There are a multitude of reasons why you may be referred to a psychiatrist by your family doctor and there are a multitude of reasons why you may reject the idea of setting up that first appointment.
Mental health conditions often tend to carry a stigma that is not factual or accurate. But for some people, the idea of being diagnosed with a mental illness is too much to bear. They fear their will be repercussions for getting help including bullying and being shunned. But the reality is that your mental well-being is just as important as your physical one. You likely would not resist treatment if you suspected you had a heart condition so why would you skip treatment if you had a brain condition?
Mental health has come a long way from the days when people didn’t understand the variety of issues that can attack the mental state of an individual. The diagnosis, treatment, therapy, and medication have made great strides in order to help those suffering from mental health conditions. If your family doctor suspects there are conditions affecting you and refers you to a specialist, be sure you make your appointment and go.
Society is becoming more accepting of the mental health-related issues affecting Americans. There is more information than ever available and it appears a bigger compassion is present among human beings. The worst thing you can do for a mental illness is ignore it and hope it goes away. Unfortunately many conditions affecting the brain do not go away – they only get bigger.
