I always wanted to be a doctor. But due to my not-so-well upbringing and brain injury at an early age coupling that with my parent's parenting style, I couldn't be one. Not to mention the exam center was away from my hometown and I had caught chickenpox. Plus I am not eligible for it, as board results (qualifying exam for the minimum standard to get an admission to medical college) come after the medical entrance exam and I fail to meet the minimum grades.

So I sound like a textbook of medicine (not in the way I wanted) and am casually left wondering if a severely mentally ill person can become a doctor? Considering the fact that of course his parents still abuse him and is a completely social awkward. It's not common for a dysfunctional family (which makes the person mentally ill, not schizophrenic but at least does a good damage to the person's mental health) to perfectly deal with the aspiring-doctor-who-is-mentally-ill and care for him as a normal family would.


There's a series from House MD creators named the Good Doctor that's about an autistic surgical resident. A lot of people say it isn't medically realistic but dramatically well-executed. I personally cannot stand the social stress of being in a pure science class (not overachievers, socially alive, therefore prey on the weak or the socially inept) rather than a medical class where the student is more likely to be sincere and less likely to be a goon waiting to prey on some socially inept classmate.

But I don't think I could stand the INTELLECTUAL and EMOTIONAL strain in med school as well. It'd be pretty ridiculous for a brain damage patient who forgets almost everything while reading to try to cram all the knowledge of textbooks. Not to mention lab records, practicals, etc.

Ah, the horrors of world!

I think to become a doctor it's down to the grades you get

Of course grades matter. There's no denying that. But to be a doctor, I believe you need to

1) Have compassion for others
2) Be healthy, as med school is very hard as medical students put it.
3) Have an interest in life sciences.

Of course the three of them are useless without grades, but it's not impossible that getting grades alone will prepare you for med school.

[bpforever1]

There are severely mentally ill people who are doctors. They sometimes do things that are not acceptable and are punished by law for their actions. One doctor with bipolar who was a gynecologist branded women with his signature on their bellies after a C-section. His lawyer said he had Pick's disease with Alzheimer's but in reality he has bipolar disorder. He had his license suspended. I don't think all severely mentally ill doctors break the law but some have to quit because their illnesses interfere with their work. For example, Debbie Thomas the Olympic champion who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder made it through residency and had a practice. However, she made too many professional mistakes and it cost her. She lost her license to practice medicine. I think it is very difficult to practice medicine with a severe mental illness. I myself have gone through medical school and graduated but did not make it through residency. This was due to my inability to perform because of my mental illness which had become very severe from lack of medication compliance. I was extremely happy to have left the medical field because I knew myself I was not suitable and not motivated in doing it. Having a severe mental illness interferes with one's good judgment which is critical in making decisions as a doctor. I would not discourage those who have a severe mental illness from becoming doctors if they are motivated and suitable for such a profession. However, there are too many examples of doctors with severe mental illness who err in judgment and take actions that are not considered very professional as a result end up harming their patients and themselves at times. The suicide rate for doctors is already high. To compound the stress one undergoes to become a doctor with a severe mental illness is a formula for a tragedy waiting to happen sometimes. People who go to medical school are not as compassionate as you may think. Some are in medicine solely for the money it makes. I met some a-holes there who were as compassionate as John Wayne Gacy. You should not believe that all who go into the medical field are in it to save people's lives. There are all kinds of people who go into medicine. Some are decent while others are not. The best doctors are also not the nicest either. There are some really mean doctors who work hard to be the best doctors. I'd rather have someone who is knowledgeable and works hard to be on top of their specialty to be my doctor rather than someone who is just nice and does not know what they are doing. Being a good doctor is hard work. A doctor who is nice and capable is hard to find these days unfortunately. Getting back to your point, there are doctors with severe mental illness. Those who are competent continue to practice while those who don't, don't make it. It is the same for all other health professions. There are severely mentally ill nurses, physician assistants, dentists, etc. They all need to be licensed and be able to perform their duties in spite of their illnesses. If they can't fulfill their duties, then they can no longer work in their profession. In a nutshell, the question is whether or not it is worth the risk of becoming a doctor given that one has a severe mental illness? I think this is up to the individual and his/her capabilities. Some doctors with severe mental illness may actually be good doctors. It depends on their decision-making ability and performance in the end. I had a psychiatrist who had Asperger's syndrome and he was quite good. He never told me about his illness but his twitches and lack of emotions made me realize he was not an ordinary person or doctor. He was very good but not a very nice person. He was very aloof but knowledgeable. I did not like him as a person but knew he was well-informed and had done his research. He was a Harvard medical school graduate. I give credit to all Harvard medical school graduates by the way. All of the doctors from Harvard are in a class by themselves. They are the best in their field and deserve respect. I have met several Harvard graduates and they have been the best doctors I have encountered. Anyways, I apologize for my ramblings.

