When To Visit A Psychiatrist And What To Expect?

Experiencing periods of sadness, sheer grief, conflict, and stress are common for everyone. But when people fail to deal with these mental issues, it makes them suffer from different forms of mental disorders. However, instead of suffering from such disorders for a long time, if one consult a psychiatrist at the right time, dealing with them becomes easier.

When to consult a psychiatrist?
In case you're wondering when to visit a psychiatrist, here are a few signs that you should never ignore.

1. Inability to deal with a trauma: Unfortunate circumstances like losing one’s nears and dears can be a traumatic experience. As a result, it may affect you mentally in numerous ways such as believing that the person is still alive or leading a normal life again will be impossible and so on.
2. Relying on substances for coping: Excessive consumption of alcohol, taking drugs or developing other addictions for dealing with reality are also common signs of mental distress. Unhealthy addictions and habits tend to raise the risk of other health issues such as eating disorders and sleeping problems.
3. Emotional turmoil affecting the body: When being emotionally upset all the time, it starts taking a toll on the body, such as stomach aches or recurrent headaches, or a poor immune system. Feelings of being disconnected are increasing.

Whether it's a family gathering or a party with closest of friends, is it that you are feeling disconnected to everyone around you? This sense of being disconnected or loneliness is often a result of suffering from disillusions, where a psychiatrist can help you regain yourself.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

1. Specific symptoms you have noticed, and for how long
2. Key personal information, including any current, major stressors or traumatic events in your past
3. Your medical information, including other physical or mental health conditions
4. Any medications, vitamins, herbal products or other supplements you take, and their doses
5. Questions to ask your doctor or mental health provider

What to expect in assessments sessions?
As a part of a psychiatric assessment, the mental health professional will first listen to all your concerns carefully and try to understand them from your point of view. The psychiatrist then may ask you questions about your health, your relationships, and your family history. This will be followed by filling out a questionnaire by you. A basic physical health check-up may also be done.

What to expect in treatment sessions?
Once the psychiatrist gets to understand your problems, he will focus on introducing a suitable treatment plan which may consist of different therapies. If necessary, along with the therapies, you may also be prescribed certain medications, and your condition will be monitored.

Psychiatric disorders range from young children to elderly, this can be witnessed from the range of psychiatric disorders both children & adults suffer from such as ADHD, autistic spectrum disorder, school refusal in children and depression, anxiety, psychosis, OCD, substance misuse in adults along with dementia, psychosis and depression in Elderly patients. 

Without taking care of your mental health, ensuring a healthy body and a promising life ahead is impossible. Therefore, it's essential to visit a psychiatrist if you are unable to deal with your traumas, stress, and depression by yourself. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!