--and it sounds like this is one.

Some previous posters were suprised that the LW chose to write Prudie instead of seeking counselling--while counselling is definitely a better option, I can't say that I'm shocked in the least. Doctors are notorious for not getting this sort of help--that's why they have a higher rate of substance abuse, divorce, and suicide compared to other professions. Right or wrong, most doctors see going to a therapist as an admission of weakness, a sign that they can't handle their work, and they worry about what their colleagues or patients might think. In some ways, sending an anonymous letter to Prudie is "safer".

This LW in particular sounds pretty ambivalent about her profession as it is. I got the impression that one of the driving factors behind her decision to become a doctor was the urge to prove her mother wrong--You don't think I'm so dumb, now, do you, Ma--I'm an f***in' doctor! Plenty of bright people are able to make it into medical school on that pretense--the problem is "proving Mom wrong" might not be much motivation if you're stuck in a field that don't enjoy, dealing with the day-to-day stresses of actually treating patients.

As was mentioned earlier, the LW also seems to have forgotten that a lot can happen on the way to becoming a doctor. Little sis might be saying she's going to do the same specialty as big sis, but chances are she hasn't even had a chance to see all the other possibilities that are available. Tons of medical students start out saying that they're going to do X, but end up going into Y after graduation. This seems like a bit of premature freaking out.

Long story short, I hope Dr. LW decides to look into counselling. It doesn't have to be a lifelong thing, and there's no shame in it. It also would probably help a lot.