Do you consider yourself a psychiatrist? Could you analyze me? I was returning from a rural clinic and was in a small airport. It is a friendly town, where people are warm and open to you sharing casual conversation. The molded plastic armrests prevented him from lying down on the rows of airport seats. After completing check-in, his colleagues joined him. He will never be cured in a million. Analyse me.This is what I have learned as a psychiatrist. Everybody has an image of New York's psychiatrists couch and One Fly Over the Cuckoos nest, even if they have never seen it. Some people are cautious: You'll think I'm crazy. Others see it as an opportunity to get to know someone. (hushed voice). It's about me (friend, father/daughter). Or a solution to a problem: What should I do? Or a kind word of comfort. Everyone has a psyche.Modern psychiatry is not the same as Woody Allen, Jack Nicholson, or any of the popular depictions. Hospital psychiatry departments are made up of nurses, doctors, and other health professionals. My six-member team includes four females, two men, three Australian-born peoples of colour, and three white people with UK accents. This is a typical snapshot of the health workforce, without elbow patches or Sigmund Freud beards.Register to Receive the Top Stories from Guardian Australia Every MorningLike other medical specialists, my job is to listen and understand the symptoms of patients. Then, we will determine if they are part of a condition that can be treated. This is based on scientific evidence.It doesn't have to be about medication. Certain conditions like panic attacks or agoraphobia respond better to psychological therapies than medication. Combining medication with non-medication treatments can be beneficial for some conditions. However, there are a few cases where psychological therapy may not be as effective as physical treatment.Medical psychiatry is my specialty. It is at the intersection of mental and physical health. I treat patients with mental illnesses such as stroke, cancer, trauma, stroke, and infections.I also care for people with psychological distress and physical impairment. Unfortunately, I have to admit people who are recovering from injuries sustained in an attempt to end their lives. These latter cases make up a large portion of our work. The reasons that lead to them are many.A third trope that is not well represented in films is the relationship between psychological trauma and mental health, regardless of whether it comes from childhood trauma, abuse, bereavement or fearful incidents.One storyline is this: A relatable character suffers from mental health issues. This includes crippling anxiety, low self worth, self-hatred and even losing touch with reality (psychosis). The subject and the audience both become aware of a past trauma. This hidden explanation leads to healing and reconciliation. This is a satisfying narrative solution, but it can be a disservice for those who have suffered trauma.Most patients who come to me with trauma are aware of the events. Traumatic memories can cause distress and intrusive painful memories that flood back with the same harrowing horror and despair. These painful and unbearable experiences are not something to be ashamed of or to avoid. It is a matter of trying to live with them.It is often difficult to completely block out memories and pain. It is not enough to confront or release these memories. It can even make things worse. Patients who are re-traumatized feel like they're reliving the trauma over and again, even though they're being reminded of it. Strong traumatic feelings are difficult to control and can cause confusion, depression, and even death.Because they are expected to work through trauma, it can be difficult for them to feel guilty about feeling stuck or misunderstood. Modern drama productions such as Mare of Easttown and Wakefield portray an empathic perspective, but they also fall prey to the temptation of explaining all psychic distress by triggering memories. Although we can help trauma patients, it must be gentle. We also know that healthcare providers can cause re-traumatisation.After a long day of consulting, the airport's light banter was a refreshing break. They would have explored other repartees if they had known what it was like to slowly and tentatively work through past traumas with psychiatrists.Dr Saretta Lee, a Sydney psychiatrist
