Paradise, CA
A 24-year-old female asked:
Is psychiatry hard? do you have to deal with crazy people, do they threaten/hurt you? (interested in the field but parents are worried)
9 doctor answers • 17 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jan Lei Iwataanswered
Ophthalmology 28 years experience
Motivation for field: In medicine, and especially psychiatry, you deal with all kinds of people, and their mental states. In fact, most of them are not crazy as outpatients, and more than likely potentially depressed, anxious, frustrated, and in need of help. So if you're a people person, empathetic, and nonjudgmental, and can see all sides, and factors that can interplay on a persons mood, emotions, lifestyle, psychiatry may be for you.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Pamela Pappasanswered
Psychiatry 44 years experience
Psychiatry: Psychiatry is sometimes hard, but mostly very fulfilling. Sometimes people are unhappy about seeing you; most are glad to work with you. Yes, you deal with some overtly psychotic people. Every one of us has some degree of "crazy" (distorted) thinking -- so we're all more human than otherwise! very few psychiatric patients threaten or harm others; some do, and you must assess situations carefully.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Pamela Pappas commented
Psychiatry 44 years experience
Provided original answer
I've practiced medicine and psychiatry for over 30 years, and have seen thousands of patients. Only 2 have tried to attack me. Both were delirious; one was in the ER at 3am, and the other was on a medicine unit at night. Both were very frightened of hallucinations they were having, and male nurses & security were standing by. We helped both patients, who were remorseful the next morning.
Mar 3, 2014
Dr. Humberto Quintanaanswered
Psychiatry 46 years experience
Special skill needed: Psychiatry is a field which deals with persons that have behavioral, emotional & problems of thinking. Psychiatry requires many years of training & because you deal with persons differing in severity of mental illness. Your appropriate training is used to speak & understand pt.'s. & to use caution. Rarely do you get threatened/hurt. Even if sometimes yuo deal with very impaired pts.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Aaron Amentanswered
60 years experience
TOO MUCH CONCERN: I HAVE BEEN A BOARD CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIST IN CLINICAL PRACTICE SINCE 1970, AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ASSAULTED OR HARMED.
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT AREAS IN PSYCHIATRY AND DANGER IS NOT A NECESSARY PART OF THE PRACTICE.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Marc Zimmermannanswered
Psychiatry 24 years experience
Psychiatry is: practiced in a number of settings. Some do involve dealing with dangerous people while others do not. We are basically dealing with people who have problems either as a result of biochemistry or emotional difficulties or a combination of the two.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Brian Wiseanswered
ADHD and Autism 23 years experience
Never Boring: Depends on what you mean by hard. My experience is your early years in training (medical school & residency), you see more severely ill patients since many training settings are inpatient psych wards. But once you graduate, you can select your patients by specializing in certain areas. I treat kids and adults in private practice and have never felt threatend and certainly never hurt.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Qinyue Liuanswered
Specializes in Neurology
Depends you like: Psychiatry is not hard if you like what you do. It needs patience and think what is the appropriate things to say to your patients. If you can help your patients including the "crazy" ones, treat their conditions, you would feel good about yourself and no one wants to hurt you.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ying Wanganswered
Specializes in Psychiatry
Hard but fulfilling: Psychiatry is challenging and may entail risks, but part of your training will be to recognize red flags and learn ways to de-escalate and help patients in the process. Also, while some patients may be threatening because of underlying illness, most are calm and cooperative. Your area of sub specialization within psychiatry may determine the type of patients you see.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Marthalee Waldenanswered
Psychiatry 34 years experience
Yes but…: Psychiatry is challenging and rewarding. It is a science and an art at the same time. Touching lives in the intimate ways we do should be considered a privilege. My patients let me into their inner world of thoughts and feelings and I have opportunities to interpret, reframe, soothe pain. An honor in my opinion. Sometimes there are risks. Risks are everywhere. Take proper precautions and enjoy!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
663 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Susan Rhoads commented
Family Medicine 40 years experience
Dr. Walden is correct. You also learn more about healthy ways of behaving and thinking, for yourself and in your relationships (business or professional). The more we all learn about these sorts of things, the better we are.
Jun 10, 2017
Last updated Nov 28, 2017
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