[Secretum]

For years, I have had a passion for psychiatry. I've wanted to be a doctor since I was very young, and in recent years, I've realized that I have a huge passion for helping the mentally ill. So, psychiatry seemed like the perfect career option for me.

Med school, however, is extremely stressful. And I don't do well with stress. I'm studying abroad in Italy this semester, and just the stress from that has been enough to make me more manic than I've ever been, psychotic, and suicidal.

So, med school is looking like a bad idea right now.

What other career options do I have? I'm posting this here rather than in the careers forum, because you all know me fairly well, and may have suggestions that I haven't thought of.

I am seriously considering clinical psychology; I know that several clinical psychologists suffer from mental illness (e.g. Kay Jamison) and are doing very well. I'd still get to help the mentally ill, though perhaps not as much, because I wouldn't be able to prescribe. I'd still make a decent living.

Social work and counseling are also options.

Careers that I've considered that aren't related to psychiatry include philosophy (I love to think), and novel writing (haha;in my dreams). I've even considered going to culinary school and becoming a chef. I've been looking at literally all of my options, because I have enough regrets in my life. I don't want to wake up at 45 and think "*****, what am I doing with my life?!".

I need a career that is stimulating but not too stressful, that will keep me satisfied for 40+ years, that I'll still be able to do even if my bipolar gets worse, that will allow me to make enough to support a family and own a house, and that will be prestigious enough that I'll be proud of what I do. Are there any careers out there that can fulfill all of these criteria?

Thanks!

I don't know you well. But I think psychology sounds like a good fit. You would still be helping people with mental illness. I personally get way more out of my therapy than I have received from a psychiatrist.

Idk, just a thought.

Just a point of correction, please. Dr. Kay Jamison is not a clincal psychologist. She is a practicing Doctor of Psychiatry and has written at least two books that I know about : The Unquiet Mind and Touched With Fire, both about the mind of the bipolar patient.

[Secretum]

Kay Jamison does not have a medical degree. She has a PhD in clinical psych. In an Unquiet Mind, she explains that she chose clinical psych over medicine because she didn't think that she could handle the pressure and monotony of med school.

Not trying to start a debate here.

I stand corrected here, at least until I do some research. I failed to read that
portion of her work called The Unquiet Mind and I didn't see it in Touched With Fire either.

These are the facts: Dr. Redfield did get a doctorate in psychology, but she
was offered and took a tenured position at John Hopkins Medical School as a
psychiatrist. She may still be serving there, I don't know.

She was a distinguished lecturer at Harvard University and has written two other
books besides The Unquiet Mind and Touched With Fire. Other recognitions and
awards are too numerous to list here.

[BlueInanna]

I think you'd be great at clinical psychology. I think there's also a big need for psych nurses, especially for adolescents, who can be kind and caring and have been there. I'm sure that job gets stressful though. With your big heart, I think you could help anyone who comes into contact with you.

[Clinte89]

I would say anything psychology related would be good for you, Thats the field Im going into. Not the medicine side but more of the counselor social worker side of things

[venusss]

i think in psychiatry you are bound to feel disappointment when you realize there's much more then helping people

(and i say if you wanna help people either study real medicine and join medicins sans frontiers... or study psychology and make your way there)

[Darth Bane]

"My mind does not change with the rising and setting of a few suns" - Thorin son of Thrain, King under the Mountain - from "The Lord of the Rings"

i know how you feel... trust me i do. but i think we could be stubborn enough to lead normal life... like the guys from beautiful mind,perception... shouldn't let our disease to limit us... i don't know if this is my mania talking but honestly i am so not in the mood to let this bipolar win... i am annoyed,extremely angry at how it wasted my time and i want vengeance,blood,revenge.... i don't care about money(not at this instance),house... not doing it for that... currently i just want what i always dreamed... not just because it is better life but because i can ... are you getting what i am saying...

[Victoria'smom]

I think clinical psychologist would be a good fit.

[noneedtoknow]

Don't know much about your personality and what would make a good fit for you-But looking at options and finding out more about each specific jobs is helpful. Did you ever think abut Nurse Practitioner with an emphasis on Mental Health-there you are helping mentally Ill and prescribing and counsiling but without the MD.But it has a definete clinical component. Just keep questioning/exploring. Hope you find your "sweet spot" wherever that is.

[BipolaRNurse]

Here's the best of both worlds: what about becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner? They prescribe meds, do counseling/therapy and treat patients just like a regular MD, except they usually work alongside consulting psychiatrists. Nowadays I think it takes a doctorate in nursing practice; it used to be that a master's was the industry standard.

Just a suggestion...

[Secretum]

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. Now, I'm thinking that I'll get a PhD in clinical psych and become a physician's assistant. Then I could do therapy, research, and prescribe...all without the hassle of med school.

[moremi]

i believe the clinical psychology is the way to go for you. Sounds like a good fit for you.

[BlackPup]

Maybe you could try volunteering for a crisis line to see how you cope with/ enjoy helping other people who have MI. over here we have short courses that you can do to volunteer on those hotlines and they count towards counselling diplomas.
I think it's a good idea to try out what you want to study for before you commit to it cos you don't want to spend years studying only to hate what you do. I speak from experience
I think clin psych or counselling would be a better fit than med though psych nurse might also be good. Just be aware that they are all stressful jobs.