When to See a Psychiatrist for Mental Health Support
Though our collective understanding of mental illness has greatly improved within the 21st century, many still struggle with knowing when to see a psychiatrist. Sure, your current mental health issues might plague your day-to-day life, but it can be hard to understand just how much support you might need when you’re busy working or studying.
Luckily, seeking professional help doesn’t have to be stressful. After all, psychiatrists are licensed mental health providers who can diagnose and treat the worst symptoms of mental health conditions. Read on to learn if access to mental health services like therapy and medication management can help you start addressing your mental health concerns.
Why Choose a Psychiatrist To Treat Mental Health Conditions?
From primary care providers to talk therapy specialists, there are countless mental health professionals out there. However, for those suffering from severe mental health problems or substance abuse, more comprehensive treatment is necessary. Psychiatry combines the ability to prescribe medication with mental health expertise, allowing psychiatrists to develop appropriate treatment plans.
Comparably, while a medical doctor can help you get medication for mental health disorders, they lack the expertise needed for truly personalized treatment. Instead, individual psychiatrists can specialize in specific mental health conditions, like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD), depression, or anxiety.
Your psychiatrist will:
- Provide Diagnosis: To determine the best treatment options, psychiatrists first use their medical school experience, the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic, and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) to identify your diagnosis. Their exceptional accuracy comes from a combination of psychological testing, in-depth consultations, and medical and family history review.
- Develop Treatment Plans: Once you’ve been given a proper diagnosis, your psychiatrist will work with your health insurance company to prescribe the best medications for your symptoms and make appointments for psychotherapy (talk therapy).
- Offer Ongoing Support: Psychiatrists treat mental health conditions long-term, tracking your progress and adjusting medications or therapies when necessary.
10 Signs You Should See a Psychiatrist
Seeing a psychiatrist can be one of the most important steps toward improving your daily life and overall well-being. However, reaching out for help isn’t always easy.
Our experts at Family Psychological Services, Inc. (FPSCA) understand that warning signs aren’t always easy to spot, and getting help is often one of the hardest parts of your journey. That’s why our mental health professionals have outlined some of the most common signs you should reach out. If some or all of these hit too close to home, it may be time to seek treatment.
1. Persistent Emotional Distress
While occasional worry or anger is perfectly normal, consistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or excessive worrying can have a major impact on your daily life. For example, if you notice yourself exploding over small issues, or refusing to go out because you’re worried something bad will happen, it may be time to seek professional help. Emotional distress is a common symptom of mental health disorders—like depression and anxiety—which psychiatrists can diagnose and treat.
2. Difficulty Regulating Emotions
If emotional distress is how you feel on the inside, emotional regulation is how you react to those feelings. Mental illness makes it difficult to manage emotions, causing intense mood swings, frequent anger, or trouble calming down when triggered by certain situations. For instance, imagine punching a wall because you lost a game, or yelling obscenities because your shirt got caught on a doorknob. A professional psychiatrist can help, finding ways for you to internally regulate volatile emotions.
3. Unstable Sleep Patterns
Those struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions also often have disrupted sleeping patterns. Both sleeping too much and insomnia can be warning signs, especially when paired with a lack of motivation or dissociation at night or shortly after waking. Psychiatrists can help identify if mental health issues are harming your sleep.
4. Trouble Concentrating and Functioning
How does it feel to participate in day-to-day activities? If you find it hard to motivate yourself for or focus during work, school, or even while hanging out with friends, it could be a sign of declining mental health. For example, maybe you’ve been struggling to keep up with workflows, or dreading an activity you’re usually excited for. A psychiatrist can evaluate your symptoms and medical history to determine if mental health issues are at play.
5. Isolation and Relationship Struggles
Unstable relationships and social isolation are hallmarks of mental distress. Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) might cycle through relationships and struggle with consistent feelings of abandonment. On the other hand, someone with depression might isolate themselves in their home for days. Psychiatrists can help you determine why you’re struggling with relationships, prescribe medicine, and suggest effective family or couples therapy programs.
