Psychiatrists – I have mixed feelings
I have mixed feelings about psychiatrists. On the positive side, I think they play a crucial role when it comes to mental health. Countless people need them. They have been highly trained, and have the necessary credentials for their profession. In both Canada and the USA, it takes a minimum of 12 years for their training. This costs an individual approximately $ 330,000 in both countries. They work extremely hard, and most of them take on a lot of debt. In Canada, the average salary for a psychiatrist is about $ 320,000. In the United States, their average salary is about $ 265,000. They have a very difficult job, and save lives, so I think they should be paid a lot of money.
I have seen about 20 different psychiatrists in my life. I have liked a few of them, but, overall, I’ve had negative experiences with many of them. Many were very arrogant, and I hate arrogance ! These people also lacked compassion. This led to some serious problems when I was under their care. I wouldn’t put up with being treated this way, and always stood up for myself. As a result, these clashes didn’t end up in my favour, especially when I was a patient in a psychiatric ward. These people had all the power. Their main weapon was heavy duty anti-psychotic psych meds. Some of these drugs were incredibly powerful, and had terrible side effects. ( Thorazine, Haldol, and Risperdal ). I was over medicated, and couldn’t even talk. I felt like a zombie. It would bring me out of my mania, but it was a terrible feeling. Because of this, there were times when I refused to take these meds. I would be forced to take them anyway. Sometimes these altercations ended up with me being strapped down to a stretcher, and isolated in a small room. Each time this happened, was a horrific experience.
The few psychiatrists I did like, treated me well, whether I was in a state of mania, and a patient in a psych ward, or if I was in a “normal” mood state, while in their private office. None of these people were arrogant. They treated me with kindness, compassion, and respect.
Because they have such an important job, I understand why psychiatrists get paid so much. However, I don’t like the fact that at the same time, people with a mental illness (es) living on a lifetime disability pension ( like myself ), are only getting paid between $ 9,600- $ 17, 000/ year. ( I only get $ 9,600/year from my Canada Pension Plan disability). This is well below the poverty level for Canada. Psychiatrists are getting rich because of my comrades and I.
Psychiatrists and Spirituality ( re: mania )
I’m not religious, but I’ve had many “ spiritual experiences “, both in a state of mania, and when in a “ normal “ mood state. Several times, while being treated by psychiatrists in psychiatric wards during manic episodes, I was diagnosed as being “ delusional “ ( having false beliefs) , and “ psychotic “ ( out of touch with reality) because of these spiritual experiences. ( Also why I was put on these “ anti-psychotic medications). Many times I sensed the presence of God coming from within, or through people. Some psychiatrists don’t even believe God exists. If God really does exist, and a psychiatrist doesn’t think so, is this not a “ false belief “, making that psychiatrist “delusional “ ?
The brain is incredibly complex. It has over a hundred billion neurons. Doctors and scientists still only know how 10%-15% of the brain works. Psychiatrists are much too hasty to diagnose their patients spiritual experiences as delusional and psychotic. I think they need to learn a lot more about the “ spiritual realm “.
Psychiatrists have put me in ICU wards several times. Obviously, they had their reasons for this, and I will be the first one to admit that I was very mentally ill each time this happened. However, I was never violent. I never hit anyone, and wasn’t physically aggressive. Other patients were though. Many times I was scared, and felt threatened. And, I was struck by other patients. It was awful. Psychiatrists should never had put me in the same ward as these violent people.
In a state of mania, but when still doing quite well, I could talk circles around these psychiatrists. I wouldn’t hesitate to challenge them verbally. One time, my psychiatrist, Dr. Loewen ( who I liked ), didn’t know what to do with me, so she had the director of psychiatry, Dr. Latimer ( who I didn’t like) , take over my case. When I told him that I was a golf professional, he thought I was delusional. He didn’t believe me. Again, the psychiatrist is the delusional one here !
Some Psychiatrists I Liked
On a more positive note, there were some psychiatrists who I liked. I already said I liked Dr. Loewen. I had Dr. Diaz for 20 years, before he retired. We had a great relationship. We only spoke twice a year, for at least an hour each time. I never needed Dr.Diaz for any “ talk therapy “, but we always had great conversations. He was a very good psychiatrist. At the end of our last session, he shook my hand, and said “ It’s been an honour and a pleasure “. I expressed to him that I felt the same way towards him. I loved Dr. Phil Severy from the infamous Riverview Psychiatric Hospital in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia.
A good friend of mine has 2 friends that are psychiatrists. They play golf together on a regular basis. My friend is a good judge of character. They must be good people.
I’m certain that most people entering this profession do so knowing they will be making the big bucks, and look forward to the prestige that comes with the title. However, I also think that most people are decent human beings, and that the majority who are working as a psychiatrist truly do so with the intent of helping those of us living with a mental illness (es ). So, like I said in the beginning, I have mixed feelings about psychiatrists.
