Get to know your Psychiatrist 🦋

Dearest gentle readers,

I wish I could write a Bridgerton fanfic, but for now I am choosing to stay with what I do best.

That is writing about psychiatry in a way that actually makes sense in everyday life.

I have always found myself drawn to the why behind even the most ordinary things. Why do we procrastinate? Why do we overthink? Why do we feel low even when everything seems fine?

So here I am, trying to make sense of everyday life through the lens of a psychiatrist.

And in a world of constantly moving algorithms, I want you to visit this space with intention, not out of compulsion. To pause here and read, instead of quickly watching another reel. To actually engage your frontal lobe for a bit.

I am a 28 year old first generation doctor, raised in a family of armed forces veterans.

At home, I have two fur babies, a pug and a kitten. They are easily the best part of my day and the kind of companionship that asks for nothing but gives everything.

I am currently studying for yet another exam. But honestly, when are doctors ever not studying?

I did my MBBS and MD Psychiatry from Osmania Medical College, which is also where I met my lovely husband.

I trained at the Institute of Mental Health Erragadda, a place I still feel deeply connected to. I loved the greenery, the pace, and the people. There is something about that space that teaches you to slow down and really see patients as people.

During my training, I worked with a wide range of cases including psychosis, mood disorders, addictions, medicolegal and forensic cases, and child psychiatry. Every patient left me with something to learn.

I believe in monotherapy unless otherwise requested/required because who likes to pop many pills in a day.

I was fortunate to top my university exams and receive a gold medal. Along the way, I found neurohacks that actually worked for me, like body doubling,active recall, spaced repetition, and even studying difficult topics before sleep.(These are all scientifically proven methods)

I have also spent a significant amount of time working in a sexual health clinic, where I gained experience in treating sexual dysfunction, something that is often not spoken about enough but affects people deeply.

Currently, I am working as a Consultant Neuropsychiatrist and Assistant Professor in a medical college.

On a more personal note🌸

I have held on to the same friends from school for 15 years, from MBBS for 10 years, and from MD for 4 years. I am not the best at making new friends, but I am learning.

I like the reactions that people give whenever they hear me say that I’m an “ Erragadda mental doctor”

The small things(Glimmers ✨ )that regulate my mood every day are simple. A good protein breakfast. Quiet mornings with my cat and my husband. Moving my body. Sleeping well. And at least one kind or meaningful interaction in a day.

I am also neurodivergent, so I have learned to work with my quirks instead of against them.

Warm dim lights in the evening help me slow down. Big visible clocks help me stay on track when I lose sense of time(Time blindness). These small adjustments make a big difference to how I function.

I love reading, whether it is Substack, long articles, or fiction. I am still working on being consistent with it.

Maybe this blog is part of that attempt too.

If you have read this far, I am really glad you are here.

This space is where science meets real life. Messy, imperfect, and human.

Warm regards,

Dr. Recharla Priyanka