Getting Psychiatric Help – I Need to Talk

Recognizing the Need for Mental Help

One of the biggest hurdles on the path to maintaining positive mental health is to realize when outside help is needed.  All too often, people try to “tough it out” when dealing with emotional and mental trauma.  All this does is bottle up the emotions and other mental situations that need resolution.  The trouble with this is eventually the emotions will need to come out.  Calmly, abruptly, suddenly, explosively – one way or the other, those emotions will be dealt with at some point. Other people simply don’t realize that they are in need of psychiatric help.  They “feel fine” and have no noticeable issues – at least, not noticeable to themselves.  In both cases, it is often necessary for some outside influence to help these people get on a path to solid mental health.  This could be a caring friend or family member that encourages them to seek help.  This could also be some life-altering event that ends tragically and makes the person “wake up” to what they are doing with their life.  Either way, it’s a big step to realize the need, and ultimately to ask for help.  If you know people beginning this stage in their lives, be sure to encourage them.

Choosing a Psychiatrist

“Sounds easy, but how do I choose a psychiatrist?”  The first thing to focus on when searching for a psychiatrist is that you need to connect with someone you are really comfortable talking with.  All psychology is, at its core, is a conversation with someone trained to help you figure yourself out.  This can end up being a long conversation and will most likely get very personal, so make sure you are quite comfortable.  It is important to find out the counselor’s credentials.  Where did they go to school?  What fields have they studied?  Make sure that they are trained in the specific area you need them for.  Are they knowledgeable regarding drug and alcohol problems?  Have they treated others dealing with DWI trauma?  What is their preferred mode of therapy?  Finally, it is important to know how the treatments are going to be paid for.  As much as the psychiatrist may care and want to help you, this is also his or her job and compensation is necessary.  Check with your insurance and see if you’re covered.  Often you are, but make arrangements if it turns out you are not.

Creating a Treatment Plan

The basis of any psychological treatment plan (this actually goes for any medical treatment) should be a sound treatment plan.  Why are you seeking help?  What is it you want to accomplish by being in treatment?  These are all things you need to discuss with the psychiatrist you select so that you are both on the same page as to the ultimate goal for your treatment.  Coordinate the treatment plan not so much by set dates and times of completion (though it’s good to have some form of a timeline), but by what you want to work on in your life. You can have ideas like “Deal with depression – see positive results in six months”, “Enter anger management – completion date in one year”, or something else.  Again, the specialist you hire will have the education and experience to suggest what those goals could be.