It is not completely impossible to discover how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you.  It will just take some patience, persistence and some work on your part to find your answers.

You may have a suspicion that you have a mental illness and need professional help or you are wanting to switch from your current psychiatrist.  Below you will find tangible ways of how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you that will help you live a full life with your mental illness.

Ask your Family Doctor

Usually when you come into your family doctor’s office and your illness is beyond his scope of knowledge, he writes a referral to a cardiologist or an endocrinologist or maybe even a nutritionist.  With all his connections, he should know at least one psychiatrist or at least get you started on how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you.

If you are a woman and go to your gynecologist for your primary care needs, then maybe she is the one you can talk to.  In my quest to find a new psychiatrist, I actually asked my gynecologist for referrals.  I trust her opinion and know that whomever she referred was a top rated doctor.  Besides, I wanted to stay in the same hospital network of physicians that she is in.

Call your Insurance Company

It is a benefit to you to find a psychiatrist in your insurance company’s network.  It is cost efficient to you and this psychiatrist might even work with other doctors in the same network. Your doctors coming together to work as a team could help the holistic treatment of your body.

If you choose to look at a doctor in-network, ask for more information about the doctor.  Be sure to ask the following:

• if the doctor is board certified;
• information on her level of experience;
• ask if she is taking on new patients;
• hours and days the psychiatrist is available to see patients;
• is the psychiatrist easily accessible; and
• inquire about any areas of subspecialty like mood disorders, anxiety.

The more information you can gather from each name, the easier it will be on you in completing the process of how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you.

Check with your Therapist

If you are already in treatment and have a therapist, ask him if he knows any psychiatrists that he would refer to you.  He may have a wealth of contacts in the mental health community and knows the inside scoop on who would be a good fit for you.  He might also have some advice on how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you.

Go online

When searching online for names of doctors in the mental health field, use established, professional websites provided by a local medical society or a specialty society:

WedMD at http://doctor.webmd.com/

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) at http://findapro.dbsapages.org

Consult your Support Group

You may be involved in a support group, self-help or therapy group, 12-step program or an advocacy group.  These places are gold mines for gathering names for doctors to try out and doctors names to stay away from.  People at these places are always ready to give their two-cents worth on their current doctor or former doctors.  These people have been there and done it — sometimes multiple times and have mastered the ropes and can show you how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you.

How to Find a Psychiatrist that is Right for You

As you can see, there are many paths you can take to get to your destination.  You may jump online one night, find a psychiatrist, call his office the next day and get an appointment within the next month.  Or you may have to call fifteen doctors from your online list, get names from your insurance company’s website and talk to your friends at your support group before you find one.  Finding a doctor is a process.  It can be slow or it can be fast.  Be patient and do not give up.  One day you will be giving advice on how to find a psychiatrist that is right for you.

References:

Fink, Candida MD and Kraynak, Joe MA; Bipolar Disorder for Dummies 3rd Edition; pp.76-78.

The post How to Find a Psychiatrist that is Right for You appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.

Improperly Treated

Throughout the past twenty years, I have experienced the following symptoms: mania, depression, rapid cycling, mixed episodes, anxiety, hallucinations, delusions and paranoia all to varying degrees.  These happen to be symptoms of bipolar I with psychotic features.  The sad thing, no one listened to me until recently.

When I divulged to one of my psychiatrists I was hearing voices, the doctor brushed it off and explained it away that my ears were playing tricks on me.  There was another episode when I was experiencing hallucinations in all senses.  I was told that was abnormal and to get an MRI.  When the MRI came back normal and the hallucinations continued, my psychiatrist chose to do nothing.

Personality Assessment Inventory

With all the reading I had done on-line and in books about bipolar, I discovered that there was a bipolar I and II. One of my psychiatrists thought I was cyclothymic and bipolar non-specified. I wanted a proper diagnosis based on all my symptoms.

I tried numerous times to discuss my diagnosis with my psychiatrist. He would usually brush me off. At one appointment, with persistence in my voice, I inquired again about my diagnosis. He said when I got stable, I could take the Personality Assessment Inventory.

The Personality Assessment Inventory is a clinical scale which provides critical diagnostic features of eleven important clinical constructs.  These eleven scales can be divided into three broad classes: neurotic spectrum, psychotic spectrum, and behavior disorder or impulse control problems.

There are over 300 questions in this inventory and it is to be taken within an hour.  There were questions about alcohol and drug use on the inventory.  You will find questions about depression and anxiety.  Also, there were questions that tested for psychotic features and impulsive behavior.

I never understood his insistence on stability. I did not want a diagnosis of me based on medicine controlled behavior — thus little to no symptoms. Several times as we made countless medicine adjustments, I would ask if I could take the PAI and he would say I was not stable enough. My frustration mounted.

I finally broke away from needing the approval of my psychiatrist for enough stability in order to gain permission to take the PAI. In the fall of 2015, I went to my psychologist and arranged to take the PAI before my next appointment.

Bipolar I with Psychotic Features

After the inventory was scored, my psychologist called me to conduct an interview over the phone to complete his review and analysis of the PAI.  We discussed what some of my symptoms meant and how it calculated into the diagnosis.  He continued the interview at my next appointment.  When the report was completed, he emailed it to me.  I was so glad to have a proper scientific tool to diagnose my mental illness.

Knowing Your Diagnosis

I believe it is extremely important to know your diagnosis.  This will help the psychiatrist treat you better.  Do you need a mood stabilizer or an anti-depressant?  What about an anti-psychotic?  For eight years, I had doctors trying to figure out what was the best drug cocktail for me.  If they knew and acknowledged that I had bipolar I with psychotic features, I might not have had to try so many different medicines.

Treatment for Your Mental Illness

Having bipolar I with psychotic features as well as the other mental illnesses out there, can be difficult to treat.  Here are some ideas to help you in your quest to know and understand your diagnosis.

1. Take control of your health.  Only you can communicate your needs.
2. Do not hesitate to ask questions of your psychiatrist or therapist.
3. Work with your health care providers. They are there to help you.
4. Take the medicines as prescribed.
5. Meet with a licensed psychologist on a regular schedule.
6. Keep a mood journal.
7. Go to a mental illness support group.
8. Stay hydrated.  Drink plenty of water.
9. Get exercise.
10. Get ample rest.

Below are some links to websites with information on bipolar I with psychotic features.

http://psychcentral.com/lib/bipolar-disorder-with-psychotic-features/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/127995-bipolar-disorder-psychotic-features/

The post Treatment for Bipolar I with Psychotic Features appeared first on Life Conquering Blog.