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If so, what should I expect? With the advice of my psychologist from the summer, I searched for a good psychiatrist in this area. I finally found one and my parents set the whole thing up (since the insurance stuff is all with them). So I have my first appointment thing on Wednesday. I have no idea what to expect though, and I've been stressing over it the last few days. If anyone can calm my nerves, I'd greatly appreciate it.
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They will try to screw up your mind and brainwash you! The purpose of a psychiatrist is to turn stable hardworking members of society into messed up criminals and drug addicts, don't go at all COSTS! They're horrible horrible people who think that your no better then a common dog and that you should be treated as one, whatever they say do the opposite! Don't let them get into your mind! They'll mess up and ruin your life.
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You know Blayne, there are appropriate and inappropriate times for jokes. This would be one of the inappropriate ones.
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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pfresh, pay no mind to Blayne; he is clearly deranged.
Blayne, can't you do something constructive? Why do you have to pour gasoline of the fire of pfresh's anxiety?
The psychiatrist will talk to you, perhaps administer diagnositic tests, to try to understand what your problem is. There is a good chance that medication will be prescribed. Be sure to ask any questions that are on your mind about the medication -- effects, side effects, how you know that it is working, what to do if it is not, how to get the answers to any other questions that you might have that you didn't think to ask just now.
Ask if there is a problem with abruptly discontinuing the medicine -- some medications need to be tapered off.
And ask what your prognosis is -- how soon you can expect to be feeling better.
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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Should I bring a list of what medications and such I'm on now (and possibly doseage levels as well)? I'd think that would be important if they are going to prescribe medication on the first appointment.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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Yes, bring info about current medications. You'll probably have to fill out medical history forms and such, just like seeing any new doctor.
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Yes, and medications you have tried in the past.
Most likely your doctor will have requested records from your other doctors and have that info at your first appointment (in the most ideal situation).
Posts: 2064 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Blayne Bradley
unregistered
posted
okay j/k, I wanted the shock value. Sorry. *grin*
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quote:Should I bring a list of what medications and such I'm on now (and possibly doseage levels as well)? I'd think that would be important if they are going to prescribe medication on the first appointment.
That's a good idea when visiting any doctor.
Also, be sure to tell your pharmacist everything you're taking when you fill any prescription you might get - two checks for conflicts are better than one, and pharmacists have automated systems to augment their professional knowledge.
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Well the psychiatrist was supposed to call back last week to ask for certain things (I was never told what, it was just offered in a vague general sense), but as far as I know that didn't happen. I hope they don't expect me to have a lot of this. A list of medications I can do (since it's all here), and a medical history I could at least somewhat do. For any in depth records though, I'm out of luck.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Everytime I've gone to see a new psychiatrist (I'm on my third), I've been asked the following questions:
Are you on any medication currently? Have you been on anything in the past? Any history of mental illness in the family and extended family (aunts, uncles, grandparents)? Do you use substances (caffiene, nicotine, pot, alcohol, other drugs)? If so, how often? Why are you seeking medication? How is your appetite? Has it changed? How well do you sleep?
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.
Posts: 2867 | Registered: May 2005
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I'm just a notorious worrier; it's part of the problem. I was diagnosed by psychologist with depression, anxiety (general I guess?), and social anxiety. I worry about everything. I worry about the drive to the psychiatrist, I worry about questions asked, I worried about testing that'll be done, I worry about getting the medication, I worry about taking the medication, etc.. I think my worry over this psychiatrist thing has been the cause of my headache for the last three or four days. It's no fun to always be worried about stuff.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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I had a lot of anxiety before I started taking the right kind of medication, but now I'm not as irritable and anxious anymore. It's absolutely fabulous. It will all work out, just answer the questions honestly and make sure you take the meds and such.
Posts: 2867 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
It is actually a very good thing that you're even willing to discuss it with people on an anonymous internet forum. One of the most important things is to not be embarassed or scared of seeing someone or taking medication. Take care of your mind, just as you would take care of the rest of your body.
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I went to see a psychologist. She was quite cool. German, but a bit harsh as she had hawk-like eyes. I too have social anxiety disorder.
