[Brosci]

Well ever since going through depression for years and now realizing i had a few psychotic episodes after being stalked/bullied and my wellbutrin induced psychotic episodes that drove me crazy that mental health is a big part in my life. I also feel like helping other people with a mental illness is starting to become the only thing I want to do with my life. I realize that money isn't everything and that i want to give back to other people. Who else to understand a mental illness then someone who suffers from it. It's so hard to explain things to others who have never had the experience . I know that stress can make me more depressed and that's how i had my first episode of psychosis but school is a different kind of stress then being bullied. Anybody on here is or know about someone who took the same route. I'm ready to work my *** off and even though I just quit my antidepressent for some reason I feel more motivated now in school even if i feel worse emotionally.

[Yoda]

There are other options to work with mental illness. Nurse practioner, physician assistant, social work.

Requirements vary for schooling for each degree.

Good luck finding which works best for you.

[costello]

My son is starting training as a peer support specialist at the end of this month. I think he sees that as a way of helping others going through what he's gone through.

Will Hall on Madness Radio has interviewed a number of mental health professionals who are former patients. Two that come to mind who are favorites of mine are Pat Deegan and Ron Bassman. Will Hall himself is a therapist.

Pat Deegan: Madness Radio: Patricia Deegan Personal Medicine | Madness Radio https://www.patdeegan.com/

Ron Bassman: Madness Radio: Psychologist and Survivor Author Ronald Bassman | Madness Radio Ronald Bassman, Ph.D. - Author of A Fight To Be

Psychiatrists are medical doctors so that would require going to medical school, which is very competitive, as is training to be a clinical psychologist, at least where I live (UK). Have you looked into requirements and considered work experience? That will help you decide which route you want to go and give you a lot of insight into your future career. I went to medschool and was training to be a psychiatrist, but then decided to go into psychology instead. I feel a lot like you about finding MI interesting and wanting to help others using my experiences. Ideally I'd like to be a clinical psychologist one day, but that requires a 3 year full-time clinical doctorate here, which I don't know if realistically I can manage unless my sza improves, so I'm looking into other options, like Yoda said, because there are a lot out there.

Anyway all the best with your future career path!

*Willow*

[Brosci]

Originally Posted by WeepingWillow23

Psychiatrists are medical doctors so that would require going to medical school, which is very competitive, as is training to be a clinical psychologist, at least where I live (UK). Have you looked into requirements and considered work experience? That will help you decide which route you want to go and give you a lot of insight into your future career. I went to medschool and was training to be a psychiatrist, but then decided to go into psychology instead. I feel a lot like you about finding MI interesting and wanting to help others using my experiences. Ideally I'd like to be a clinical psychologist one day, but that requires a 3 year full-time clinical doctorate here, which I don't know if realistically I can manage unless my sza improves, so I'm looking into other options, like Yoda said, because there are a lot out there.

Anyway all the best with your future career path!

*Willow*

Ya at this point i know i want to do something along that idea where i help others. But i don't want to have to deal with loans and could probably only afford it with scholarships. I believe i'm a hard enough worker when i'm not depressed to get through it.

[faerie_moon_x]

I actually wanted to be a research psychiatrist to seek out the answers. But, sadly, I was under the impression that I was not smart enough to get through med-school and dropped out. I find it very frustrating today because I actually am very intelligant and totally wasted my potential. I'm a secretary in a diabetes education clinic, which is still helping people. Still... I feel a lot like Pam from The Office (US) t.v. show when she said, "It's not many girl's dream to become a receptionist." Yup....

I think if you want to do this, then do it! Don't let anything stop you! It's better to try than just give up like I did.