This poll needs more @EyeDentist since IIRC he has literally been degreed and worked in both fields.
I vote psychiatry for you. You seem to enjoy connecting with people. While I’m sure optometrists do connect, it wouldn’t be to the degree that shrinks do as they literally help people through their worst problems.
Also the chance of maiming someone is less with psychiatry, so the insurance should be cheaper.
Can someone give me the Cliff Notes version of the poll/question at hand?
@planetcybertron is considering optometry vs psychiatry. 5 posts above this.
I don’t know which flavor of those that you’ve worked as (optometrist/opthomalagist… psychiatrist/psychologist) but I recalled you did something with eyes and feelings in some capacity. You are custom made to advise this poll.
As an ophthalmologist and a psychologist, I do indeed have experience with both da Eyes and da Feelz.
Let’s clarify terminology first. A psychiatrist is an individual who has graduated from an accredited med school (MD or DO), and then completed a four-year training program (the generic term for post-med-school training is residency) in psychiatry. So with few exceptions (notably certain international graduates), a psychiatrist did a 4-year baccalaureate in something, then got an MD or DO (another 4 years), then completed a psychiatry residency (yet another 4 years).
On the other hand, a psychologist is someone who has a terminal degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology. S/he did a 4-year baccalaureate in Psychology (usually), then completed a Psych PhD program (usually 5 years) or a Psych PsyD program (usually a year or two shorter). Assuming his/her graduate studies were in clinical psych (there are many other, non-clinical psych fields; eg, experimental psych, which is what my PhD is in), s/he will be eligible to work as a licensed clinical psychologist in most states.
What’s the difference between a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist? Chiefly it is the reliance on medications in managing pts. Psychiatrists, being physicians, are licensed to prescribe meds, whereas in most states the prescribing abilities of the (non-physician) psychologists are limited (if they have any such rights at all). Thus, psychiatrists tend to focus on psychopharmacological treatment, and psychologists tend to focus on cognitive/behavioral therapies (although many work closely with a psychiatrist, who will prescribe meds for a given pt as needed).
One of the biggest hurdles to becoming a psychiatrist or a psychologist is simply gaining admittance to the respective training programs (ie, med school for psychiatrists and grad school for psychologists). Admission is generally quite competitive, requiring both high undergrad GPA and admission-test scores (MCAT for med school; the GRE for grad school).
As for ophthalmologist vs optometrist: Both specialize in eye care. However, like a psychiatrist, an ophthalmologist is a med-school grad, but in this case his/her residency was in ophthalmology. An optometrist is akin to a psychologist–s/he got a bachelor’s degree in something, then went to ‘grad school’ in optometry. Optom school is 4 years, and culminates in the awarding of the OD degree (note: not the same as the DO mentioned above). In terms of scope-of-practice, ophthalmologists can prescribe any and all meds (in some states, optoms have limited prescribing rights). Further, ophthalmologists are trained in eye surgery, whereas the vast majority of optoms are not. As a practical matter, most ophthalmologists spend their time doing surgery and managing diseases of the eye (eg, glaucoma; diabetic retinopathy; ARMD), whereas most optoms spend their time checking people for glasses and contacts.
In terms of gaining access to training, optometry school is much more accessible than is an ophthalmology residency.
All that said, I have no idea what @planetcybertron should go into. I will say that, as a practical matter, any such decision should be made in light of how attractive a candidate one is vis a vis gaining admission to the requisite training program. Further, the issue of training time should be considered–psychiatry is a minimum 8 years post-undergrad (longer if one wishes to subspecialize; eg, Child Psychiatry).
Happy to answer questions if anyone actually read this wall of text.
Though one to come after eyedentist 
That is two absolutely different animals in my view (Am a funny guy here),
I might go with @Despade and like @Frank_C I too work in the borderline world and see all kinds of bad things. I don’t have any education in psychology, so almost everything is learned the hard way.
If going in that direction, i guess some of the teaching will be, to leave the work at the office.
You like to listen to people and have the good ear for that. But I think a lot of it is about being extrovert and to talk to other people and being trustworthy.
Optometry I have no clue, but it seems nice and clean.
I think you miss one candidate on the list. A doctor, an ordinary doctor that do house calls.
It could be a way in to either of the other two, and with a lot more knowledge as to what to do.
This is why I voted for Psychiatry. We need more people helping those who need it.
There’s definitely a need for them but it takes a special person to do it and the ability to leave work at work seems to be as rare as unicorns (in these types of fields). I struggle with it.
Some days you don’t care and others you can’t get it out of your head.
I like the clean part. Granted aren’t we all just a tad bit crazy? Lol
Wow. Thanks guys. Wasn’t expecting much feedback.
I don’t really have much of a reply to everyone who commented. Considering it’s not really needed, you took the time to respond, which is enough for me.
Thanks @EyeDentist, and everyone else for your input.
I do realize how rough psych careers are. I know I can’t save everyone. That much I learned early on. I know I have the ability to care and feel practically any and everything. I think as the years go on, I’ll be better able to still do that, but create a “filter” of sorts.
I also am a bit of hermit, so optometry is something that also would suit me. And I thrive with one on one interactions. Not saying psych doesn’t warrant one on one interactions.
I still have quite a bit of time to sort it out, but I really do appreciate all the input.
Thanks guys.
For sure. Working in mental health is a necessary part of the world we live in. There is a lot of mental illness in the world. Most of it is not diagnosed and the lines of diagnosis are being blurred by political agendas. My brother is working in this field with drug and alcohol rebilitatation and doing great things. Make sure you realize the huge emotional toll it will take on you and your family. If you have the support network to defuse go for it…
Now that you mention kids. I never really wanted kids. I still don’t.
Not for the typical reasons you’d think though. Well maybe.
I know(well, more like understand) that you can do your best as a parent, and your kids can still find themselves off in a bad position in life. Exhibit A would be my brother. He was given the same opportunities, and raised exactly the same as I was, and he’s as lost as ever. Add drugs to the mix and well… yeah.
But aside from all that, some may say I’m afraid, some may say I’m taking the “safe route”… call it what you wish, but with every possible thing that could go wrong, id still always feel responsible in some form or fashion.
I know that’s how life is. Even with the best efforts, stuff still happens. And then of course perhaps nothing happens. It sometimes seems like a random chance dice roll, but to an extent I disagree.
I’d rather never mother a child, and help the ones who are already here. Not sure what you’d even call that. But it would be whatever word that fits.
I’d call that intouch with yourself and inner drive…you do you.
That’s a much better response than some of the other things I’ve received.
Someone called me a “pussy” because they thought I was afraid.
Granted it can be a bit scary, espeacially if someone is a first time mom or dad, but… Of all the things I had to be…why’d I have to be that? Lol
I couldn’t live without my boys.
That being said, I know some couples that have no kids for diferent reasons. Some of them is like you say, the fear of were they’ll end in life.
It’s your choice and we live in a world, where it’s okay to not have children.
When time comes, you are 22 - 23 years old right, you’ll know by then.
I was 33 and the wife 29 before we had any children.
2 years before we didn’t even consider having children.
Between ages 24 to 29 I thought I wasn’t cut out to be a parent. Suddenly changed when I hit 30.
Didn’t have out first till me and the misses were 35 and then had 2 more within 3 years. By then we were fed up partying and travelling!!!
I still rekon go with the job that allows you to insert bionic eye balls. “We have the technology we can rebuild him”!!!
Im not a tad crazy…more like completely
Trevor Noah bit about this…
LOG # 284
5 mile walk
LOG # 285
DE squat
Warm up: just the bar x10, 135 x2, x2, x2
Work set:
225lbs 6x2
Assist:
RDLs: 135 x10
Back extensions: 115 3x10
Hanging leg raises: 3x8
BB calf raises: 135 AMRAP
Listen up dudes!
You guys are SO freaking LUCKY, that you do not have to worry about periods.
Granted it differs slightly from woman to woman, but it still impacts how most, if not all of us, lift. That’s if they aren’t completely crippled by the cramping.
Best way I can describe it is it feels like your neural adaptations have been robbed for a week. Just a week. And then given completely back. Not so much the muscle, or even size.
Today is day one, and while the fatigue has now subsided, my strength is in the tank at the moment. No worries, though. It’s like Biology’s forced “deload”.
Iron, and iron rich foods are extremely important. Espeacially during menstruation.
Don’t care if it grosses people’s out. Do. Not. Care.
Have you considered the depo shot? My GF swears by it, and having seen the effects a period can have on a woman, I’d probably do the same!
Of course, a controversial subject so it’s not a be all - end all solution.