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 Sunday at 04:45 PM 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 Sunday at 08:25 PM 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 Sunday at 08:27 PM by Hojo

[Deziree]

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

 

[Carl-Richard]

 

[ricachica]

I’ve been lucky enough to work as a medical assistant/clinical coordinator for a psychiatrist for a little over a year now. It’s private practice, so just me, the psychiatrist, and the physician assistant. 

Along with seeing patients in the general sense, we also run TMS sessions and Spravato (esketamine) sessions with patients here. My main role is to run those sessions since I obviously have no part in the general patient therapy room. I still talk quite a bit with the TMS and Spravato patients as I run the session, though I know it’s not in my current professional role to actually deep dive hard and give them therapy etc… I keep it light and human.

My main goal in getting hired here originally was to help with running the Spravato sessions, since eventually I want to become a psychedelic-assisted therapist one day (not a psychiatrist). As time went on and I got to know my boss more, I’ve really grown to have a brighter light on psychiatry, which I didn’t expect.

My boss spends 30-60+ minutes with her general patients each session, focusing on psychodynamic therapy along with the medication management. There is quite a lot of deep diving with the person, and there tends to be a weeding out of new patient calls that want simple quick 5 minutes medication appointments (which plenty of other psychiatrists do anyway). My boss wants patients to really work for their progress, which is a refreshing perspective. Very level-headed, dignified, and confident person overall. It really is more about who the psychiatrist is as a person, not psychiatry itself I feel naive to say.

Not sure if that really answers anything, but overall I still feel like there’s some tiny things missing here and there, but it’s much more respectable than I imagined. Work on yourself more than anything tbh and make sure you yourself are in check, that’s what patients really need.

Edited Wednesday at 07:55 PM by ricachica

[Davidess]

Thanks

[Ramasta9]

Mental Illness cannot always be tied down to a chemical and physical imbalance.

All imbalances, All imbalances, all stem from a spiritual / energetic imbalance, at the highest level. There is a misalignment with the creator, that then steps-down and step-down and steps-down until it finally solidifies into a physical issue.

Schizophrenia is often inability to ground, stabilize and balance oneself in this reality-matrix, usually ones energy systems is 'scattered' in many different timelines / dimensions. These people need earth medicine, grounding, 'anchoring' to stabilize their energy.

This is what shamans and real people of medicine have been sharing for thousands of years that modern man simply does not grasp or see.

Most, if not all mental disorders are misperceived and misunderstood for what they actually are.

As a man of medicine I have helped many without medications or substances or vitamins or minerals, rather simple guidance to natural living.

When we live in harmony with the earth, the divine can then flow through us in its divine order.

"and no man shall receive the blessings of my father if they disregard my mother"

Edited 6 hours ago by Ramasta9

[Breathe]

Yeah, it's a problem.

The problem we have in the US is diagnosing based on symptoms without getting to the root. Self-esteem, trauma, and addiction related mental health side effects are often misdiagnosed. People are put on meds that wreck their physical health. Patients don't have the wisdom to question diagnoses doomed to whatever diagnosis they are given. It's the ultimate kind of stuckness when the mind isn't functioning smoothly and there's no one to help.

The system is designed to get people back into the workforce as quickly as possible so they can resume paying taxes. They do not give a shit about outcomes. Insurance companies here require a diagnosis from psychiatrists and psychologists alike so many mental health professionals can't think outside the box. The DSM is a critical thinking and objective analysis killer.

Also, the healthcare here is fucking expensive as fuck so many people can't afford treatment that creates lasting results.

What people need are professionals who can root cause issues and not accept labels dictated by the corrupt healthcare industry. They also need professionals who will advocate for clients so they can get the care that they need. In other words, navigating insurance companies and disability programs. To be an effective professional one would need a social justice lens to help clients navigate the system. People with mental health issues are often don't have the mental capacity to advocate for themselves.

There are good professionals out there but they are extremely difficult to find. Many healthcare professionals become jaded and just stop caring about their work. It's like a needle in a haystack. And the ones that are good, many of them don't take insurance so the majority of people cannot afford them. Right now good therapists charge $200-$300 an hour, who the fuck can afford that on a lower wage?

And, don't get me started on the education system. A good healthcare professional should take ongoing training to combat indoctrination from the cookie cutter university curriculum. I find it questionable that a 25 year old can graduate with a master's degree, with no life experience, and be expected to help people who are further along in life.

Most importantly, a good psychologist/psychiatrist really has to know how their own mind works. Understand fear, the core beliefs that drives thought and action, and the mechanism of attachment.

You probably don't share all of the challenges that we have here in the US, but there should be a few nuggets to mull over.

[DianaFr]

I don't think there's a better way to understand mental illness than studying people who have it. Books are good, but they're just books. Why not make it a practice to immerse yourself into the world of somebody who experience themselves and life in a certain way. If you approach it open-mindedly and with curiosity, you will learn a lot faster than anything else. For example, I am sometimes fascinated by the artwork created by "mentally ill" people, especially if you can study it over time and discover patterns. That's a true lived experience that few things can replace.