It has been exactly fourteen days since I joined as a psychiatry postgraduate resident, and looking back, the experience has already started to reshape my perspective on psychiatry. Coming into a clinical setting after an internship was a bit overwhelming, and I’ll admit I am still very much in the adjusting phase. However, the transition has been smoother than I anticipated. The department provided a sense of routine and structure that I didn’t realise I needed, helping me ground myself as I navigate this new environment.
One of the most impactful parts of these two weeks has been the realisation of how agonising mental illness is. Seeing real patients suffer in real time has shown me that mental health struggles are just as debilitating, if not more so, than physical ones. I’ve also seen the flip side – the incredible potential for improvement when patients remain consistent with our involvement and their follow-ups. Watching the effects of neuromodulation M-ECT was particularly eye-opening. It is not the dramatic, instant transformation or the distress we see in Indian movies, but the steady, measurable improvement it offers is a vital key to recovery.
I felt included by the senior postgraduates and the consultants, even on days when I don’t fully grasp every detail. This journey has started to make me more self-aware and has shown me that people are far more resilient than I once believed. There is a long road of learning ahead, but I move forward hoping that our patients continue to find the care, compassion and treatment they deserve.
Dr. Ishani Vimal
First Year Postgraduate Resident
Department of Psychiatry
JSS Medical College and Hospital
Mysore
