What happens at a visit to the psychiatrist?

Question

I am thinking of going to get some help, maybe xanax to help ease my anxiety. DO I have to tell them my whole life story. What do you do?

Answer 1

A psychotherapist is for talking to and a psychiatrist usually just hands out prescriptions and does blood work. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in drugs that work on the mind.

A psychotherapist specializes in behavior.

So, I would suggest seeing a psychotherapist to help your anxiety and ask the psychotherapist to refer you to a psychiatrist for anxiety meds.

Xanax is really strong and can be addictive - I would start you off with something lighter and work up to stronger stuff if the lighter stuff isn't helping you.

Answer 2

Like most any other Dr. you would visit, likely the first question you are asked will be "what brings you in today?" With a Psychiatrist though, you can skip the sheet and gown routine. Your regular clothing is just fine. Weight and blood pressure, though can be a standard practice for some, while others may skip that all together.

The Psychiatrist will need to establish if you are experiencing a new and temporary problem, or a longstanding chronic problem for this reason he will ask your history. He will also want to establish the source of your problem, is it coming from jobs or relationships, is it a chemical or drug reaction, a time of high stress, a particular situation, or maybe your self-diagnosis is only the tip of the iceberg. Maybe you have a form of depression that is untreated, and once the depression is under control the other symptoms you are experiencing will fade away. Some people will do just fine if they will go to a counselor for a few weeks or months - learning to address their problems in different ways, and others may need medical problems addressed.........
Anyway, the Psychiatrist will ask you questions, test your perceptions and memory, learn some of your history, seek to find the severity of your symptoms, assess your stress level and where that stress is coming from. Once he feels he has a good idea of you -- of your issues -- of your physical or psychological condition, then he may or may not prescribe medication. He won't prescribe it just because you ask for a name brand drug. He will prescribe according to what he feels is a medically sound decision, given your area of need.

You can expect follow-up visits to both monitor your medication use and to help him confirm that his initial diagnosis is still current, whether you need a different dosage, or a different medication all together.

Answer 3

They are varied.

Most of the time they will just ask you what is going on and what symptoms you are suffering from and then prescribe a medicine based on that. You can even tell them what medicines you have heard about and ask if those would be appropriate for you.

You do NOT need to tell your whole life story because usually it is not therapy. Besides that most of them are too exspensive to pay for therapy, both you and they are usually better off going else where if you and/or they think you do need therapy. Some do a combination of therapy and meds but most don't. Most will referer you to some one else (usually a Psychologist not an MD) for therapy if they think it will help you.

Since anxiety is psyiological as well as spychological they will most likely prescribe some sort of Benzodiazapine (Xanax is one of many) and send you on your way.

As far as what you do, well the only thing you have to do is remain honest with them about any problems you may be having.

Answer 4

You don't have to tell him you whole life story. But he will want to know why you believe you need an anti anxiety drug, he might have you come back to help you figure out coping ways other than drugs. You should be able to get a script for Xanax from your regular Dr, although for short period only, then he would recommend you to see a psychiatrist, to see if there are better methods to help you deal with it.

Answer 5

No you dont have to tell them your whole life story but you are supposed to say somthing because if you just sit there for an hour and dont talk they get kind of frustarted like they failed or dont know how to do their job.

Answer 6

Xanax is a bit extreme for your first time.

Answer 7

He/she will want some background on your life, yes. But mainly you want to focus on the reason your are there. He/she will want to know why you have so much anxiety, have you always had it, what makes you anxious, ect. Try to be open and it will come pretty easily.

Answer 8

you should first go to a psychotherapist as others have said si that you can talk and get things sorted.if its nessasary to take meds your psychotherapist will send you to a psychiatrist.
i don't know what happens at a visit to the psychiatrist.i haven't visited one but i have a psychotherapist and she has really helped me with things!!