because it depends on what you want out of it ultimately. If its money and time to travel - give it up. If its the feeling that you have aided someone in dramatically being able to improve the quality of their life - then your in the right place. Hope this helps but have a feeling that in the long run it will just leave you that much more perplexed.

Answer 7

Hello
What I think is: it's difficult to find here a real Psychologist. For a serious problem,it would be better to refer a Specialist Psychologist Doctor as soon as possible.

Wish your health.

Answer 8

I teach pre-meds. you have to have excellent grades in math, chemistry, physics, biology and in general. I've seen a lot of them crumble when they get to organic because they can't handle it. Try getting through college and have a backup plan you might need it

Answer 9

It will be once you are practicing, making great money and helping others.