[JoyDivision7680]

I have decided last night to go to med school and become a psychiatrist. But there's a question bothering me: due to my slowed down concentration (and I recently figured that I can't focus my eyes on something anymore - probably I'm becoming schizoaffective or bipolar 1), can I do this? I know that if it were to screw up because of this, I'd screw up in any other school, yet the question is still there, emphasized, so to speak.
I have no social life, so the big sacrifice med school students make has been already made, plus I have always seen myself wearing a doctor's smock and sitting at the office. I'm going to apply also for psychology, so that I'll have a back-up plan in chase I won't make it to med school or I'll give up during my first year.
I wish I wrote brief posts.
Can I go to med school?

[jesusplay]

I don't know, can you go to med school?

No one here can answer your question, only you and possibly your care team can give their opinion on the matter.

There are plenty of pdocs, psychs, and therapist with mental illness, including bipolar.

If anything you'd have an edge on other doctor because you can relate to your future patients better.

I usually ask anyone treating me if they have mental illness, and if they don't I know they truly won't understand...somethings can't really be put into words.

[JoyDivision7680]

I believe I can! Delusional or not, I do believe I'm highly intelligent and that I will win a Nobel prize by the time I reach 30. There, I've said it.
It's not the med school itself, in the end it's like any other faculty, but the stress that may occur while studying, especially if I'll lose a night or two. Can one with bipolar, med free, handle a chaotic sleep schedule? Won't it damage me one way or another? I'm going to apply to med school anyway, I just wanna know the risks.

Originally Posted by JoyDivision7680

I believe I can! Delusional or not, I do believe I'm highly intelligent and that I will win a Nobel prize by the time I reach 30. There, I've said it.
It's not the med school itself, in the end it's like any other faculty, but the stress that may occur while studying, especially if I'll lose a night or two. Can one with bipolar, med free, handle a chaotic sleep schedule? Won't it damage me one way or another? I'm going to apply to med school anyway, I just wanna know the risks.

My father is bipolar. Went to med school, failed a few exams, abused substances to pull himself through the stress and grind, and eventually became a successful neurosurgeon. Then about 15 years ago he quit for no apparent reason, and has been in a deep depression since then.

So it's possible. I'm not sure why you'd want to do it med free, however? I find that even a low dose of medication helps me (given that you have the correct med routine). This said, as much as I wanted to enter the healthcare profession, I ultimately decided that the potential burnout was not for me. Sleep deprivation has triggered psychotic breaks for me in the past, and that's something I'm not willing to risk. Also, such things can affect the credibility of a doctor.

So ultimately, I guess it's about knowing yourself, knowing the profession, and whether you think that it's a challenge you're willing to take. I like jesusplay's suggestion of talking to your medical team, as they'll be able to give you more precise feedback. Good luck.

[nowIgetit]

I made it through undegrad and a doctorate without meds. Well actually I was briefly on paxil for panic attacks during that time, for maybe a year or year and a half. Both were pretty difficult even though I'm really good at school. If I had to do it again I wouldn't try to work while I was in my doctorate program (stupid and so stressful) and I would be medicated (I wasn't diagnosed yet at that time though I'm pretty sure I was already suffering from bp). I think it's possible I would just be sure you had really good self-care strategies in place and like the pp, I'm not sure why you would want to try to do that unmedicated. It's stressful enough on it's own without adding in the sensitivity to schedule changes and stress.

[Lobster Hands]

Originally Posted by JoyDivision7680

I believe I can! Delusional or not, I do believe I'm highly intelligent and that I will win a Nobel prize by the time I reach 30. There, I've said it.
It's not the med school itself, in the end it's like any other faculty, but the stress that may occur while studying, especially if I'll lose a night or two. Can one with bipolar, med free, handle a chaotic sleep schedule? Won't it damage me one way or another? I'm going to apply to med school anyway, I just wanna know the risks.

My brother is a doctor now. He went through med school with no mental problems and still got depressed often. He had times when he studied for 20 hours a day for like a week straight. And for four years of that? I just don't think I could handle it. My siblings say I'd be a good doctor but I doubt it haha.

