I have decided to go to a psychiatrist. What do I do now and what happens next?

Question

After thinking about it and talking it over with my wife, I've decided to consult a psychiatrist to help me with the self-confidence issue, anxiety and worry that threaten to ruin my work life and hurt my relationship with my wife.

I have entered into therapy once before in college. It was free and the councilor was not a licensed therapist. I want to go to a psychiatrist now for advice and to see if I have a mental issue that might require medication.

We plan to handle this through the insurance I get from my job, so do I just start calling offices and see what works with my schedule? What accommodations might I have to make for this?

And as far as the visits, what should I expect from these doctors? What will they want to know about me? What questions should I be prepared to answer?

As you can probably tell, I'm a little nervous about this experience even though I've done it before. Any advice would help a lot.

OK, it looks like I'm having some problems with my terms. I don't really know the differences between the different kinds of doctors.

My health insurance (I think) allows me to go to a psychiatrist or a psychologist. I want a doctor who I can talk to, who will offer me advice and who will tell me whether or not I should go on medication. They don't have to be able to prescribe it themselves, but I'd like a professional's opinion as to whether this would work for me.

Answer 1

I think a therapist might be more appropriate, because the only real benefit of seeing a psychiatrist is being able to be prescribed medication, which I don't really think you need to start with. If you start seeing a therapist or counselor, and they think you need some sort of medication, you can try seeing just your general practioner, and then a psychiatrist as a last resort.

Use the phone book and internet to find a therapist or counselor. The most important question to ask at this point is if they take your insurance.

You will probably arrange a schedule with the counselor/therapist at the first meeting.

First visit with a counselor is probably going to be a lot of direct questions about you and your background information; family history, current family, work, etc., why you are there. Don't expect to get into your issues in the first visit.

I don't think you really need to prepare answers before you go, just be ready to share information with someone you may not know that well, but who wants to help you.

Of course, no one is going to make you say anything you feel uncomfortable with, just be honest with your therapist.

Answer 2

My opinion (from experience) is that therapists are the best route to go, psychiatrists don't really listen to you and hand out the pills. I've found therapists are much more helpful in that the give you tools to deal with you issues, where psychiatrists just give you medication, and usually once you are on meds you will have to try a pile of different pills to see what works and what doesn't! At least this was my experience. Good Luck

Answer 3

I have been to a psychiatrist and psychologist

I found for me the psychologist was perfect

One thing to remember though, is that even though they think they may be able to treat you...
But you feel that they are not listening to you or helping you in a way you find beneficial find a new one to go to

I went to a few before i found any that would listen to who i was and didnt treat me like an idiot............and when you arent feeling that great sometimes you put up with it and not get any better but get worse..........

Answer 4

You want a psychologist. They will screw you out of money just like the others do. But a little less. They will tell you that the only way to get over your problems is to forget your mother, masturbate in a dark room, and take some pills.

Okay that will be $125.00 and hour.

Go outside and get some friends. You don't need these quacks.