[mote.of.soul]

Can a severely mentally ill person become a doctor - Hmmm.

I think it's possible, yes. If you can learn to manage your illness well, cope with pressure, utilize a support network etc., and have the academic mindset and functionality to see you through, then, sure. Why not. People achieve all kinds of goals all the time with all sorts of different psychological or physical challenges. Look at the film A Beautiful Mind starring Russell Crowe - about a man struggling with schizophrenia whose work goes on to win him a Nobel Prize in economics, I think it was. Or that guy who climbed Mt. Everest with no legs. What about Helen Keller or Howard Hughs? [Howard Hughs struggled toward the end though, but he achieved a lot] You have to be honest with yourself as well though, and know your limitations.

I am sure they can.

[Taylor27]

Yes they can just because someone has a mental illness does not prevent them from going ahead to be a doctor. They are most likely to have much more understanding of what people with mental illness go through. If they are on there meds and seek treatment i see no problem with going ahead to med school

Bpforever1, thank you for your opinion, coming from someone who is famous for rambling.

mote.of.soul, I do not think it's recommended, yes possible, but not recommended for people with severe mental illness to be doctors. I have had experience. Everywhere I go people gawk at me and are like "He's nuts" and it wouldn't work well if I showed my disorganized speech to my colleague surgeons or the patient's family. It'd go like


"Ma'm um..... ah.... *avoids eye contact* The patient has well... um... successfully survived through the operation... I am ... um.... Dr.<name> and I was the lead surgeon *shakes head* of your husband's -"
"He's my father"
"Oops, sorry... umm... your father's condition... I forgot its name. Oh, here's my license. I am a licensed surgeon!"
*Proceeds to file a lawsuit*
"Who let this nutcase perform a surgery on my husband?"

justafriend, they can if the disease is purely genetic. If they weren't abused, have a good network of friends and family, are social, etc. etc.

Cheryl, but from what I know, people with mental illness are disabled themselves and even though they've a greater understanding they cannot do anything except talk therapy. It's just the harsh reality of life.

I cannot even be online without sounding ridiculous. Imagine how life offline for me may be. I wanted to be a doctor equivalent to the pre-accident Doctor Strange. I don't have the brains for it let alone the hands. A ridiculous-looking doctor is not welcome in any hospital. I cannot even be an actor portraying to be a well-reputed doctor, because I haven't even got the looks to be a doctor. On the other hand, there are doctors like

who are ridiculously fit, handsome, have a good memory, free from mental illness and are able to be be successful in their careers.
In the particular video I gave link for, I had tears rolling down my cheeks at the scene (it's shown there) where the other doctor says "You saved his life" and everyone on the crowd claps. What further made me cry is that they show the boy's parents being grateful and all.

Now I know it's just acting. But saving people's lives was my dream. I wasn't crying because it was ME wanted the fame, I never wanted fame, I just wanted to be helpful. I didn't want their blessings either, I just wanted to see the patient's face smiling, their family grateful that I saved their loved one's life.

In this world of great harm, people do not have the time to sit there and thank each other for the good that they've done to each other, they just exchange piece of papers and be grateful for that. Doctors are burnt out because of seeing patients. Patients kill doctors and doctors kill patients. I know life isn't how it is portrayed in TV, but I still had hope the work I will do might save one person's life and improve another's.


As Derek Shepherd put it, "It's a beautiful day to save lives."

It was, probably. Everyday, for me.

[eskielover]

It's not just about becoming a MD, It's also about being able to deal with patients unless stay in a research capacity only with no patient contact.

If the MI is totally controllable & one has the actual skills & ability to do the work it takes to get through med school & the rotations required in the hospital work then the residency time. Even people without MI struggle to get through all the requirements.

I wanted to be a flute performer in a symphony. Bottom line....I didn't have the talent even practicing 8 hours a day to compete with the really talented musicians. In other words it is more than desire or even mental ability to do something....there is an internal talent that gets one to where they want to be.

I personally want an MD with that kind if ability working on me, not one who just squeeked by.

[Shazerac]

I would say as a standard answer that yes it is possible for a mentally ill person to be a doctor.

However you seem to have an analytical mind. Have you given any thought as to how you would handle the grueling hours and stress for almost the decade of schooling? What about financial issues? Would you need to work while in medical school?

What is your motivation to become a doctor? If it’s for admiration and kudos you are setting yourself up for failure. If you have a deep and profound need to help people there are many other options that could be rewarding for you.

All that being said, if you are determined to do this I say go for it.

Originally Posted by eskielover

It's not just about becoming a MD, It's also about being able to deal with patients unless stay in a research capacity only with no patient contact.

If the MI is totally controllable & one has the actual skills & ability to do the work it takes to get through med school & the rotations required in the hospital work then the residency time. Even people without MI struggle to get through all the requirements.

I wanted to be a flute performer in a symphony. Bottom line....I didn't have the talent even practicing 8 hours a day to compete with the really talented musicians. In other words it is more than desire or even mental ability to do something....there is an internal talent that gets one to where they want to be.

I personally want an MD with that kind if ability working on me, not one who just squeeked by.

But in how many cases severe mental illness (let's say, schizophrenia) is controllable? The drugs how horrible side effects, and if your psychiatrist isn't competent (not common although) you may end up getting Neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Which can be even more threatening to the patient than their mental illness. I agree with the italic part.

I am very talented, if not grandiose. I used to love science ever since our introductory class in junior highschool. I managed to top it in my class sometimes. Since my injury was infantile, I still showed symptoms at a very early age but they were not that noticeable and my classmates probably didn't notice I am abnormal before 8th grade. Then in ninth grade I became a Jesus freak (as Christians call it) and due to me not living in West, everyone just realized how messed up my brain is. It is very painful when I think about it now. I bathed once in a week.

So much I stopped studying science, and had my grades drop on it. Large mistake for my career, as my more mature and self sane puts it now. Physics was introduced in ninth standard. Then again I managed to cover myself and studied science in tenth grade and got 80% in the prelims but only 68% in the boards. I wish I didn't become a "Jesus freak" and had studied the science in class nine. I was unaware of my memory problems back then. Had I studied then, I wouldn't be struggling with physics and some part of chemistry now...

But what can we do? All I remember is Grey's Anatomy's cast singing, "Just know that these things will never change for us at all." Due to my parents' foolishness, the cruelty of my pre-primary teacher and the uncaring attitude of my bullies, I became what everyone calls "crazy."

I was given one shot in life, I didn't quite make it.

Originally Posted by Shazerac

I would say as a standard answer that yes it is possible for a mentally ill person to be a doctor.

However you seem to have an analytical mind. Have you given any thought as to how you would handle the grueling hours and stress for almost the decade of schooling? What about financial issues? Would you need to work while in medical school?

What is your motivation to become a doctor? If it’s for admiration and kudos you are setting yourself up for failure. If you have a deep and profound need to help people there are many other options that could be rewarding for you.

All that being said, if you are determined to do this I say go for it.

I am not from West. It's quite the opposite, everything. I don't even qualify for the medical entrance exam. I am exactly opposite of what a doctor is supposed to be like. I was left casually wondering whether a person like me can be a doctor or not. "No" is the answer, not just for medicine but for life as well. It's all due to mental illness of my parents.

My dad gave me TBI, my mom psychosis, and both of them together gave me autism.

[eskielover]

Sometimes we have to just accept our limitations & do the best we can within those limitations.

Haha... it actually points out to the fact I cannot do anything in my life. But at least I can sing Still Alive (from Portal.) I may not be GLaDOS but I still have survived through some torture.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by TheLonelyChemist

My dad gave me TBI, my mom psychosis, and both of them together gave me autism.

I am sorry to hear about mistreatment in the hands of your parents. Were you diagnosed with TBI? Did you father face consequences? Jail time?

I do have to say that you can’t give other people autism. I mean it could run in a family. But still I wouldn’t say they gave it to you

[ken9018]

Yes, anyone can become a doctor. But( I know its always a but), your grades and extracurricular activities have to be nearly perfect all through undergrad and med school. You'll also need to keep stress down to a minimum. College is stressful in general and becoming a doctor probably increases the stress. Along with the good grades hopefully comes scholarships and grants so your not hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt once you become a doctor. Good luck, hope everything works out!

[earthlove]

Your question is a reflection of my own at the moment, Lonely Chemist. I struggle with depression and anxieties, I would like be a counselor, but do not know if it is something I am honestly capable of.

I have a read a number of your posts and find them rather well-written, charming and delightful. Have you considered perhaps taking a creative path with medical knowledge? Though it isn't the same as saving a life in the E.R., storytelling has a great ability to heal.

[Agent Misty]

It kind of depends on what you mean by SEVERE mental illness.

Yes, you can become a doctor with MI.

But severe MI.. well. Again it depends on what you mean by that. I think for you, you should seek council from school advisors, a therapists, or people in the medical field. explain your challenges and see what they think about your options and possibilities. I don't know how severely mentally ill you are. when someone says severe MI it implies a pretty critical state.

