I want to become a psychiatrist, but...

[Davidess]

I want to become a psychiatrist, but... I think it's one of the most corrupted, if not the most corrupted, field in medical science.

I'm currently in my 4th year of medical school (out of 6). My main mission is the mastery of mind, mastery of the self, mastery of reality on a metaphysical level. 

I've just watched Leo's latest shared blog video "Corrupt Medical Research" (Dec 14th 2025). I've been watching Dr. Joseph for over a year now though. He explains psychiatry the way I'd want to do it.

My question is, do you know any books/sources on how mental illness really works? I don't mean (just) on a psychical, neurotransmitter level. Such as "schizophrenia is caused by excess dopamine" or "depression is caused by low serotonin". I've read some Ken Wilber regarding this, it's good, but he just touches the surface of mental illness in his book "Integral psychology".

I don't want to become a mainstream psychiatrist who just prescribes pills. Any experienced colleagues here?

The reason I'm posting it here is because it's one of the only forums which focuses on limits of science from a higher perspective. I also understand that we are not focused on mental illness here, but I don't know where else to post this.

Edited 10 hours ago by Davidess
I want to emphasise the message

[Ulax]

I'm not a psychology professional.

I think you would find value in this book list though:

https://davidtianphd.com/recommended-readings/

[Davidess]

@Ulax Thank you, will check it out.

[AerisVahnEphelia]

AI will do it better in less than 10 years, if not already.
 

[Davidess]

@AerisVahnEphelia I agree that it's being able to master the linear domain (a.k.a. reasoning, where most of medicine functions), but not the non-linear, such as the power of "prayer" (one of many examples). By prayer I mean the power of loving thoughts influencing one's well-being.

 

[Leo Gura]

It is hard to find good books that actually explain what each mental illness really is from an existential/consciousness perspective.

I have a few books in my book list. That's the best I found so far.

Really, this is a field ripe for a great thinker/researcher to personally investigate and innovate. Standard understanding of mental illness is shit.

Take a bunch of psychedelics and explore the topic from the inside out for yourself. Don't trust some academic to do it for you because they are bumbling confromists.

To understand mental illness you must work directly with patients, interview them deeply, and then take psychedelics and recreate their states of mind within yourself. That is the real research no one is doing. If you did that you would innovate the field.

Take a psychedelic and experience what multiple personality disorder is.

Edited 6 hours ago by Leo Gura

[Hojo]

Best thing to understand mental illness is psyhedelics. They will literally show you and give you details. Once you understand your own mental illnesses you can understand others.

Its like reading a personalized book dedicated to you about mental illness.

Id say a big portion of mental illness stems from the fear of death.

Edited 6 hours ago by Hojo

[Deziree]

I think academics will ruin that field with their dogma. You have to do independent research and experimentation.