1st Psych.Dr.Appt-?'s,Can u help?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2004
1st Psych.Dr.Appt-?'s,Can u help?
6
Mon, 08-15-2005 - 8:24pm
Hello-I was wondering if you gals could please share the experience of your 1st psychiatrist appt. with me?
I am very anxious about seeing a new doctor. And just was wondering what to expect.
I realize all doctors are different in the ways they run their practices, but just was curious of what kinds of questions they will ask, and what they will make me do....
I have been suffering from P/a, agoraphobia and OCD for some time. I did see one p-doc almost 2 years ago, when this first got really bad, but I was not comfortable with her.
And she really didnt ask me anything-She just talked about herself pretty much!
(That was money well spent! ha ha!)
But now my sister's doc has agreed to meet with me, and this is a good thing because she wasn't taking new patients. I know I should be excited for the help, but I AM SCARED!
I have no idea why...I just dont want these ppl to think I am a nut, I guess!
Thanx for your help, gals! hugs, shasta
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Mon, 08-15-2005 - 8:47pm

Hi there,

When I went to see a psychiatrist for the first time I was very nervous, too. I was worried at what he would think of my "issues." (then again, i worry what everyone thinks of my issues!)

You are there for you, and any good doctor will be there for you, too. Hopefully he/she will let you talk and listen closely to what you have to say. You should be comfortable venting, and hopefully he will give you good insight on what's going on in your life. I always found that my doc was fair, partial and most of all, cared about me and what was happening with me. My only fault with him was that I didn't feel as if we reached a goal. My anxiety isn't much better, but I am able to think things out a little more clearly. He shed some new insight onto my anxiety disorder. Therapy is a HUGE commitment, and it will only work if you allow it to. Its a lot of time and money to waste if you are not making the most of it. Best of luck to you, and good for you for going. You are an inspiration. Jolie

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Mon, 08-15-2005 - 9:08pm

Hi shasta, Im not really clear whether youre talking about a psychiatrist or a psychologist appointment? psychiatrist appointments are nothing to fret, they are generally very short (15 minutes max) the doctor should already be familiar with your history and will only ask you a few questions about how you're feeling. generally psychiatrists are not the most friendly doctors in the world, they act like they're always in a hurry. they're not really there to counsel people, so that might be the reason they act this way. similarly, i also find that the first psychologist appointment is the easiest one, because it's really a chance for you to answer some basic questions about yourself, your lifestyle, your anxiety history, etc.


It's only natural to be nervous Shasta, I think you will feel more at ease once you're at the doctor's office.


Im editing this to add that im really sorry you had a bad experience with your last therapist. a good psychologist takes the time to listen to his/her patients and ask plenty of questions, it's really time for you to discuss your thoughts and feelings. it takes a few sessions before you can truly open up to someone, and i understand about being judged, but you have to remind yourself that the doctor has seen much worse :P ha ha :)


Mia




Edited 8/15/2005 9:11 pm ET ET by mbudescu

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Mon, 08-15-2005 - 9:44pm

Hey Shasta,


I am speaking here assuming that you are taking about psychiatrist. I had a TON of paperwork to fill out so you may want to show up early.


I have the GREATEST pdoc in the world. I got lucky, he has a PHd and used to be an internalist and the best part is that his wife gets panic attacks (not good for them I mean but helpful for him to understand). My 1st appt I was scared mainly because I still didn't undertstand and fully know what the heck was going on with me. I remember feeling so unreal and anxious.


He was so comforting and amazing, he already had gone through the notes from my tdoc and he knew what was going on with me. I was also already on lexapro at thing point.


I really needed reasurrance at that point and he knew that.. he assured me that his goal is to make me anxiety free and that he will do all he has to to acclomplish that. He also said that their are so many drugs out there and that we will try them all if we have to.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 08-16-2005 - 6:10pm

I know these first appointments can be nerve wracking. TBH, arriving early is a good idea. Sometimes they spring these forms on you & it annoys me that it takes time to fill them out, yet the dr. gets paid for a full visit. If it's with a psychiatrist, Shasta, don't expect a couch to lay on & full analysis. LOL

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2004
Wed, 08-17-2005 - 5:48pm
Well, I just got back from my 1st p-doc appt. And she was really nice and caring. I was there for a little over an hour.
She put me on a starter kit of Zoloft, for anxiety, depression & OCD, and also gave me a prescription for Ativan to replace the Xanax I had been taking. Which is great to know I will have the Ativan on hand for emergencies, and I won't feel the need to go to the ER if I get a major PA, because they would just give me Ativan anyways! So that is a relief for both me and dh. It always makes him worry when he thinks he might have to take me to the ER.
I have to call her Friday, go back in 2 weeks for a med check-up, and then we will talk more later about ways to combat the agoraphobia and OCD...But she wants me to start out slow and give the Zoloft time to work. I was on it once about 10 years ago, and it didn’t do much for me, but Dr.said she has found what works for one sibling can also work for another, so we will give it a try! She stressed this was not my fault, and that she feels it is hereditary. She also noticed that I wasn't having anxiety when I took the Zoloft before...So we will give it a shot! I am willing to try anything (well except Paxil that is! That didn't work well for me at all!)
I am just glad that it over with, I had made myself sick about going in.
Dh was so wonderful!
Also-The Dr.was also very interested to hear about our support board, she hadn't heard about it, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn't take a peek. She encouraged me to stick with the board (Like I really needed alot of encouragement there! LOL! I love you guys!)
Anyways, I just wanted to thank you gals so much for all your input and advice, I really appreciate it. And I wanted to let you know how it went today!
Whew! Now I can relax the rest of the day! YAYYYYY! Oh, and I did write down everything, that told the dr. my story, and she really appreciated that! So thanx for the advice,Jan!
hugs to you all, shasta
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2004
Wed, 08-17-2005 - 10:28pm

When I first saw a therapist, she had me fill out a long questionaire first before I came and then took it from me and read it while I was sitting there. She had me elaborate on some things, and that was about it for the first visit. Kind of just info gathering.

Kim