In most cases, a scheduled appointment with a psychiatrist will be recommended by your family doctor when the symptoms or conditions you are experiencing warrants specialized treatment. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of mental health. They can be instrumental in treating various conditions through behavior therapy, medication therapy, or talk therapy depending on the issues you are experiencing.
The first phone call to a psychiatrist can be intimidating and stressful but know the person answering the phone will be helpful and keep your information confidential so you don’t have to worry about any stigma associated with getting mental help.
At your first visit, it is wise to provide the doctor with medical history including any chronic conditions you still suffer from, a list of medications and their dosages you take, as well as any questions or concerns you have. Since you may be nervous on your first visit, these notes prepared beforehand can be highly beneficial for establishing your health and personal history.
During your first visit, you can expect to answer a lot of questions about your health history and talk about the current issues you are experiencing. You may also be encouraged to talk about yourself and your emotional well-being so the doctor can learn more about you on an individual basis.
In addition to communicating about your issues, a psychiatrist may also want to have test performed for a proper evaluation of your condition. They may order MRIs or CT scans of the brain to analyze its structure. Psychiatrists are also permitted to administer prescription medications when treating psychiatric conditions. Your specialist will discuss with you the initial findings of the evaluation and may recommend a treatment plan for moving forward.
