Is becoming a psychiatrist right for me?
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How to become a Psychiatrist
Becoming a psychiatrist requires a passion for helping people and having the necessary patience to evaluate each individual, even when he or she may not be eager to cooperate due to stress or severe mental symptoms. Psychiatrists may deal with people who come from all backgrounds and have various financial, emotional or social problems that may aggravate their mental disorder. The doctor must identify these factors and try to eliminate them before proceeding to the actual treatment.
Psychiatrists must have the ability to cope with stress and remain calm in difficult situations because certain patients may become aggressive, either verbally or physically. However, contrary to popular belief, only a small fraction of patients exhibit aggressive behavior, which may be solved through administration of sedative medication.
People who aspire to become psychiatrists have to graduate from medical school. Then they must enrol in a residency program in psychiatry and, upon successful completion, become Board Certified by taking an exam. The duration of residency in psychiatry varies depending on the country, but it may take between four and six years.