I want to study psychology to help other people that have gone through what i have?

I have a lot of problems with anxiety myself and have successfully completed a bachelors degree and post graduate diploma in psychology. I am now an intern psychologist and in two years time will be able to become fully registered. If anything I feel like the fact that I have experienced these problems myself and have had treatment for them allows my to have more empathy towards my clients. If you were concerned that you might be too subjective or something like that when a client came to you who had problems that were like your own you could always just refer them to someone else. I think you should persue your goal of becoming a psychologist, its a wonderfully interesting and rewarding field. Learning more about anxiety disorders from a "text book" point of view may even help you with your own problems. All in all, psychologists are only human.

Would you want to see a psychologist that had NO understanding of suffering

I wouldn't!

You will make an excellent one because you have suffered because of that

you have a thing called Empathy a very practical understanding and appreciation of anxiety

not just fancy theory. You Will Be Great! Go for it!

I have been studying now for 14 years and have nearly finished a Diploma in counselling.

It takes time and support.

Best Wishes.

Mars Mission.

14th Year Psychology Student.

I'm a PhD student in psych and the reason I entered the field was to help people with OCS, which I've had for 20 years. I have worked really hard to manage the OCD and am a much happier and healthier person, which is reflected in my interactions with people. Although I don't tell my clients I have OCD, what they do see is someone who is passionate about her work and someone who truly believes that OCD can be managed and overcome. Just remember that everyone has their own issues, psychologists included. Nobody is perfect, and this includes psychologists.

I have found most Psychologists are more screwed up than I am. So, it pays to do your homework about a Psychologist or Therapist you intend to see.

It pays to check with the Board of Psychology in your state to check to see if their license is up to date, or if they have had disciplinary actions against them. In the Sources there is a link to the California Board of Psychology.

Does a Psychologist have to be healthy person all the time ? I think that would be impossible. Perhaps the question should be, "Can they solve most of the problems they have to deal with?"

Great question.

I believe that many psychologist have gone through alot themselves, and that's why they become psychologist. I think you have to be a little bit mentally stable, so what people tell you doesn't overwhelm you too much :) you'll learn to overcome your panic attacks and social anxiety... Zoloft is a good medication to go on (it worked for me)

I am a psychologist and I can tell that we are not perfect. There is no such thing as 100% cured.

We are all humans, we all have good and bad in our life. Psychology teaches us how to handle this.

You can become a psychologist but you will have to remember to take care of your personal issues first (to prevent transfer and countertransfer).

psychology is the study of oneself. But most "psychologists" study books, mice, OTHER PEOPLE but they NEVER study themselves.

there are many people with their paper degrees from harvard, stanford, berkeley, whatever and that degree is good for ONE THING ONLY. It allows them to get a job. The irony is that they are not psychologists.

So what value is it, really? They fail to notice when they irritate their wives, they get angry when they are shortchanged, they get distracted when someone yells at them...any unity they see can only exist in their imagination. I run into those people all the time. They are insuffrable.

psychologists are not perfect and always happy. they too have problems. You can talk with your doctor and see what she/he says.