Do psychologists get depressed? Someone told me that psychologists are not SUPPOSED to become depressed and that if they do, then they are not suitable for the job. Is that true?
2007-09-25 04:00:42 · 11 answers · asked by Anthony C 4 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
thats like saying that if a doctor gets a cold or breaks a leg he/she is not qualified to be a doctor....of course psychologists can get depressed or even complacent....they have kids, bills, husbands/wives and problems just like the rest of us.....psychology is clinical - its an analytical medicine that basically is an open book test....the answers are provided in the text of many articles and books....most develop a style all their own that tends to work for them....so - they are unemotional and detached...their problems could arise from their work but that is a problem within themselves not their patients
2007-09-25 04:12:49 · answer #1 · answered by cookiesmom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm a psychologist, and I got depressed many times while I was practicing, and even tried to kill myself once. Most psychologists get into that career path because they want to 'figure out' what is 'wrong' with them ... and I wouldn't want to see a psychologist who hadn't had any 'psychiatric symptoms' in their lives. Only those who have 'been there' can have the 'empathy' for their patients that can truly help them. Think about that. Whoever told you that psychologists are not SUPPOSED to get depressed was WRONG ... I think it would be much better if some 'mental illness' was a requirement to become a psychologist, although not too much, since 'true insanity' does not fall under the 'psychology' end of treatment.
2007-09-25 11:08:32 · answer #2 · answered by Kris L 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughters psychologist took medication for depression for 8 months following the death of her mother. Depression has physical as well as mental symptoms. No one is immune. It can be triggered by a specific event or can happen to someone who has a perfectly normal life. The only way a psychologist might be deemed unsuitable for their job having suffered depression is if they failed to recognize the symptoms in themselves and did not actively seek help. Havinf suffered the same illness the psychologist would better understand their patient due to the shared experience. I hope this has helped.
2007-09-25 11:14:54 · answer #3 · answered by Staci 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, that doesn't mean that they aren't humans...they are still humans and they still got feelings, but the main thing is that they know how to control the feelings more than us, people who don't study psychology or study very little in it. They can control their behaviours very well too, and some psychologist may get depressed when they are having a relationship or something. So the main point is that they all are humans
2007-09-25 11:16:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Psychologists can get depressed. When they are depressed they take a vacation and get their own therapist. They are prefectly qualified after they are better. Carl Rogers thought that psychologists need to know how it feels to be depressed in a personal way.
2007-10-01 12:27:33 · answer #5 · answered by Susas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Psychologists aren't supposed to do anything but go to school and have a license.
But it takes all kinds to make a world. This includes psychologists too, unfortunately.
2007-09-25 11:14:47 · answer #6 · answered by Handy man 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
of course they get depressed. depression is not only a "mood" disorder, but it is also believed to be triggered by a chemical imbalance in the brain. just as doctors can get sick, psychologists can get depressed.
i wouldn't think that it would have any negative bearing on their job. perhaps just the opposite. who better to treat someone with depression than someone who can sympathize with the patient? it would be pretty hard for someone who is happy all the time with no problems at all to understand how someone who is depressed is feeling.
hope this helps!
2007-09-25 11:05:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
plenty of psychologists get depressed. it can be really depressing to work with depressed people all the time! they are still fit for the job, and it is probably easier for them to seek help for it.
2007-09-25 11:29:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hearing everybody's problems and issues is bound to make them depressed. It's easy to give other people advice, instead of taking your own advice. So I think they are still suitable unless they are giving advice that doesn't help you.
2007-09-25 11:06:43 · answer #9 · answered by shellshell 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think a lot of people major in Psychology and become psychologiest BECAUSE they are depressed and they are trying to figure out what their problem is and how to fix it.
2007-09-25 11:04:05 · answer #10 · answered by Theresa 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