How do I go about finding a psychiatrist?!


Question: The first time I was sent to a psychiatrist was through my family doctor, when I was in highschool and again in college. I have a few problems I guess, I have been diagnosed bipolar with general anxiety disorder and elements of PTSD from an abusive household.

I was prescribed medicine for bipolar but always refused to take it because I wanted to be a police officer. Well... eventually I realized that I can't live like this, and I'm making my life miserable by pushing away those around me because of what is wrong with me. I'm starting to realize I won't be able to have a healthy relationship with anybody until I 1) get some counseling because I have a lot of stuff that I haven't really worked through and 2) get the proper medication.

The problem is I don't have a family doctor anymore (I was seeing my pediatrician until I turned 21, and then I was too old. I'm 22 now.), and I moved so I don't really know anyone... how do I find a good psychiatrist? I really need help, thanks.


Answers: The first time I was sent to a psychiatrist was through my family doctor, when I was in highschool and again in college. I have a few problems I guess, I have been diagnosed bipolar with general anxiety disorder and elements of PTSD from an abusive household.

I was prescribed medicine for bipolar but always refused to take it because I wanted to be a police officer. Well... eventually I realized that I can't live like this, and I'm making my life miserable by pushing away those around me because of what is wrong with me. I'm starting to realize I won't be able to have a healthy relationship with anybody until I 1) get some counseling because I have a lot of stuff that I haven't really worked through and 2) get the proper medication.

The problem is I don't have a family doctor anymore (I was seeing my pediatrician until I turned 21, and then I was too old. I'm 22 now.), and I moved so I don't really know anyone... how do I find a good psychiatrist? I really need help, thanks.

Hi Trish,

There are many ways to go about it. If you have insurance, what I would do is just start out with finding a general practitioner, since you'll want to have a regular doctor for any health issues anyway. When you meet with her/him, discuss your mental health concerns, and (s)he can make recommendations based on your diagnosis and symptoms.

The psychologists and psychiatrist I currently see were recommended to me because of their specialty in treating the disorders I suffer from (generalized anxiety, panic), and because my general practitioner thought they would be a good personality match--he was right!

Of course, this is one way to go about it, but I feel it can result in a better "fit" than just opening up the yellow pages or searching the internet for local psychiatrists.

I wish you the best.

Trish, why don't you look up the phone book to find a psychiatrist, and counsellor. Maybe you could think about being in a support role to the police, such as doing administration or clerical work, if you doubt your health is up to it.

ask at your local emergency room or police department

also look up - your county state mental health persons on google

my google = valley mental health tooele utah

I think maybe you're better talking to a friend than a psychiatrist, this may or may not be the best choice for you since I don't know the extent of what you're talking about..but I figure, you'll never be well since they live off of you, so they'll always reschedule, therapy is all about talking, if you have people who care in your life friends and family...they should listen to you

Do you live in Australia? If so then there have been ads on tv promoting awareness of the Australian Psychological Society. They have a website in which you can locate a psychologist near you, information about Medicare rebates and other psychological disorders.

www.psychology.org.au

I hope this helps and I wish you all the best for a full recovery.

Just wanted to say well done to you for wanting to help yourself get better and do something positive about it. Having had first hand experience of mental health problems myself in the past I appreciate how difficult this can be. Firstly I would definitely get yourself another GP, someone you can talk to openly about all this and he/she will be able to get your first session with a psychiatrist/counsellor, someone that specialises in your particular health problems. If you ever find that you GP or Psychiatrist isn't really the one for you and you don't feel your making progress then you must ask to be referred to another who will give you the help you need. You can find psychiatrists who you can pay to see privately (in the phone book) but you have to be really careful that these have the proper qualifications and the necessary certification, therefore sometimes it's much safer to get a referral through your GP. So it I were you I would go down that route from the outset, find a good GP who will listen to your problems and take it one day at a time from there.
I really hope you get all the help, support and proper advise and any medication help you need. You're only young yet with your life in front of you and shouldn't have to suffer unnecessarily with health problems when there is help out there for you. Good luck to you I hope you get the support you deserve and you begin feeling happier and live the life you really want. Take care of yourself Trish!

