5 Questions to ask Before Choosing your Psychiatrist

Since going to a psychiatrist is often the first step in the process of finding a medication that works for you, it's nice to have a doctor that will help you find the right one. Unfortunately, depending on where you live and what your insurance covers, there may be only one or two psychiatrists in Bhopal available to you.

There are a number of helpful questions to ask yourself before choosing a psychiatrist. Once you have a list of possible doctors, it's best to call and talk with them about your symptoms and medication needs rather than simply making an appointment for an evaluation. Follow-up visits will be necessary as well, but this initial conversation should give you an idea of who can help you the most. You'll also come up with a list of questions that will answer how willing they are to work with you as a partner in your treatment rather than simply writing prescriptions.

If they seem open to working together, make sure there is good geographical distance between your home and their office because seeing someone close by might interfere with establishing therapeutic boundaries or blur the lines of appropriate patient/doctor boundaries.

Here are 5 questions to ask yourself when trying to narrow down your list:

1. Are they good listeners?

One of the first things you'll notice is how your psychiatrist responds when you're telling them about what's going on with you and your symptoms. Do they listen carefully and ask pertinent questions, or do they interrupt you before you finish a sentence? The latter can be a warning sign that this person might not have your best interests at heart, so don't ignore any red flags even if the rest of their answers seem promising.

2. What's their philosophy towards medication?

The purpose of taking pills should be obvious – it's so that you feel better! You wouldn't take a medication if it didn't help you feel better, right? Some psychiatrists subscribe to a strictly cognitive behavioral approach while others take a more eclectic approach. The former focuses on the patient's thoughts and feelings while the latter takes into account their family history and medical issues. You want to choose someone who understands your needs and will be willing to work with you, not against you.

3. How much do they support alternative treatments?

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to how they want to handle treatment. Some people might prefer medication over therapy, while others find that group or individual sessions are more helpful than medications alone. Other options include holistic methods such as acupuncture or meditation, so it's important for your psychiatrist to be open-minded about all possibilities.

4. Have they been available to answer questions after your first visit?

You want a doctor who's going to be there for you when you have questions about medications, side effects, and other issues that come up as you go through treatment. Make sure it's someone who will return calls promptly and address all of your concerns so that you feel supported by them. Not being able to get a hold of a doctor should be a major red flag because this shows they might not prioritize the important role they play in your life.

5. Is their office conducive to positive experiences?

The atmosphere is often more important than we realize because it can greatly affect how comfortable you feel during appointments. On the one hand, the office might be posh and well-decorated, but if you have an aversion to stuffed animal toys or kitschy paintings that's not the right environment for you. You should have a sense that this is a place where you can come to ask questions or voice concerns without being judged.

Conclusion:

Of course, this list is not exhaustive but it covers the main concerns when choosing who to trust with your mental health needs. The key here is to be willing to ask questions and get an idea of their responses because there's no room for guessing games when it comes to something like this. A good relationship with your psychiatrist in Bhopal can make all the difference in treating whatever condition.