Join us for an insightful DocScopy session with Dr. Rashi Agarwal, brought to you by MedBound Times, a health journalism platform by MedBound. MedBound is a networking, educational, and career-enhancing platform designed for healthcare professionals and students. 

Dr. Anjali Singh from MedBound Times was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak candidly with Dr. Rashi Agarwal. Dr. Rashi Agarwal is a psychiatrist, mental health specialist, and educator who practices in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. She has a large following on social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn.

In this interview, Dr. Rashi Agarwal delves into the complexity and intricacies of psychiatry as well as other facets of her life.

Dr. Anjali Singh: Hello ma'am and welcome to this DocScopy session with MedBound Times. Please give a brief introduction about yourself to our readers.

Dr. Rashi Agarwal: Hello, and I appreciate you having me. I am Dr. Rashi Agarwal, MD, in psychiatry, and I deal with all matters pertaining to mental health. De-stigmatizing mental health myths and raising awareness, both offline and online, are goals I am eagerly pursuing. Working to improve women's lives and understanding how hormone changes impact mood are at the heart of my interests. My other area of interest is addiction and how it has been dehumanized and trivialized to the point where people mistake it for a habit rather than a serious mental illness with deep roots.

Dr. Anjali Singh: Ma'am, please tell us something about your life and professional journey.

Dr. Rashi Agarwal: When people learn that I am a psychiatrist, they react in a variety of ways, from astonishment to disapproval of my profession choice because it is still deemed unconventional and unorthodox. But I've always known I wanted to do something with my life that would improve people's quality of life, and this line of work embodies all of my key beliefs, including feminism, equality, and environmental sustainability. The impact of environmental stressors on our mood is a very underappreciated idea, but it merits careful consideration. As you can see, my profession and my employment strongly reflect and cater to all of my ideas and principles.

Dr. Anjali Singh: So, even as an undergraduate student, were you always interested in psychiatry? If not, what prompted you to choose this career path?

Dr. Rashi Agarwal: Psychiatry wasn't my first career choice because my interests initially lay elsewhere; however, during my internship, when I began to consider my possibilities and was exposed to much more of the outside world, this sparked my interest in psychiatry. Despite the fact that I read a lot about it and sought advice from others, I had no firsthand knowledge of any of it. I had no way to contact other psychiatrists and gain insight into what this career would entail because I did not personally know any, and social media was not as widely used back then as it is now. And seven years later, here I am, working to help people and spread awareness about mental health.

Dr. Anjali Singh: And doing an excellent job of it! What are the most common or challenging situations you face in the field of your practice?

Dr. Rashi Agarwal: This field has its own unique set of difficulties, much like any other medical field. However, psychiatry is the only field of medicine where the patient, illness, and doctor are all equally stigmatized. This is one of the biggest challenges we as psychiatrists face on a daily basis, and we are working to combat it by trying to de-stigmatize mental health by educating and bringing attention to it in society. Nevertheless, the stigmatization of psychiatrists as mad and disordered is fairly pervasive. Many of us have heard the adage, "Treating crazy people turns the psychiatrists crazy." Being human, we must accept that some days are harder than others as we deal with the public's rejection of our line of work. People sometimes feel nervous and uncomfortable around us, and the effect is so strong that occasionally psychiatrists choose not to mention their area of expertise in order to avoid the unfavorable responses and remarks. But every profession has its own set of difficulties, and working as a psychiatrist means dealing constantly with stigma and prejudice.

Dr. Anjali Singh: Now that we've gotten past the difficult phase, what aspect of your line of work do you find most enjoyable?

Dr. Rashi Agarwal: I firmly believe that we are dealing with a great deal of ground reality, and I caution all mental health professionals—whether they be psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers, or therapists—that if they haven't dealt with ground reality, they may have trouble dealing with situations that specifically involve family issues and environmental issues. Therefore, in order to gain insight into the issues that are prevalent in our society, mental health professionals must first engage at a grassroot level, which may include volunteering at health clinics, NGOs, and charities. It's quite simple to talk about anxiety and general mental health issues while sitting in air-conditioned spaces, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Additionally, through engaging in practical work, mental health practitioners become acquainted with the fundamentals of society and its realities.

There are days that are really great when the patient tells me that I changed their life for the better, or when I tell them to stop taking their medication and they don't need to come back, or when patients notice an improvement in themselves and wish they had sought help a little sooner. These are some of the most enjoyable aspects of this profession. These are the moments and days that make me smile and give me hope that I am fulfilling my purpose as a psychiatrist. These are the days I live for.

Dr. Anjali Singh: The value of doing grassroot work has been expressed really well by you. So, tell us some interesting clinical or career-related cases, situations, or events that have left an impression on you.

Dr. Rashi Agarwal: I'm going to post a trigger warning here since this isn't going to be a very pleasant response. There are some situations and patients that truly leave an imprint on us; for me, this is especially true of sexual abuse instances. We are relatively unaware of anything while living in a typical normal household and going about our daily lives, unless the graphic truth of our society is forced upon us via social media, news outlets, or newspapers. But as a psychiatrist, I got to hear and witness all the graphic details of where, when, and how often it occurred. As a result, these instances in particular leave a distinctly vivid impact on me and are especially difficult for me to forget.

Stay tuned for part two of this insightful and engaging conversation.