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Well that was the logic my psychologist used. When I first started seeing him, I told him that if possible I'd rather not get put on medication. It just seems an odd thing, and at the same time I'm on countless other medications and I just don't feel right about it. He explained with the glasses comparison (I guess since I wear glasses). He said if your eyes aren't functioning properly, then you'd get glasses or contacts to correct that. Similarly, if something in your head isn't functioning right, you should get medication to try and correct it. I accepted that logic and so here we are.
EDIT: I went to my psychologist mainly for my depression. The social anxiety and other anxiety wasn't a surprise by any means, but it wasn't the main reason I went there either. Hopefully the psychiatrist can help me fix all of them though.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Just a psychiatrist. I had a psychologist while I was home for the summer. I'm just getting a psychiatrist here at school now.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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I'm not sure. I talked to my father first about the psychologist and then we went from there. His work has some small program (I think it's outside of our health insurance) which covers like 95% of costs for the first six visits to a psychologist and/or a psychiatrist.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
One thing you have to be careful about with a psychiatrist is that they can turn into just medication-type people...your visits will become check-ins to manage side effects and dosage...which is fine, if you have a therapist to talk to as well...but sometimes not so good if you're relying solely on a psychiatrist for therapy.
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In regards to the EAP thing, I don't know if that's it or not. The name of the program we use for this is Value Options; I'm not sure what type of program it is though.
As far as the therapist, do I need one? I think one of the things I discovered with my psychologist is that I don't get a lot out of talking to someone about my problems, mostly because I've already overanalyzed everything. Combine this with the fact that my psychologist didn't recommend a therapist, and I'm not positive I need one. I'll gladly listen to opinions to the contrary.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I went to shrinks of various flavors from the age of 6 until I was 15. I learned how to play gin rummy and make origami paper balloons, skills which serve me well to this day.
If you've been to a psychologist, I wouldn't worry too much about a psychiatrist. The only difference is that the latter is an MD and can write prescriptions. They might have a different style, but the same thing would be true about another psychologist.
Good luck. Ultimately, you're driving. All they can do is hold the map and make some suggestions about directions.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
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You can see how the first couple of visits go with the psychiatrist, then think about therapists again. Or ask the doctor what he thinks about therapy at that point.
Posts: 1014 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
I don't mean to take away from the positive atmosphere in here, but I really don't have much uses for Psychiatrists... I have seen three of them.
The First one said I was Bipolar...
The second one decided I Just was going through a rough time...
The third one claimed I suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome... and after three months he couldn't figure out why...
Psychiatrists possibly, and probably will be helpful for you, but keep in mind that you may not get answers from the first one... or the second... or the third... but eventually you'll either snap out of it, or find someone who will be helpful...
Posts: 1094 | Registered: Mar 2004
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Well the reason I chose a psychologist first over a psychiatrist was because I wanted to avoid the possibility that I might get someone who would automatically tell me that medication was the only option to help me. After several weeks with the psychologist and several failed attempts at countering my problems, it looks like medication may be the best option remaining for combatting my problems. We'll see how it goes though.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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It's been a long time since I have seen one. I really can't remember anything about what he asked or anything. Sorry.
Posts: 2208 | Registered: Feb 2004
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I have done the whole process... Psychiatrists where what the the Psychologist recommended. The Psychologist I ended up with, was recommended by both of the Christian Therapists that I tried... and to be honest, I really can't tell the difference between the Therapist and the Psychologist...
But the end of my story is quite simple... I went to europe for 6 weeks on vacation and my outlook on life changed so much that I guess i just sorta snapped out of it...
To be honest, I think the Third Psychiatrist was the closest to figuring things out...
Posts: 1094 | Registered: Mar 2004
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Well, it also depends on what your psychiatrist says. I have severe ocd, and my psychiatrist insisted that I find a therapist in addition to seeing him.
I never did, though. Mostly because I hated the first therapist I saw, since all of the therapists at my university specialized in something, and they always tried to focus only on what they specialized in...which often got in the way of therapy. My roommate had the sex therapist, who spent all her time telling her that she had a dysfunctional sex life when she'd gone in to help her deal with a family member passing away. My therapist was the substance abuse counselor. She was always convinced I had SOME kind of substance problem. It took me a long while to convince her that I really hadn't ever tried drugs.
But therapists are supposely really good for people who have anxiety disorders. There are exercises and things they can give you to work on. I'll probably be finding one soon myself.
