When to See a Psychiatrist

Almost everyone feels nervous before the first time they see a psychiatrist. Whether or not you grew up with family issues about seeking help for your mental health, there’s still some unfair stigma attached to making that decision.

Seeing a psychiatrist doesn’t mean that you’re “crazy” or delusional. It might just mean that you have some issues that would be best solved by a trained, qualified professional. The providers at 2nd Chance Treatment Center explain some of the situations in which you might want to seek help from a psychiatrist.

What is a psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is not the same thing as a psychologist or a therapist. Psychiatrists are medical professionals with advanced training in diagnosing mental illness and prescribing medications, if appropriate.

The medical field is continuing to evolve in how it addresses and treats mental health symptoms. While technicians and therapists may suspect that you have a particular mental health disorder, like ADHD or depression, only a trained psychiatrist can officially diagnose you with one of these disorders.

Many people seek help for their mental health from a family physician, but this often amounts to little more than a guessing game. Getting the correct treatment first starts with getting the correct diagnosis.

When to seek help

Seeking help from a psychiatrist isn’t always a “lightbulb” moment, where the decision is clear and obvious. Some of the reasons and situations to seek help include:

You’re not sleeping well

It’s one thing to have an occasional night of bad sleep but it’s something else altogether if you regularly have trouble sleeping. If you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or are bothered by issues like nightmares or night terrors, you should see a psychiatrist. They may be able to get to the root issue of what’s causing your sleep disruption.

You lose interest in things that used to bring joy

It’s not normal if you suddenly lose interest in the things that used to bring you joy. Not only is that often a sign of depression or trauma, but it’s not supposed to be common, either. When you see a psychiatrist, you can begin to find joy in those things again.

You have trouble holding down a job

Work isn’t always fun, but it’s a necessary part of our lives. If you’re having trouble holding down a job, especially if it becomes a repeated pattern, it’s not necessarily a sign that you’re a perpetual screw-up. Often, mental health conditions can interfere quite significantly with staying employed.

You struggle to maintain relationships

It’s normal to have occasional rifts or disagreements in relationships. But when you notice that almost all of your relationships are affected, it might be due to a bigger problem. Seeing a psychiatrist can help you get back on track and maintain the relationships that are so crucial to having a support system.

If you think that you or someone you love could benefit from seeing a psychiatrist, we encourage you to call the providers at 2nd Chance Treatment Center, or request an appointment online.