I'm not trying to be Johnny rain cloud but I'm just saying the reasons that stopped me from thinking about being a doctor. I have thought about being one and I'm easily "smart" enough, but I just don't have a history of handling school pressure well when it gets stacked on. No matter how much I really want something, I end up getting depressed and manic and that beats me. I wasn't on medication when those things happened though so maybe I have a future yet to be discovered.

[JoyDivision7680]

First of all, I would like to take advantage of my symptoms in their entirely. Meds would reduce them a lot. I feel that any so-called 'mental illness' could turn into one's friend if 'used properly'. Just a little experimentation.
Yes, I realise I'll have to read daily in order to keep up with the pressure and stuff, but doesn't any student have to do that? In my opinion, the biggest let down for highschool students is the considerable reduction of their social time, as I like to call it. Other than that, every student has to read daily.
I'm pretty interested in human anatomy and extremely interested in psychiatry, I'd say it's deffinitely worth it.

@Lobster Hands 20 hours a day? I strongly hope my "illness" won't put me through the same thing...

[r010159]

Don't forget the grueling and stressful residency requirements. Definitely no piece of cake. IMO very few people who even have no MI can handle all the requirements of a medical degree. There are other ways to be involved in the mental health field.

Just my opinion. But if you decide to pursue this occupation, then I say "go for it!".

Originally Posted by JoyDivision7680

I feel that any so-called 'mental illness' could turn into one's friend if 'used properly'. Just a little experimentation

I agree that one can try to make the most of the "quirks" of one's mental characteristics. This said, I don't think that one can pursue any occupation regardless of what mental illness she has. It's a matter of knowing your strengths, weaknesses, and needs so that you can specialize. My father was an excellent neurosurgeon. Still, he and my family agree that given his BP and PTSD (he saw his brother-in-law, younger brother, and cousin being murdered), he might have been better off in an occupation that offered more flexibility. Of course, you are different.

Sometimes medication can help without "robbing" you of your "gifts". A mental illness is very much a physical illness too, and requires some form of management. Sometimes, medication is overwhelmingly the best option. If you can do without, then congrats to you.

[Lobster Hands]

Originally Posted by psychehedone

I agree that one can try to make the most of the "quirks" of one's mental characteristics. This said, I don't think that one can pursue any occupation regardless of what mental illness she has. It's a matter of knowing your strengths, weaknesses, and needs so that you can specialize. My father was an excellent neurosurgeon. Still, he and my family agree that given his BP and PTSD (he saw his brother-in-law, younger brother, and cousin being murdered), he might have been better off in an occupation that offered more flexibility. Of course, you are different.

Sometimes medication can help without "robbing" you of your "gifts". A mental illness is very much a physical illness too, and requires some form of management. Sometimes, medication is overwhelmingly the best option. If you can do without, then congrats to you.

Exactly this, knowing your own strengths and weaknesses.

[JoyDivision7680]

Thanks, r010159
I'm sorry about your father and his relatives, psychehedone! It's really admirable for someone who's seen such terrible things to recover (personally, I see it as a recovery) and become a (excellent) neurosurgeon.
Maybe you're right about medication, yet I want to take this chance and see how I manage without it. Even my psychiatrist told me she doesn't want to give me any meds yet because my concentration difficulties would be worsened by them. But who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll be psychotic and meds would become a necessity.

[justbeingme80]

It's something to think about and maybe discuss with your treatment team. It's not impossible and if you think you can do it, go for it. Meds schools here in the US are very expensive and students take out huge amounts of loans so it's not so easy to just "quit". It's hard to pay back those huge amounts. Not sure how things are in your country. But here residency is a nightmare sometimes. You'll be on call a lot and will have very little sleep at times. My friend just completed her residency and she said she had MORE work to do as a resident than she ever did as a med student. And VERY LITTLE time off. She has depression and borderline personality disorder and it was pure hell at times for her. Do a little research and if you think you can do it, go for it.

[JoyDivision7680]

Residency in psychiatry sounds like fun though In my country you can also enter for free if you pass the admission exam with a high grade, it can also depend what's the highest grade, so that one can get lucky and enter for free with only 70 points out of 100 if the highest grade is let's say 80p. I won't quit if I have to pay for my studies though. I'll do my best to get in for free!

[Standup2me]

You can do it.

But, do not do it without meds.
Too risky
Too much stress on your brain & body