Psychiatry is one of the emerging medical specialties, and it is still surrounded by many question marks. This, in addition to general beliefs and culture, you may see that going to a psychiatrist is a luxury. The general public confuses mental illness with weak faith. While others are afraid to go to a psychiatrist for fear of stigma! Dear reader, your visit to a psychiatrist does not mean that you are crazy, it does not mean that your faith is weak, and it is not a luxury. So if you are now wondering: “When should I visit a psychiatrist?” Read with us to find out the answer!
Who is a psychiatrist?
The question may seem naive to you and does not require explanation. However, in light of the rapid development of social media, and the rapid spread of news and advice, it seems necessary to clearly define some names.
A psychiatrist is someone who has completed medical school – which takes about seven years in most places – and obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. He spent a period of three or four years studying psychiatry, and prepared a scientific degree. A psychologist or psychotherapist cannot act as a doctor when it comes to diagnosing and writing drug treatment.
As for the psychologist and psychotherapist, they are people who have studied psychology, or related human studies, and have prepared scientific degrees in their field. They learned psychological treatment methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and others.
What should I know before visiting a psychiatrist?
Symptoms of mental disorders are similar to those of other organic diseases. If you suffer from symptoms such as: problems sleeping, a change in appetite, or a change in mood, this may indicate the possibility of an organic problem and the cause is not necessarily psychological fatigue.
The aforementioned symptoms may occur with thyroid hormone disturbances, liver diseases, etc. Therefore, do not be surprised if the psychiatrist requests tests, or asks you questions related to your physical health. Believe it or not, the first rule in the practice of psychiatry involves excluding the presence of other health problems before diagnosing the condition.
It is necessary to pay attention to this point, especially for women. It is common in the medical field to downplay women’s complaints and tend to think that physical symptoms are due to a bad psychological state. This may put the patient’s life at risk, because the doctor ignores the possibility of an organic problem that requires attention and solution.
When do I visit a psychiatrist?
There are situations in which you must visit a psychiatrist immediately. If you or someone you care about is suffering from one of the following problems, do not hesitate to go.
- Sleep problems: Sleeping more than usual, feeling sleepy all the time, interrupted sleep, taking a long time before falling asleep, losing the ability to sleep.
- Appetite change: loss of desire to eat, gluttony.
- Mood changes: sad all the time, or impulsiveness.
- Social relationships: Loss of desire to communicate with people and isolation.
- Work life: Deterioration in academic level, moving between jobs without settling in any job for a reasonable period of time, sudden delay.
- Behavior: Unusual and unexpected behavior, or strange and illogical speech.
The previous cases require an immediate visit to a psychiatrist if they continue for two weeks or more. It is important to know that psychiatry, like other medical specialties, is that the sooner you see a doctor, the better it will be for your mental health, your psychological state, and your entire life.
What will I do on my first visit to the psychiatrist?
💪! You have taken the most important step!
Rest assured, you won’t feel much difference. You will find that it is like visiting any doctor in another specialty. During the first visit, the doctor will introduce himself, ask for some information about you, and ask you some questions related to your physical health to ensure your safety. Then he turns to the main reason for your visit
After discussing the basic complaint, you will usually find the psychiatrist informing you of your rights: such as ensuring complete confidentiality (that what you say will not go out of the room)
, and your right to choose the appropriate treatment method for you according to your condition (pharmacological or psychological),
and reassuring you that there are no judgments here. He will not call you a good or bad person. In the end, the doctor helps you by clarifying how things will go in the next visits, in case you need follow-up, and he may ask you to undergo further tests,
as we mentioned at the beginning.
When should I go to a psychiatrist
in the end:
Simply put, you don’t need a reason to visit. You do not have to be in a very bad psychological state, or suffer from the problems we mentioned at the beginning. You have the right to go at any time, to preserve your psychological and mental safety from tension and pressure. It’s not a weakness to ask for help! Indeed, if you think a little,
you will find that visiting a psychiatrist may improve many things, because you will get help in a professional manner,
and as it is always said
: He who consults is never disappointed.
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When should I go to a psychiatrist?