6. Distressing Physical Health Symptoms
Many forget that mental health struggles can also be a key contributor to physical illness. Headaches, stomach pain, or other unexplained physical symptoms can all sometimes be tied to one’s mental health. For instance, maybe your anxiety causes stomach aches or inflammation, or you get anger-induced headaches. Regardless of your physical symptoms, psychiatrists look at both the mental and physical aspects of care to provide an appropriate treatment plan.
7. Substance Abuse or Addiction
Struggling with alcohol or drug addictions is also a clear sign to seek help, as many people with mental health issues lean on these substances for comfort. For example, someone might numb intrusive thoughts related to PSTD with habitual drug use, while someone with Bipolar Disorder might drink excessively during a manic episode. Addiction psychiatry can provide both medication management and therapy to address these interconnected challenges.
8. Lack of Recovery From Trauma
Unresolved trauma—whether from abuse, grief, or sudden loss—can cause long-term mental health problems like PTSD. Recovering from these events is never easy, but psychiatrists can develop a comprehensive treatment plan that includes both talk therapy and medication.
9. Eating Disorders and Body Image Concerns
Similar to disrupted sleeping patterns, mental health issues can also disrupt eating patterns. Depressed individuals may eat too much or too little, causing physical illness. The lack of proper nutrition further contributes to negative physical and mental health symptoms, continuing the cycle. Many also become preoccupied with body image concerns, which can lead to long-term eating disorders. A psychiatrist can help identify these concerns early and recommend appropriate treatment options.
10. Self-Harming Behaviors or Suicidal Thoughts
If you or someone you know is engaging in self-harm, expressing suicidal thoughts, or showing risky behavior, please don’t wait to seek help. These intense feelings are too overwhelming for one person, and require professional crisis intervention.
Do I Need a Psychiatrist? Helpful Questions To Ask Yourself or Your Therapist
- Are my symptoms interfering with daily life?
- Do I engage in risky behavior or struggle to regulate emotions?
- Have my sleep, appetite, or energy changed?
- Have I had thoughts of self-harm or suicide?
- Do I use alcohol or drugs to cope?
- Is there a family history of mental illness?
- Has talk therapy alone not been enough?
A clear decline in your work or school performance, or unstable relationships, can signal that it’s time to seek help.
Behavioral changes or mood swings can be signs of mental health disorders.
Major shifts in your usual patterns can be a sign of mental health concerns.
This is a serious warning sign—seek immediate psychiatric support.
Substance abuse can worsen mental health and may need addiction psychiatry.
Set yourself up for success by getting pre-emptively evaluated by a psychiatrist.
Psychiatrists can prescribe medication if therapy isn’t fully effective.
How To Find a Trusted Psychiatrist
Relief from your mental health struggles starts with reaching out, but it’s important to choose a trusted psychiatrist that specializes in your diagnosis. The more specialized, the more accurate your test results, diagnosis, and prescriptions will be.
At FPSCA, our professional psychiatrists—backed by Master’s Degrees, licenses, and years of experience—take psychological testing and medication management seriously. We’re dedicated to:
- The latest standards of psychiatric medicine set by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Tailored psychological evaluations to determine an accurate diagnosis based on your unique symptoms, lifestyle, medical history, and long-term mental health goals.
- Comprehensive mental health treatments such as Psychotherapy and Neurofeedback, which can both act as vital supplements to your medication management plan.
Reach Out To One of FPSCA’s Licensed Psychiatrists Today!
At Family Psychological Services, our fully licensed psychiatrists specialize in a variety of mental health conditions. Using our framework of psychological testing, talk therapy, and medication management, we can provide an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan. With us, your journey is always safe, constructive, and backed by the latest research.
Contact us today to start your journey toward long-term symptom relief. Whether you have questions about our services or are ready to schedule an appointment, we look forward to connecting with you.
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