When it is your first time visiting a new mental health professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, you may normally feel nervous. And sometimes, you may even feel afraid of what to expect, what will turn up, or whatever things you think may go “wrong†during your first appointment. And with these in mind, you may find yourself feeling helpless or out of control.
During your first appointment, you may assume the worst, or you may feel that the treatment may not be able to help you. Or sometimes, you may feel that you have a lot of problems that they may not understand. So to help you cope with the anxiety of your first appointment, it may be best to prepare for it beforehand.
Prepare for Your First Appointment
Here are some of the things you can do in order to prepare so you can feel more comfortable during your first appointment with your new psychiatrist.
1. Prepare Your Questions
While there may always be a lot of things you want to know from your doctor, you should still prepare a few questions to ask them. Doing this will help you feel more relaxed and confident during the meeting. It will also make the consultation a lot more productive for you to create a better relationship with your doctor and get answers to the questions you need.
2. Prepare a List of Your Expectations
Having a list of your expectations will help you understand what you want to get out of your session. This can also help you better understand your doctor’s point of view as well as what you can expect from them.
3. Make a List of Your Feelings and Triggers
Next to your list of expectations, you should also add a list of your feelings and triggers. Doing this will help you be more aware of your emotions, understand why you feel the way you do, and what triggers them. As you identify your feelings and triggers, you will be able to determine your positive and negative thoughts, so you can work on them together with your doctor.
Some of the things you should document include: changes in sleeping or eating habits, changes in your mood or emotional state, stressful events, and anything that may trigger or bring out your worst anxiety or emotional response. Doing this will be helpful for your psychiatrist to provide you with a better and more effective treatment plan.
4. Prepare a Journal
It is also important to have a journal or journal entries to help you understand your thoughts and emotions. Through this, you will be able to see a clear picture of what you are going through.
When you do this, you will be able to make better sense of your thoughts and emotions and see the progress you have made. It will also help your doctor help you better by giving them a clearer picture of what you are going through.
5. Don’t Put Labels on What You Feel
It is important to note that though you may feel that your problems are very serious and your issues are very difficult to deal with, you should not put labels on what you feel or think.
A psychiatrist is trained to listen and understand someone’s problems, and they are not necessarily used to being judgmental.
Being honest with your psychiatrist and being open with them will help build a good relationship with your doctor that will help create the best treatment plan for your issue.
Conclusion
When it comes to your first visit with a psychiatrist, it is important to prepare yourself before your first appointment and to understand what to expect during your session. Knowing what to expect and what to do will help you feel more confident, relaxed, and better prepared to work on your issues.
Amodeus Healthcare offers you an easier solution to your medical and psychiatric needs through telepsychiatric services in Londonderry. Let us help you with your mental healthcare needs right in the comfort of your own home. Book your appointment today!