What to Expect on Your First Appointment with a Psychiatrist?

Mental health awareness is fast spreading among people these days especially with the wrath caused by the pandemic that has isolated people to their own dwellings. Being cut off from real human contact is something that has led to increased cases of depression and even suicidal tendencies. Mental illness leading to numerous physical conditions is a vicious cycle that can only be handled by a psychiatrist. However, even now people are not aware how to approach a psychiatrist or what to expect on their first appointment. Let us look at some of the pointers that will give you a head start.

Keep Your Medical History Handy

A psychiatrist would question you regarding various symptoms, your family and personal medical history. You should be prepared with the following prior to beginning of an appointment:

• List of medications and family history of mental illness/ psychiatric medications.
• You should be ready to answer how long you have taken psychiatric medications if any in the past.
• Past diagnosis of your condition.
• All the copy of all the records if any should be kept handy.

Be Emotionally Prepared

Once your appointment begins whether online or in person as per your convenience, you should be ready for the following questions asked by the psychiatrist:

• How can I help you?
• Tell me what are you here for?
• How are you doing today?
• Tell me where/ how should we begin?

A psychiatrist would ask these common questions to gauge your mental health condition and to understand how attentive or receptive you are towards them. It is essential to take these seemingly common questions seriously as the beginning of your session with the psychiatrist would determine the ease with which things will proceed further.

A psychiatrist is someone who will guide you through and help you open up, do not be shy in expressing yourself. Talking about your mental condition openly is the key towards having a fruitful psychiatric session. Another thing to remember is that on the onset it is essential to clarify what goals you wish to achieve from each session and how you would want the outlook to be after the session comes to an end.