if/when I go to see a doctor...
 

rubbish title... couldn't think of wording...


basically a while back I went to see a doctor, but he started talking about anxiety disorders and medications and stuff and I got scared and didn't go back... similar story with councilling... went for about 4 months then got nervous abou tit and stopped...


part of the reason for this is just I don't want to have a "label" or "condition" and the other is that I was scared that having something wrong with me may impact on my future career plans...


but I'm thinking of going back and trying again in jan...



I was just wondering what would happen... what is the process of diagnosis? would I be referred to someone? I just think that if I knew what the process was I'd find it easier to do... I KNOW I NEED to do this... but I'm not sure I can make myself, but if I knew what was coming it may be easier...


sorry... feel bad for asking something so trivial... just wondering as I know a lot of people here have done the whole doctor and medication thing...

I’m sorry... this is a stupid and pointless thread i know...

It’s just ever since i decided to do this and promised my boyfriend that i would i’ve been worried abou tit.. and don’t want to worry for the next 3 weeks until i go

Hopefully you would be referred to a psychiatrist, and assessed to try and find out what's wrong.

Well, I've had the experience of getting diagnosed and starting medications but it was pretty much all done whilst I was inpatient in a psychiatric hospital.

In the community I had a CMHT and saw a psychiatrist there who would assess me.

Basically, you see a psychiatrist (or your GP who would probably refer you to a psychiatrist) and they ask you what problems you are experiencing. You talk about it in depth, they may ask you to fill out some questionnaires. This might go on for a few sessions, and then they will tell you what they think is wrong and how best to treat it, be it with medication or therapy or whatever. You have the right to refuse treatment as far as I am aware. Your psychiatrist will be the best person to talk through any concerns you have about what it's like to have a diagnosis, what medication means for you, what therapy involves etc.

You would most likely be referred to your local CMHT and assigned a team. You would have a keyworker (who could be a Community Psychiatric Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or someone similar) who works closely with your psychiatrist. Your keyworker would visit you at home (or see you at the CMHT) and they would talk things through with you and find out how best to support you. They can also refer you for counselling and other occupational therapy groups.

thanks for the re[lies


i know it was a silly question really... just a bit scared of doing it lol

the way it worked for me was i realized i needed some helpe so i went through my insurance provider to find a psychologist. after a couple of months i was referred to a psychiatrist. i filled out a questionarre and was started on a low dose of medication. i saw my counselor every week and saw my psychiatrist once a month.

i think the best thing to do is to try and find an office that has both in the same space so that there is communication between the two. or to find a psychitrist/psychologist so that they are the same person and are more intimatley acquainted with your needs.

as for what to expect the first sessions are always the same. they ask you what brought you here, history of diagnosis, hospitalizations, drug use, and family history. try to be as honest as possible in the begginning so that they can make a plan on how to best treat your situation.

((hugs))