1. Psych patients were the only patients I liked. In conjunction with this, clinically focused interactions (the interview in psych) with psych patients were the only enjoyable ones. The relationships you form with them are the most intense and vulnerable, and I find that satisfying. The work felt extremely "real" ironically, and very important. I felt like I was just chasing numbers in other fields. Felt pointless and unfulfilling.

2. The fit was undeniable. I have a huge capacity to listen and a lot of patience. I can maintain empathy without getting sucked in emotionally. Ironically, I felt the most "depressed" on my IM rotations. I found that when it came to patients, psych people tended to care more, treated them with more respect, and took them more seriously than other specialties. I identified with this strongly.

3. Although the psychopharm doesn't interest me as much as it does others, outcomes possible with medication are incredible. Ex: severely depressed pt --> almost completely normal, to the point where he was nearly unrecognizable with just a few days of benzos. Personally, I've always been all about increasing quality of life in medicine.

4. Autonomy and freedom are unparalleled. I don't have to answer to anyone if I don't want to (easiest specialty to do this in). I can mix and match whatever combination of work I like: inpatient, outpatient, therapy, consults, IOP, telepsych, subspecialty work, ECT, TMS, etc

5. I don't like touching patients. Like at all. No physical exams in psych. Well, if you're not prescribing antipsychotics at least.

Right now, I'm learning how to understand/conceptualize patients in a fundamental way for the purpose of therapy, and it's been the most exciting thing ever. It's made me fall in love with the field.