Seeing a psychiatrist for the first time

[Breakfast0fChampions]

My therapist asked me if I wanted to see one of the doctors for medication to take the edge off of anxiety while I work on it. I said yes. Now I have an appointment with one of their psychiatrists this coming Monday at 3.

What can I expect? What does an evaluation entail, anyway?

I'm pretty scared because I don't want to be diagnosed with anything other than what I have been diagnosed with by my therapist (social phobia and adjustment reaction disorder).

[locsaf]

I don't know if you already know but it was helpful to me lately to understand what a psychiatrist is. First they go to medical school and become a medical doctor. After that they take more courses that train them to learn about medicines used to treat a definite list of illnesses. They learn those and the associated symptoms and then decide what illnesses you may have, and suggest to you medicines to treat the symptoms.

As far as psychological courses, AFAIK they aren't required to know more than other similar medical professionals who are medical doctors. I would guess, but don't know, that there is little if any training for them in that way.

Even though that doesn't mean that they can't learn it on their own, I guess that legally they are expected to stay within this job description and not interpret patients requests much. In a way at least that can be helpful so that you and the doctor only deal with what is said and not implied or interpreted.

You can always deny a medicine that they suggest or stop one that they give you, but it is probably the safest to you to listen to instructions they have if any about withdrawing comfortably. In my experience most drugs they prescribe are not fun or unusual experiences and aren't intended to be. They are made for specific purposes and may not always fulfill that purpose for every person.

[millenniumman75]

Originally Posted by Breakfast0fChampions

My therapist asked me if I wanted to see one of the doctors for medication to take the edge off of anxiety while I work on it. I said yes. Now I have an appointment with one of their psychiatrists this coming Monday at 3.

What can I expect? What does an evaluation entail, anyway?

I'm pretty scared because I don't want to be diagnosed with anything other than what I have been diagnosed with by my therapist (social phobia and adjustment reaction disorder).

Psychiatrists do the same things as therapists, only they can also prescribe medications.

[meyaj]

All I can say is be very open-minded. Do NOT go in trying to direct the psychiatrist into specific diagnoses. I know it can be hard for someone with SA, but try to answer every question as honestly as possible.

Being scared about a new diagnosis only has the potential to hurt you, by possibly not getting the treatment you should be getting. Psychiatrists have a lot of training in making diagnoses. In many places, psychologists/social workers aren't even permitted to make a diagnosis. Either way, the psychiatrist won't really be able to help you unless you they have a solid understanding of what you're going through, not just what you WANT them to think.

Originally Posted by millenniumman75

Psychiatrists do the same things as therapists, only they can also prescribe medications.

Most psychiatrists don't do therapy, particularly these days when they are far too in-demand for that to be possible, and especially when therapists without an MD are much cheaper.

[Breakfast0fChampions]

So I'm basically just going to be interviewed like I was on my first therapy visit and written a prescription?

[millenniumman75]

Originally Posted by Breakfast0fChampions

So I'm basically just going to be interviewed like I was on my first therapy visit and written a prescription?

Initially, yes - you may get into background and family stuff, too. I went through another checklist to double check that I am not bipolar. The diagnosis was already there from my last doctor, which you may not have.

[meyaj]

Originally Posted by Breakfast0fChampions

So I'm basically just going to be interviewed like I was on my first therapy visit and written a prescription?

Pretty much. That's a very good thing though. It's easy to overlook possibilities with just one interview. I've been interviewed 4 times like that, and one thing I've noticed is that everybody tends to ask very different questions. And not a single interviewer caught all my diagnoses at once... although I should note that my psychiatrist did by far the best job.

I don't know if this will be the case for you, but treatment is always going to be better when you have a psychiatrist and therapist working together.

[millenniumman75]

^ That is true - I have a counselor, mentor, and group on top of all of this. I have known about SA for the last five years now.