👋 Gooby here, a former neurosurgeon with 20 years of medical training, including 4 years of medical school and 6 years of residency. I quit my job last year, and I want to share my story.
🧠 I became a doctor to relieve suffering. During medical school, I learned that our role is not just to perform surgeries or prescribe medications, but to truly help people. My interest in the brain and consciousness led me to neurosurgery.
🔬 I spent 6 years training in both brain and spine surgery. However, I discovered that the dream of creating brain-machine interfaces to help people regain mobility was unlikely due to the brain's rejection of foreign electrodes.
😞 After 9 years of practice, I felt increasingly unhappy despite having a respected job and good pay. I realized that many surgeries I performed only provided temporary relief and did not address the underlying issues causing patients' pain.
🏥 I learned that true healing involves lifestyle changes: a low-salt, plant-based diet, regular exercise, good sleep, and strong social support. Patients who adopted these habits healed better than those who did not.
💔 This realization created a moral dilemma for me. The medical system often prioritizes surgeries and medications over holistic healing, which left me feeling trapped in a job I no longer believed in.
💪 With my wife's support, I decided to quit my job. I worked for another 9 months to help transition my patients, and then I left without a clear plan for the future.
🌳 Since quitting, I have focused on my health, spending time outdoors, and enjoying life with my dog, Doobie. I started a YouTube channel to document our adventures and share the therapeutic benefits of nature.
✨ I found happiness in letting go of my past career and embracing a new path. I hope my story inspires others to trust their hearts and seek what truly makes them happy.