THERAPISTS: Closely examine the www.1-800-therapist.org website, and use the locators, in section 1, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris and phone book. Personally, I'd opt for a psychologist who believes in only recommending minimal necessary medication, if at all, because they don't issue prescriptions, so are considerably less likely to be involved with the rewards, and inducements offered by sales reps from "big pharma": the large drug companies, to psychiatrists (there are links to, or articles on how psychiatry has become corrupted by money from drug companies, and "how doctors are being manipulated", in section 1: worth reading!). It's important to not only feel comfortable with your therapist, but also to know about their qualifications, and the type of therapy used (read section 1). Some people are in therapy for many years, and pay a small fortune in fees, so recognise that therapists may have a vested interest in keeping their patients coming back. It pays the rent, and permits them to feel that they are fulfilling a useful function in life. For this reason, I believe that, unless there is a need for a specific type of therapy, such as Dialectical Behavio(u)ral Therapy, for Borderline Personality Disorder, or EMDR therapy, for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, it is a good idea to start out with a psychologist who uses Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy, which often can accomplish all it is capable of, in 6 months, and to fix that time limit in the first session. In that way, the therapist knows that there is only a limited window of opportuntiy to do what they can, and there is no unconscious motivation to attempt to draw things out. If, at the end of that time, you believe you could benefit from a little more therapy, then you can extend it, but I'd advise the therapist a few weeks before the final session, in case they are considering taking on a new patient, leaving you "high, and dry" committed, and without options, except to find someone else. See bipolar disorder, at ezy build, below, in section 10, and take the quiz, if unsure, and if the results are positive, ensure you get an expert diagnosis from a mental health professional, not doctors, who are much better dealing with physical ailments, and don't diagnose complex disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder often enough to develop any real expertise. Bipolar disorder usually involves major mood swings, which occur without apparent cause, and often over many months, or a matter of years, rather than days, as with most people (unless rapid cycling). I'd take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements in the winter months, (or, as probably a better alternative to the 2 cod liver oil supplements: 1 teaspoonful of cod liver oil, with a little butter, to ensure its use; I take mine on sourdough rye bread, or toast, covered with fishpaste, and pepper, to mask the strong taste). Those people who receive adequate exposure to sunlight, daily, won't need the vitamin D from cod liver oil, but many people, particularly those in latitudes far from the equator, find this difficult, to achieve. If you decide to use allopathy, (modern Western medicine) I recommend trying Lithium Carbonate, or Lithium Citrate. (regular tests are necessary, for these) before trying the other mood stabilisers, but if you aren't good at taking medications regularly, drinking adequate water, and keeping up your salt intake, something else may suit you better. Check out "lithium" at http://www.drugs.com/, and http://crazymeds.us/ and always research medications first, (read, and keep the labels/information sheets) so you will be aware of the risks, and on the lookout for side effects. (Personally, if I wasn't bipolar type 1, and didn't experience hallucinations, or serious delusional states, I know I'd first try the orthomolecular, and Omega 3 fish oil supplements, vitamins, minerals; a herbal remedy, such as St. John's wort, and a mostly raw food diet, for several months. I'd aso eat in accordance with my "nutritional type". Enter that term in the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com/ ). If not considerably improved, after several months, consult your primary mental health care provider: you may be one of those who need medications to prevent this progressive illness from getting even worse. If bipolar type 1, an antipsychotic medication may also be needed. Everyone should take the Omega 3 supplements, or preferably "krill oil" for its other health benefits: use the searchbar at http://www.mercola.com/ . Some people refuse medication, using supplements, and a selective, mostly raw food diet (I do not recommended trying this, if bipolar 1, unless you aren't troubled by hallucinations, or delusional states). Maintain the treatments for the depressive phase, in section 2, at: http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris Some topics in section 10 include: treating bipolar disorder with supplements, vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies. As with all medications, there are risks, and the possibility of side effects, which is why I inform people of the alternatives, to see if they can cope sufficiently well , without resorting to medications. Don't use medications and supplements together, without medical advice, except for Omega 3, which is safe. View anxiety treatments, at ezy build (below) in section 6, and PTSD, in section 33. Set yourself a fixed limit for worrying about any particular subject, (say; 10, or 15 minutes) after which, resolve firmly to refuse to even consider that subject again on that day: realise and accept that to do otherwise would be counterproductive to your mental health, and enjoyment of life. Use the technique for reprogramming negative thoughts and internal monologue (self talk), on pages 2, and 2L, to help you in this: some people carry a wide rubber band in their pocket: put it on their wrist; stretch, and release, as a means of reinforcing it, and speeding up the process, re-pocketing it afterwards, but I regard this as being purely optional. Practice one of the relaxation methods on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed. Also, give the EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. There is also a version for use in public places, (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you massage/lightly tap your temples, but you would then be restricted to subvocalising: saying it to yourself in your mind). Section 53, and pages 2, 2.q and 2.o at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris also refer: "Even though I sometimes suffer from anxiety, I deeply and completely accept myself."





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