Originally Posted by divine1966

I am sorry to hear about mistreatment in the hands of your parents. Were you diagnosed with TBI? Did you father face consequences? Jail time?

I do have to say that you can’t give other people autism. I mean it could run in a family. But still I wouldn’t say they gave it to you

"Diagnosed with TBI"

Nope, but I have a huge lump on the back of my head, which indicates , in my opinion, head trauma. My psychiatrist didn't tell me his diagnosis but DID NOT tell me it was cancer either, so the other option is head trauma.
Did your father face consequences?

Nope... neither. He still is our sole breadwinner in family of four, which was supposed to be my universe by my parents.

That answers my question.

I can never be a doctor now, not even a pharmacist. I have enrolled in for a B.S and plan to do in zoology. Then M.S and then Ph.D and then some post-doc research on the brain and nervous system. I was inspired by many people this month, who told me I can do anything I want. I just have to let go my emotional baggages.

(By "anything I want" I mean with my plain B.S option and not the M.D one. I am not qualified in the board exams to have a percentage enough to be eligible for the entrance exam....)

That is a shame. However, do you qualify as a 'mature student'? Generally grades are waived for mature students and consideration is given for life learning and worldy experience. The mature student needs to demonstrate they are capable of handling the course work. Have you considered this option?

Also, you can still take pre-med courses without being in that study area. There is an option, once all the prerequisites are met to still get into medical school. If you don't then you have the core group of credits for a B.Sc degree.

The real consideration isn't getting into medical school, the consideration is what happens when you graduate it. I think the stats are something in line with 100 applicants for every 1 residency position. Still, if you are determined it is worth a try.

Not to dryly deny you, but I am not from the west and so we don't have career options like that.

I have done the best I could in the last two years preparing for the med exam even though I suffered PTSD from my delusions. I remember one time I cried for an hour because one of the voices told me I cannot do anything in my life in a very cruel way.
So even with the toxic environment I call hellhole of a hole, I did my best. Didn't qualify.

Okay. Will go for a longer path. Research at least, better than telling patients nothing can be done about their brain disorder.

[graystreet]

To be perfectly honest and blunt, I think it depends on what you mean by "severe." I have what is considered a severe mental illness, and I'm a nurse. I wanted to go to medical school but personally didn't have the resources. However, having been side-by-side with doctors in emergent situations, I think it would be hard for me to rely on the judgment of someone who was struggling with audio hallucinations and what they were telling him. And I don't mean that to be rude or critical. Just, again, I think it would depend on the severity of the illness.

You're right, being a doctor isn't totally down to grades. Yes, there are entrance standards and you have to score well on the MCAT (what it's called in the States) but there are people I've known who have been at the lower end of that scale who were incredible clinicians. The three things you listed are important but it's just so intricate, that rapport with patients and learning to trust your judgment when it comes to their health (we have to do it just as much as a physician). There are times when I feel overwhelmed by my profession, especially when I'm not doing well in my personal life. I think that would be something to consider--how well are you able to cope with your illness, and how much does it affect you when you're not coping well?

Anyway. I wish you the best.

My bad, I should have specified. As I am no psychologist, I cannot classify "severe" mental illness, but I suffer from various, various disorders of the brain. I have very high anxiety, that I can classify as a "severe" mental health problem, but originally I meant "severe" as in schizophrenia where the patient cannot even speak in an UNDERSTANDABLE manner, let alone do research and treat patients with diseases.

I wanted too but I failed to have a good nurturing in the first place. This leads to a lot of problems, from classmates picking on me to me having suicidal tendencies. Not to mention I cannot drive. So you can imagine....


Yes absolutely, relying on someone with paranoid schizophrenia can be hard. And even if they have good judgement, they lack many things, like agility, speech and the executive control to save lives. So I doubt someone with schizophrenia can be doctor, or should be a doctor. Now in my case, I know it's stupid to try to read a psychiatrist's mind but still I have formed the opinion, they tell me "You can do it" because they don't want me to quit education and end up hurting myself. Of course I cannot be a doctor, it's the harsh reality, because I couldn't properly grow up.

Hardly someone who wears a lab coat gets locked into a psych ward and as remission progresses, goes back to saving lives. It doesn't work like that. You're ill? It should be as same as trying to be a surgeon with no hands. Stupid. Shouldn't be followed.

Maybe I have been damaged. But it doesn't matter now. My dream can never be fulfilled. I know I shouldn't think too much of future or I'll lose my science career just like I lost my medical career, but I aim to do post-doc research on neural system.