u/lovely_gay_boy

I’m curious about something that seems particularly relevant to psychiatry. Have you ever been close to someone who you knew was going through something psychologically, and your training made you feel like you could recognize what was happening and potentially help them?

But because you’re close to them, they might feel uncomfortable coming to you about it, and you also don’t feel like it’s your place to approach them and start acting like their psychiatrist.

How do you deal with that feeling of being able to see someone struggling but not really being able to step in? Do you learn to accept that you can only be there as a friend/family member, rather than trying to help professionally?
And has your perspective on this changed throughout your training and career?

ps: i’m a medical student, it’s been a lifelong dream of mine to become a psychiatrist but i’m not sure i’ll be able to just watch people close to me from the sidelines without actively trying to help

Have you ever been close to someone who you knew was going through something, and because of your medical knowledge you felt like you could actually help them, but they were too close to you to feel comfortable asking?

At the same time, you don’t feel like it’s your place to approach them about it because you don’t want to overstep or make them feel like you’re treating them rather than just being their friend.

I’m curious how other medical students deal with that feeling of knowing you could potentially help, but having to just watch from the sidelines. Does it get easier as you progress through medical school and become more experienced?

hi, i’m starting my clinical rotations in a few months.
does anyone have any bag recommendations that would be big enough for me to fit everything i need to take with me?