What to Expect When Seeing a Psychiatrist for the First Time
First off, if you’re reading this, chances are you are thinking of seeking psychiatric help for the first time. That’s a huge, hard, and sometimes scary step to take in your mental health journey, and you should be so proud of yourself!
Now, you’re probably also thinking of ways to make the best out of your first appointment. You might be feeling anxious or terrified (that’s perfectly normal and reasonable, by the way ) because you’re not sure what to expect. Here’s a quick lowdown on how to best prepare for, what to expect during, and what happens after your appointment.
Before the appointment…
Let’s address the anxiety
Those pre-appointment jitters? They’re definitely normal. Take a deep breath. Remember that while some things may be difficult to share, your psychiatrist can only really help you if you’re being honest and open.
Get your medical history ready
This includes any mental health diagnoses if you’ve been professionally diagnosed before, medications you’re taking, psychiatric inpatient stays, medical concerns, family history of mental health issues, prior records, and other medical conditions which may affect your mental health (e.g. thyroid conditions). These are all useful things that your doctor might want to know.
Make a list of what you’d like to cover
It’s easy to forget things when you’re anxious, so making a list can be incredibly useful in helping you remember what you want to discuss. This can include anything from your thoughts, symptoms, questions, feelings, and goals for seeking treatment. There’s no right or wrong reason to seek psychiatric help!
During the appointment…
You may experience a mixed bag of emotions
These can range from awkwardness and anxiety, to anger and sadness. Again, these feelings are completely normal, and are likely due to you feeling vulnerable. Embrace these feelings, and don’t let them deter you from being open with your psychiatrist.
The psychiatrist may ask many pressing and difficult questions; be honest
Your first appointment is typically for the psychiatrist to get to know you, your history, and your goals - so these questions are bound to come. It’s easy to feel like the psychiatrist might judge your responses, but don’t let that get in the way either; it’s the psychiatrist’s job to have a clinical interest in your wellbeing. Being honest will help you loads here. In fact, you might end up worse off if you withhold what you’re really experiencing - it could lead to an inaccurate diagnosis or treatment plan.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the treatment plan
Questions about the treatment plan can range from knowing about the side effects of the medications and their activity limitations (such as drinking alcohol) to additional resources that may be helpful for you to understand your diagnosis. You might also want to learn more about the duration of the treatment plan, and the eventual goal of it.
After the appointment…
Reflect on how it went
After a lengthy conversation with your psychiatrist, you’re likely to have your first impressions of them. Are they someone you’d want to keep seeing? Were you comfortable sharing your feelings with them? While it may take time to build a relationship of trust with your psychiatrist, first impressions do matter. It’s important that you felt safe, and that you felt they were invested in your mental health. It’s normal to not feel comfortable with every psychiatrist you meet so don’t be afraid if you have to keep looking. At the end of the day, remember that you are the client and it’s your mental health that is of vital importance. Don’t be afraid of “hurting their feelings” - they are trained as professionals.
Continue making notes
It’s useful to ask yourself if there were things you wish you had said or questions you wanted to ask. Perhaps you were afraid or maybe there wasn’t enough time. Whatever the case, continue logging these down, along with any symptoms, medication observations, and self-care practices in between appointments.
Rest!
You might also be feeling drained after the appointment. Once again, that’s normal - you’ve just opened up your heart to and were vulnerable with someone you just met. Treat yourself to something nice, or better yet, avoid doing anything strenuous or stressful for the day. It’s important to give yourself some space and time to recuperate and reflect!
And with that, you’re well on your way on your journey to self-improvement. Again, congratulations on this huge first step. You’ve got this!
Further reading and resources: