Psychiatrists are the right health workers to meet when someone has a mental health disorder and needs medical treatment. An important first step in the treatment process is finding the right psychiatrist for you.
Getting the right psychiatrist is very important because it affects the success of therapy. Although it takes time and patience to find the right psychiatrist, don't worry, here you will be given a guide in choosing a psychiatrist.
Difference Between Psychiatrist and Psychologist
When you need a psychiatrist, don't be confused with a psychologist. Many people still confuse between psychiatrists and psychologists. Despite their similarities, of course there are differences between these two professions.
A psychiatrist is a medical expert who focuses on dealing with mental and behavioral health problems through preventive, curative and rehabilitative efforts by providing counseling, psychotherapy, and medication. The educational background of a psychiatrist is a general practitioner who has taken the PPDS (Specialist Doctor Education Program) level in mental medicine or psychiatry for 8 semesters.
In other words, a psychiatrist is a psychiatric specialist with the title Sp.KJ (Psychiatric Specialist), who has clinical skills in diagnosing, treating, treating and preventing mental health problems. This includes substance abuse and addiction problems. Therefore, psychiatrists can prescribe drugs, just like doctors in general.
On the other hand, psychologists are experts who are more focused on providing solutions from a non-medical point of view such as counseling and psychotherapy practices. They also pursue different academic fields, namely psychology. The scope of the field of psychology includes lifestyle, growth and development, and the influence of the social environment on patients. Considering that psychologists are not medical doctors, psychologists do not have clinical authority to prescribe drugs or other medical procedures.
Tips for Finding the Right Psychiatrist
No need to be confused in finding and choosing a psychiatrist that suits your health needs because the guidelines are below:
- Consult a doctor
To get the right psychiatrist, you can start by consulting a general practitioner or psychologist. General practitioners can determine an approximate diagnosis according to your complaints and conditions which will later be needed to identify mental health problems that are being faced. In addition, a GP or psychologist can provide some recommendations for psychiatrists who practice in your area.
- Ask family or friends
You can find the right psychiatrist's recommendations by asking family, friends, or relatives in your community. It is also possible that you can get information from the community, media darling or mental health organizations either through the internet or by telephone.
- Consider the costs involved
Check the insurance regulations you follow. It usually includes a list of insured psychiatrists and treatment options. Choose the most appropriate treatment for your mental health condition and check all the requirements, including whether or not you are covered for medications you can get from treatment through a psychiatrist. Also consider the costs if not covered by insurance.
Tips for Choosing a Psychiatrist
When choosing a psychiatrist, consider these things:
- Prioritize a psychiatrist who has a valid license and license to practice.
- Choose a practice location close to your home or office.
- Schedule a visit to the psychiatrist's practice, which can be via email or direct phone.
- Make sure you and the psychiatrist agree on the method of therapy and the goals of treatment you will get. Your psychiatrist may refer you to another specialist if you need certain medical treatment, such as an internal medicine doctor to treat diabetes or hypertension.
Tips for Going to a Psychiatrist
You may feel that you don't need the help of a psychiatrist and feel that you can work things out on your own. However, it still never hurts to consult, especially considering the underlying conditions, as below:
- Experiencing changes in mood, thoughts, and emotions that often occur suddenly.
- Experiencing depression, anxiety, feeling excessively afraid, sleep disturbances (insomnia), until the intention to commit suicide appears.
- Having hallucinations, for example hearing voices that other people don't hear.
- Having or feeling dependent on the effects of certain drugs, substances, or things. For example, drug addiction, alcohol, to shopping or gambling addiction.
If you or your family have a history of mental and behavioral disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, these conditions need to be checked by a psychiatrist regularly.
Many people feel ashamed or afraid when experiencing such disturbances. It's best to let go of the shame or fear and immediately consider seeking help. If you feel nervous about consulting a psychiatrist, you can ask friends or family to accompany you.
Try to visit a psychiatrist and consult all the complaints that are felt. Follow the treatment until you can fully recover and experience improvement in symptoms.
The success or failure of treatment depends on your commitment, patience, and cooperation with the psychiatrist. Generally, the therapeutic effects obtained will be felt after some time undergoing treatment with a psychiatrist.