Starting therapy for the first time ever...

[TomiJoseph]

I am scared right now. My mom has me set up with a psychiatrist and I have no idea what to expect. I wonder if it's gonna be really awkward or how much I'm going ot feel comfortable saying and I'm worried they're going to prescribe me something. I don't know why tht scares me so much, but there it is. Can someone please tell me about what I should expect or about things to look out for? Thank you.

[crazykat]

Seeing a psychiatrist for the first time can always be hard but with time it usually gets easier. They will basically ask you a whole lot of questions like what your sleeping is like, how your moods are etc to determine how best to treat you. The best thing is to be honest with so they can help you in the best way possible. Also tell them your concerns over medication if this is something that bothers you. Take care
Kat xxx

[TomiJoseph]

Thank you for the advice. Some of my other friends have been in therapy and I think that I am starting to be more hopeful instead of anxious. So the first session will be like a question/answer type thing?

[Fry]

The first session would be like an assessment including questions to try and determine what you will achieve during the course of appointments. Is it a psychiatrist or therapist you'll be seeing? Couldn't quite work it out from your first post.

[makedamnsure]

Yeah, it will basically be question and answer if it is with a psychiatrist.

They will most probably take lots of notes down, and maybe draw a family tree to start with so they know who you are talking about (though maybe they only did that with me coz my family is complicated!).

They will ask how you are sleeping, eating, feeling etc. It is always good to be honest. They may offer you meds if you need them but you can discuss all you worries with them first and they won't force you to take any.

If you see a therapist the session will be less structured and more focus on you to talk rather than them asking questions. So they might just say "what worries you at the moment" and then you talk about it. Some therapists leave long silences so that you feel a bit awkward and try to fill them. It is their way of getting you to speak but it does make it feel awkward sometimes.

[TomiJoseph]

Yeah, I'm visiting a psychiatrist. If that means that teh first session will be more structured, then good. I definitely would feel more comfortable just answering questions than having to fill in awkward spaces. ^^ Thank you guys.

[Horizon]

It's good that you're open to seeing a psychiatrist. As the others have said, it will probably be a bunch of questions so they can guage what's going on and how to help. But most psychiatrists focus solely on medication, so I would recommend seeing a therapist as well, because both meds and therapy (if you even have to take meds) make a better combination for getting some good support.

[TomiJoseph]

How different is a psychiatrist from a regular therapists in general?

[Horizon]

Psychiatrists generally deal specifically with meds and some can do therapy, but usually therapists are the people you talk to about things other than meds. Therapists cannot technically diagnose, and can not prescribe meds. Psychiatrists do that.