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I think the only way therapy would help me is if I already had my problems under control. Over the years, I've been given several different exercises/tasks/whatever to do to try and combat my anxiety (particularly in regards to social stuff). The problem is I'm so anxious that I can never do the exercises/tasks. It's a sort of never-ending loop. I can't do the stuff because I'm anxious but I need to do the stuff to control my anxiety. If the psychiatrist and the medication help me, well then maybe I can attempt those exercises/tasks again.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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My father and lots of his friends are psychologists, and some psychiatrists, and they all pretty much agree:
Psychologists diagnose. Psychiatrists treat.
As long as you're sure your psychiatrist is following the diagnosis of your psychologist, you should be okay. For that reason, it's almost always best to use psychologists and psychiatrists that practice together, preferably in the same office, and are very familiar with each other.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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quote: I think the only way therapy would help me is if I already had my problems under control. Over the years, I've been given several different exercises/tasks/whatever to do to try and combat my anxiety (particularly in regards to social stuff). The problem is I'm so anxious that I can never do the exercises/tasks. It's a sort of never-ending loop. I can't do the stuff because I'm anxious but I need to do the stuff to control my anxiety. If the psychiatrist and the medication help me, well then maybe I can attempt those exercises/tasks again.
I know it isn't funny pfresh, but it made me laugh because it is EXACTLY what I said to my psychologist. I told him: 'Man, you are asking me to something like keep flying the plane while I am unconscious. The problem is, I have no control and you are asking me to take control'
So I ended up getting medicines from a psychiatrist in combination with a therapy from the psychologist and this worked very well. The medicines were just enough to give me some control and from there on I could build it up. I took the medicines for about three years. After those three years I didn't need them anymore.
And all is well now.
I know how you worry right now. My heart is with you pfresh. Just keep your spirit up as much as possible and all will turn out well for you too!
Posts: 1247 | Registered: Apr 2000
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posted
I was also on medications for a while and do not take them now (have not taken for 12 years). Taking the meds does not mean you wind up on them forever. I also know some very intelligent people who are on meds for the long haul. It's not an either/or, black and white situation. And keep posting on hatrack. There are a truckload of people here with anxiety disorders.
I also have a couple of relatives who are psychiatrists. They are some of my favorite people apart from that. I'm not so sure about the "psychologists diagnose, psychiatrists treat" things. Also, there is a difference between a social worker and a psychologist. To practice, a psychologist would have a Ph.D. A social worker or therapist has a master's degree, and they do the vast majority of the footwork in the mental health field. If there is an extent to which erso's generalization is true, it is just that there is a relative shortage of psychiatrists so the amount of time they can focus with each patient is limited.
But I applaud you going to a psychiatrist rather than having meds prescribed by a general practice M.D. What meds are you currently on?
I worked with several psychiatrists when I was hospitalized and some were excellent, some made oversights. I worked with one psychiatrist on the outside. She didn't ask me to tell her about my mother, if that's what you are worried about. I can't guarantee that won't happen.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
The only medications I'm on now are stuff to control some physical problems (astham, high cholesterol, etc.). I looked into the few medications my psychologist suggested that he thought a psychiatrist would recommend for me, and it looks like maybe only one of them actually has a problem with the medications I'm currently on. I guess we'll see though.
EDIT: I'm on day five of straight headaches. I think they may be stress related, although I wouldn't rule out allergies entirely.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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There were four that he thought would be recommended. The only two that come to the top of my mind at the moment are Paxil and Xanex (or however you spell that).
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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See, the problem with saying that starting medication doesn't mean you'll be on it forever is that...well, once you're on it, your doctor will probably want to keep you on it, which makes it way more difficult to stop.
My first psychiatrist wasn't like this at all...he let me try new medications as I was willing, and he usually left me alone about it if I encountered a side effect/whim and stopped taking them.
My second psychiatrist was hell-bent on keeping me medicated, despite some very, very disturbing side effects that I tried to talk with him about on several occasions. I think his attitude is much more common than the first psychiatrist's.
I'll stick with my Ativan...as needed. Which is almost never nowadays.
posted
Oh! Oh! Me! Me! I'm stuck on meds for the long haul! I hope I'm one of the smart people!
Wait, no...I used too many exclamation marks AND an ellipses. Sadness.
Here's my two cents: I've worked in the mental health field. I'm also a client of the mental health field. Most folks around here know both of those things. As with all professionals, there's good ones and bad ones. Also with all professionals, there's personalities to contend with. A psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker might be good at what they do, but the way they do it doesn't work with your personality (this has happened several times for me, it took me awhile to find my current psychiatrist and my current psychologist).
When you've got something like a social anxiety disorder going on, medication and therapy, as I have seen and read, do a lot of good together. The medication helps bring symptoms under some control and then cognitive therapy helps a person gain control over the behavior. It's a pretty neat thing, actually. Sometimes, a person can learn so well how to control the behavior that they're able to go without medication. But to first calm symptoms enough to learn control, medication could be needed.
I hated the idea of medication when I first started having to take them (I was first diagnosed with depression in 1999), but I was told once the depression lifted for some time, I'd be able to go off meds. Well, not according to my biology. After a few years of struggles in terms of psychiatrists and psychologist trying to diagnose what was going on with me, they finally figured out that I've got bipolar II disorder and ADHD. It also took a great deal of time to find the right medication in terms of minimal side effects and maximum good.
It's worth it. I feel like a "normal person." Sure, I still have quirks of any person with ADHD, but that's what they are--quirks. As for the bipolar disorder, as long as I watch my sleep and get enough, and continue taking the medications, it's like I don't have it at all. I wouldn't give up this stability for anything.
If someone tried to take it away, I would fight for it, and fight dirty if I had to.
But I haven't just seen this from my own point of view, I've seen it happen from a provider point of view. Treatment, successful treatment, gives you your life back.
And that is a precious gift.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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quote:But I haven't just seen this from my own point of view, I've seen it happen from a provider point of view. Treatment, successful treatment, gives you your life back.
And that is a precious gift.
Yes indeed. Right now I've got my medication under control and it's made my life a million times better by controlling my anxiety/irritability. After years and years of being one of the most easily irritable people I know, I'm just not anymore and it's all because of medication. I'm working through the therapy now - just started with a new therapist so it'll take a bit, and once that gets started I know I'll be a billion times better off than I was before I started any of this.
quote:Originally posted by kojabu: Was one of them Lexapro?
Not to my recollection. As for some of the other comments, it's good to hear at least some people have had success. I started thinking about it and I think I may have found a reason my psychologist didn't recommend a therapist in addition to the psychiatrist. In one of our discussions about my social anxiety, I said something along the lines of "I know how to do all that social stuff, I understand it, but it's just like I can't do it. It's like there's a brick wall in front of me and it would take all my energy to get past that wall, leaving none for the task behind it which would also take a lot of energy." His reply was something along the lines of that it was good that I knew how since it meant I probably wouldn't need as much training/exercise to get healthy; I would just need something to get me past that initial obstacle. We'll see how it goes though. Thanks for all the encouragement.
EDIT: I just got a call with more information. Apparently my co-pay for this first visit is $18, and then it goes to $8.50 for each subsequent visit. That's not too bad.
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Hey, walking into a psychiatrists' office was one of the scariest things I've ever done, but once I got there it wasn't any big deal at all. She basically just wrote the scripts my therapist recommended.
Now, I'm essentially on maintenance - all I do is go to the psychiatrist for med checks to make sure everything is still going well and I don't even see the therapist anymore. Now I treat going to the psychiatrist like I do a dental checkup. Just go in, make sure everything is still fine, and see ya next time.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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I wish you had put the dental association in my mind, Belle. I hate dental checkups. One of the worst things I have to do.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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So I had my first visit with my psychiatrist this afternoon. I had to fill out some paper work (about medical history, family history, etc.). Then he talked to me about my problems and why I was there to see him. After I talked for 20ish minutes, he started talking about different strategies to combat my problems. At the end, I had 2 prescriptions and a check up type appointment for 3 weeks from now. I know some may say "Why 2 prescriptions?" Well he wrote one for an anxiety medication (Celexa) and another for a medication for insomnia (since I've had a lot of trouble sleeping lately). I went and got the prescriptions filled and then came back home. So now I'm officially on medication for some of my problems. Here's hoping it helps.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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