We understand how challenging it can be to talk about your mental health due to stigma, along with the overwhelmingness of symptoms. Sometimes expressing how we feel can be hard to put into words. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone in these challenges! Normalize that for yourself as the starting point.
But, the truth is talking about our mental health can help to relieve the symptoms. Your doctor is a great place to start if you’re experiencing symptoms related to your mental health. When you talk to your doctor, you’re taking a step toward feeling relief and support with your mental health.
Since we know how hard it is to discuss mental health challenges, we wanted to provide you with some tips on how to bring it up with your doctor.
Before your appointment
Set realistic goals for yourself. Mental health symptoms can be complex so it’s normal not to receive all the answers right away.. Realistic goals may include sharing your symptoms openly with your doctor or coming up with a care plan to better manage symptoms moving forward.
It can also be helpful to write things down before you talk to your doctor. Try writing down the symptoms and other challenges you are experiencing with your mental and emotional health. Maybe it’s hard to get up in the morning, or you experience a loss of appetite, or you worry every time you leave the house. Symptoms/challenges can be mental, emotional, or physical. It’s important to take note of those things as that will help your doctor possibly determine what’s going on.
Lastly, it’s important to write down any questions you may have for your doctor so you don’t forget when you are in the appointment.
At the appointment
Be direct and let your doctor know you’d like to discuss your mental health today. Share clearly what you think the greatest challenge is. Maybe it’s, “I’m feeling very depressed lately” or “My anxiety feels out of control.” Being direct and clear will best help them help you!
From there, you can go into detail. This could be a great time to share the notes you brought with you about your symptoms. Share as much as you feel comfortable with. Remember: your doctor is never judging you, they are there to care for you.
Feel free to ask questions during the appointment. Here are some examples of what you can ask as you talk to your doctor:
- What type of mental health issue do I have? Or what is my diagnosis?
- What is making it so difficult for me to overcome these obstacles?
- How do you treat this kind of problem?
- How will counseling or psychotherapy help?
- How long will treatment take?
- What can I expect treatment to feel like?
Toward the end of the appointment, your doctor may collaborate with you to determine a care plan. This may include a referral to a psychiatrist and/or a therapist. If these are things you’re hoping to get, ask!
Your doctor probably has a network of providers and they can point you in the right direction. There is also a chance your doctor may know what’s going on and suggest prescribing you a medication to help treat the symptoms. All of these things are up to you! That’s why it’s collaborative. A doctor will never force you to go on medication or see another provider for more support if it’s not something you’re open to.
After the appointment
Make sure you follow the care plan you worked on with your doctor. That could look like calling a referral to a psychiatrist or a therapist to set up an appointment with that provider, or exercising more to support your mental wellbeing.
It’s a good idea to follow up with your doctor, too. They may have suggested you go back to see them to check in about how you’re doing. They want to make sure the care plan you collaborated on is supporting you, so don’t hesitate to make a follow-up appointment.
Finally, have lots of patience with yourself. Nothing changes overnight. Stick with the plan and reach out to your support system: friends, family, doctor, etc. for help along the way. Remember, you are never alone!
We’re here, too. If you think you might benefit from therapy, get in touch with our team at the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center today.
