Tips for Finding a Good Psychiatrist

The very first thing that you need to do in the search for a good psychiatrist is to treat your problem and yourself with the same respect and care that you would if the issue were cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, glaucoma, hydrocephalus, hearing loss, broken leg or heart attack. Each and every one of those would yield the quizzical but well-intentioned "woah - can, can I help at all?". Okay, not the heart attack or broken bone - those would warrant
"CALL 911!" - or at the very least "Honey, get the car! Shhh... Mr. Jones and I are taking you to the doctor. Yes, your mommy will meet us there."

As a matter of fact, treat yourself and your mental health with the same dignity and DILIGENCE that you would if you were doing so for a dear friend, or your own child or parent or spouse.

*NOTE*! It should go without saying that if you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency - such as feeling suicidal - YOU TOO SHOULD DIAL 911! IMMEDIATELY!*

Now onto the pragmatics. You really don't want to just open up the Yellow Pages and look under "psychiatry". Then again - why not? This CAN be a component of the process, but your research - and that is what this is initially - must be thorough and multi-tiered. Oye! No pun intended there, believe me!

You can also try going to ask.com and typing (without quotes) How do I find a good psychiatrist? You will find that once you start typing it - the full question may appear anyway. There are all kind of links that pop up from that query - including healthgrades.com, RevolutionHealth.com, and www.mindspring.com just to name three. There are, I am quite sure, some more sophisticated, comprehensive, and refined ways of using the internet in your research for almost anything, and I'll be the first to admit that I am*NOT* an authority on this. I cite ask.com and the forthcoming sites out of my search on that engine as, for me, it was the most fruitful in my research for*this* particular article.

Actually, the first contact I would make, whether your HMO insists upon it anyway or not!, is to your primary care physician. And if you are at all reluctant to bring this sort of MEDICAL problem (and THAT is what it is!) to her/his attention, then I would ask yourself two questions straight away: "Why not?" and "Do I need a new PCP?"

'Cause if you cannot tell your own doctor about a problem that is*NOT* your sault, how in the world are you going to be able to report that you're smoking again, or that you didn't know what to do with all the leftover Halloween candy and thus your blood sugar has been over 200 every day for the past week, and over the last two, you've gained six pounds that you are better off without?

I am not deliberately juxtaposing those things on a fault/
no fault continuum. I am instead REALLY trying to emphasize that reporting that you're feeling oanxious or depressed, or even other more serious and/or "stigmatized" symptomology for which one would (hopefully voluntarily) get the help of a psychiatrist, should be no more shameful or embarrassing that to admit the aforementioned
"weaknesses", indulgences, or "health behavior", the culpability for which one should be held to with only the most sympathietic understanding, and maybe a little tough-LOVE. And you should feel*no* shame or embarrassment whatsoever for asking for help dealing with something as important as your mental health.

NONE.

I am very tempted to end the article now and let the patient/consumer fill in the blanks from here, because I feel very strongly that it should be absolutely commonplace for the best health advice (physical AND mental) and referral information to be available from your own doctor. But, in the name of supporting SOME personal responsibility
- and in empowering yourself even before you consult your doctor, please consider writing your thoughts down prior to your visit. And USE THEM during that visit!

First, even if you have to do this, literally, in script or dialogue, writedown what you want to tell your doctor about what is causing you to seek help. Yes - I mean even put quotation marks down and read the question verbatim from capital letter to period! Do not be afraid. Don't be shy. Do not feel embarrassed. Please don't be
intimidated. And please do not worry about phrasing your question "just right" or as close to "medicalese" as you know how.

That is the problem that tripped me up for YEARS and prevented me from seeking the help which was*life**changing*. Even if you have to write down a series of "examples" of stuff that makes you feel like something is wrong (you lost your cell phone 6 times in one day, you started sweating and became short of breath when it was your turn to order, you drove the person in front of you BONKERS at the movie theatre because you JUST COULD NOT keep your foot still), et cetera.

Just take your time, and explain things in YOUR terms and YOUR "voice" and YOUR way. The message'll get
through. 'Cause you're not gonna leave until it does!;) You deserve to seek and find help and are worthy of being rid of the feelings that would cause you to blanch at the notion of saying your issues out loud and clear.

T-a-k-e y-o-u-r t-i-m-e!!! Do NOT be rushed. A heart surgeon wouldn't close up his quadrupal bypass before his work was done just because the next surgery is scheduled to start! You should not feel guilty about taking the time to get things right, either. The is YOUR health and happiness!

When your doctor provides you with the information you seek and the answers to your questions (and yes - make sure s/he has some for you), again, DO NOT be reluctant to ask him or her to slow down ('cause you are writing notes DURING your visit as well!), or to repeat or clarify or restate. Your personal physician is in charge of helping you elevate and maintain your overall health, and in providing competent direction and expertise when intervention is needed to fix or manage a health problem. Your doctor should be willing to write their own info down too - because it is medical advice and as such is part of treatment. TAKE THE TIME TO GET IT RIGHT. You DO deserve the time and effort it takes.

Again - it is YOUR health and YOUR happiness. You are worthy of both.