What to Expect During Your First Psychiatry Appointment
Added: (Wed Jan 04 2023)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Introduction
If you've been feeling depressed or anxious for a while, it's natural to want to talk to someone about your stress. But what do you do when that person is a psychiatrist? Psychiatrists are trained in diagnosing mental health issues and prescribing medications. And even though they're physicians (like any other doctor) they're not like your primary care physician—they don't see patients on a regular basis or prescribe over-the-counter drugs. Instead, they'll refer you to an internist or pediatrician if they feel it's necessary (or if they want more information about your case). So how can this difference help or hurt patients? Here's what I've learned about my first appointment with my psychiatrist:
Bring a list of questions you want to ask.
Once you arrive at the appointment, it's important to prepare yourself mentally and physically. Before your first psychiatry appointment, do some research on what questions are common among patients and professionals in the field of mental health. This will help you feel more comfortable during the visit by giving you an idea of what to expect.
Once all of this information is collected and organized into a list of questions, write them down so that if something comes up during the session that wasn't specifically planned for but could be beneficial for both parties involved (you and your psychiatrist), then there won't be any confusion about which topic would work best for everyone involved as well as how long each topic should last before moving onto another one entirely different topic altogether!
It's okay to take notes.
It's okay to take notes. If you're writing down what the doctor is saying, they may not mind. A lot of doctors have a system in place where they ask if you want to take notes and then provide notebooks or pens and paper for you to do so (if it's an on-time appointment).
Come prepared with medical records and information.
You should bring all the medical records you have. This includes:
All your current medications and dosages
Any other health conditions, such as allergies or asthma, that might affect how well Psychiatry works for you
Your family history of mental illness in order to determine if it's hereditary (this means there's a genetic link to schizophrenia)
Ask about your options for treatment.
You may have a lot of questions about the treatment options available to you. Here are some questions that will help you decide what's best for your situation:
What kind of therapy do they offer?
How long does it take to get better?
Is medication an option, or is it only recommended if they think that medication would help me feel better in the long run (like with depression)?
Discuss your disclosure preferences.
Your first appointment with a psychiatrist is an important step in your care. You may have many questions about what to expect, such as:
What are my options for treatment?
What is the process of getting medication and how do I get it if I need it?
How does my psychiatrist think about certain situations or problems (e.g., family history of mental illness)?
Your doctor will want to know that you're comfortable with their practice, so be sure to ask if they are accepting new patients and what types of insurance they accept. It's also helpful if you can find out whether there have been any complaints filed against them recently by patients or others who use their services on Yelp or other review sites; this information could help you make an informed decision about where best serves your needs!
Follow up at the practice.
You should be able to contact your psychiatrist at any time, but if you have any questions, concerns or referrals that come up during the appointment, let them know right away. After all, they're the ones who know how their patients are doing!
As a new patient of theirs who's seen them before, it may be helpful to keep in touch with them throughout the rest of your treatment plan. It's also good practice for both parties: if something comes up during treatment that needs further attention (such as changes in medication dosage or side effects), having someone on hand who can address these issues swiftly could help ensure that nothing gets overlooked by either party.
A psychiatrist appointment can be more productive if you come well-prepared and know what to expect in advance.
It's important to know what to expect at your first psychiatric appointment. You should be prepared for the following:
Your psychiatrist will review your medical history, including any previous visits or tests. He or she will also ask questions about your mental health, such as if you have any suicidal thoughts or attempts in the past year and whether stress has affected your ability to function normally.
The doctor may order blood tests and other physical exams based on their results from this initial visit. These may include:
A urine test for chemicals associated with mental illness (such as cortisol)
A chest X-ray for heart problems
An electrocardiogram (ECG) on an arm placed against your chest wall
Conclusion
We hope that we’ve been helpful in dispelling some of the myths and misconceptions about psychiatric care. If you are thinking about seeing a psychiatrist for the first time, or want to talk about how your mental health history may impact your treatment options, don’t hesitate to reach out! We know this is a big decision and we want you to feel comfortable taking it step by step. Also remember that if it helps, there are many other professionals who can help get you started on the right path toward healing and recovery—from therapists at any of our locations across the country (or even outside their own geographic area), addiction specialists (like nurses or counselors), religious leaders (like pastors or rabbis), or peer support groups like Al-Anon.