Jeff had been on and off psychiatric medication since he was a teenager. When he was younger, his parents handled all of his psychiatry appointments. But as a young adult, Jeff had to schedule the appointments himself. And it was frustrating. Sometimes Jeff couldn’t get his psychiatrist to call him back when he had questions about his medication. Sometimes his prescription wasn’t waiting for him at the pharmacy when it was supposed to. Jeff found himself becoming less and less compliant with his medication because reaching out to his psychiatrist was time-consuming, expensive, and exasperating. Should it be this hard to care for his mental health?
Psychiatrists at Thriveworks in Champaign, IL can help people like Jeff who have had negative experiences with their previous psychiatrists. Thriveworks psychiatrists can meet with clients online at their convenience. They can respond quickly to questions about medication and side effects. And above all, they can fully support their clients in their mental health journeys.
Why Do People See Psychiatrists Instead of Psychologists?
The truth is you can see both. They’re not mutually exclusive. Psychologists refer clients to psychiatrists all the time, and vice versa. The two professions differ in that psychiatrists have MD degrees, i.e., they went to medical school, and psychologists have graduate degrees in psychology. What does that mean for you? It means that psychiatrists can diagnose and prescribe medication for underlying problems in brain chemistry, and psychologists cannot. But both psychiatrists and psychologists at Thriveworks in Champaign, IL are here to care for their clients’ mental and physiological health.
Clients usually reach out to psychiatrists when they notice symptoms of mental disorders. These symptoms can include:
- Addictions to sex or gambling
- Violent thoughts
- Harming yourself or others
- Aggressive behavior
- Isolating yourself from the people you care about
- Memory problems
- Hallucinations
- Obsessive thoughts
- Hyperactivity
- Lethargy
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Eating too much or too little
- Post-traumatic stress disorder in the wake of trauma
- Acting physically or emotionally abusive in your intimate relationships
If you find that your usual behaviors are changing more than usual, or if you’re troubled by new thoughts and feelings, it might be time to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist in Champaign, IL.
The Meaningful Benefits of Online Psychiatry
Sometimes online psychiatry sessions, as opposed to in-person sessions, are the best fit for a Thriveworks client in Champaign, IL. After all, if you’re feeling too depressed to leave your bed, chances are you’re going to find it difficult to get in your car or on the bus and show up for your scheduled therapy appointment. Online psychiatrists come to you virtually so you typically won’t have to visit a clinic if you don’t want to. And the appointments are often easier to schedule. Plus, they’re covered by medical insurance just as they would be if you visited the office.
Thriveworks can tell you if you’d be a good candidate for online psychiatry in Champaign, IL. Our psychiatrists cannot see you online if you’re under 18 or in acute crisis. But for most clients, it’s a great, convenient option.
Managing My Medication with an Online Psychiatrist
If your Thriveworks psychiatrist thinks that you could benefit from medication, they’ll talk to you at length about your questions and concerns. They will take the time to educate you about the drug, which might be an antidepressant, a mood stabilizer, or something else. But then you’re not just left to your own devices. Your psychiatrist can follow up with you frequently to make sure you’re not suffering from any adverse side effects. You may need to alter your treatment in the form of a different dose—or even a different or additional medication. What if your primary care doctor prescribes a new medication? Will it alter the effects of your psychiatric drug? You can always reach out to your Thriveworks psychiatrist for answers.
And of course you may not need to be on medication forever, or even long-term. It all depends on your individual case and how the treatment is going. Your psychiatrist is your partner in medication management.
Book an Online Appointment with a Thriveworks Psychiatrist in Champaign, IL
Our psychiatrists at Thriveworks in Champaign, IL are here to help you. You can schedule an appointment today by calling our office, which opens early and stays open late to accommodate our clients’ busy schedules. We think you can benefit from becoming one of the thousands of patients whose lives have been improved through the care and support of Thriveworks mental health providers. And after you schedule your first appointment, you can discover all the benefits of being a Thriveworks’ client, like email and phone access to your psychiatrists between sessions, and our Ask-a-Coach 24-hour Q&A. Reach out to Thriveworks today to get started with your online psychiatrist.
