Do I need a shrink?

Question

The resident doctor at my place of work has made it known that he wishes me tohave sessions with a psychiatrist. How do I respond to this?

Answer 1

well the real question is do YOU think you need one?

Answer 2

Have you asked why the doctor feels this way? It is your right to know.

How to respond depends on how much you want to keep your job. In many workplaces, refusing to do this might mean losing your job. It may also mean that any information you give a psychiatrist will be available to your employer. If you go ahead and see a psychiatrist, ask about confidentiality especially regarding your employer.

When are the services of a psychiatrist appropriate?

A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses and emotional problems.

Because of extensive medical training, the psychiatrist understands the body's functions and the complex relationship between emotional illness and other medical illnesses. The psychiatrist is thus the mental health professional and physician best qualified to distinguish between physical and psychological causes of both mental and physical distress.

Consulting with an online psychiatrist is the most cost-effective way to get a second opinion from a physician when you have:

1. Questions about medication.

2. Questions and recommendations about psychiatric conditions
or questions about a psychiatric diagnosis

3. Questions about medical conditions that can effect/cause
behavioral health disorders

Answer 3

With such limited information it is really hard to answer this question. Why does he want u to see a psychiatrist? this is the first thing i ask myself.Do you work in a job which has more stress than usual?. You say "The resident doctor" at your place of work, do u have a "Resident psychiatrist" there too?, these are questions i would like to have been given a little more information about.
Therefore my question to u would have to be Do YOU think u need to see a psychiatrist and if so why?. As a doctor he/she must have their reasons for saying this knowing that to see a psychciatrist u would have to have a referal from your own GP first.
As a psychiatrist myself i can only say for certain that there must be a reason why the doctor at work has reached this conclusion.
I would therefore advise that u make an appointment with ur own GP and see what decision they come up with. If for whatever reason they decide it would be to your advantage they will refer u to a psychiatrist as an outpatient. You will then be assed by the psychiatrist to dermine any problem/s then it will be taken from there.
However, i would strongly advise u to make an appointment to see your own doctor and take it from there. After all u have nothing to loose and maybe alot to gain.
Wishing u all the very best in whatever u decide to do.

Answer 4

With an open mind as your doctor should by profession only have your wellbeing at the forefront of his recommendation!
It is very easy to become defensive when a doctor, family member, friend etc say they recommend therapy as many people see this as a sign of weakness within themselves when I believe the opposite is true. If you are having problems particularly ones where society can be the least accepting of, then in my humble opinion I think that it shows courage and strength to face them in whatever form that may be. I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 5

You accept that he has made the suggestion for a good reason - he is highly trained and obviously feels that you would benefit from some psychiatric input........it's really not that bad you know, I didn't want to go either, but my psychiatrist has been really good and has helped me a lot with my various problems. Good luck, I'd advise you to go and have these sessions, it can't make anything worse, and hopefully it will help you.

Answer 6

is he gonna pay for it? I'd say a big YES to that. It's like someone offering you a free car. Go for it.

IF, that is, the shrink is any good. I have a theory that psychiatrists don't make good psychotherapists. Psychiatrists are medical doctors and their speciality is pills; they are not psychologists, which is what most psychotherapists really are deep down. Pills are good in the right circumstances, but genuine psychotherapy is not pills, and if you're not asking for this treatment yourself then you're probably not a pills case anyway. So you might say "psychotherapist, please, not psychiatrist". But that really is just my tuppence.

Answer 7

Hey, we all need someone to talk to every now and again. Did the doctor elaborate as to why you should see the shrink? I'd go. Might be you have something really interesting to talk about and just don't know it.

Answer 8

Too little information to say anything meaningful other than...

If a doctor says you need to see a specialist, that is his medical advise. You are free to do it, or not do it. As long as you are sane and competant, you can make your own decision.

I'm not sure why you asked "How do I respond to this?"

You want to contest his opinion? If so, seek a second opinion from another doctor.

Answer 9

I am afraid i would need to know actual symptoms to advise and if he is advising you at your place of work did you ask for his advice or is this just his opinion if so he is being quite rude offensive and unprofessional.visit your gp and tell him your symptoms not just a doctor you work with.

Answer 10

It's pretty common. He might even have a quota to how many people he sends to his golf buddy the shrink. Just do it ... no big deal. you might get something out of it.

Answer 11

Go for it, what harm can it do?

Little lie down, nice cosy chat, people pay money for that kind of thing you know. Enjoy.