When you have a sore throat or a sprained ankle, you see a doctor. Tooth pain sends you to the dentist. Most people don’t think twice about making those appointments.
Yet, when it comes to our mental health, many people attempt to face it alone. According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), fewer than half of adults who have some form of mental illness receive treatment. That can have negative effects not only on the individual but also on their families, communities, and society at large.
There are many reasons for this. For one thing, some people feel some level of shame for their feelings. For another, mental health can be difficult to discuss. Sometimes we don’t understand the symptoms we’re facing or assume that no one else will. It’s vital to know, however, that you’re not alone and that help exists.
Millions of successful, happy, loving people grapple with mental health issues in the U.S every single year. Many have found that speaking to a professional, such as a psychiatrist, has helped them confront the symptoms and their causes. They have learned that those symptoms do not define them.
If you’re struggling with symptoms of a mental health disorder, you don’t have to let them define you either. Consider making an appointment to speak with a psychiatrist at Thriveworks in Charlotte, NC.
When Should I Consider Consulting With a Psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists perform a vital role in society. They specialize in studying, treating, and preventing mental health disorders. As medical doctors, psychiatrists can determine the effects of mental illness on your physical well-being (and vice versa) by monitoring changes in blood pressure, weight, and other physical symptoms.
They can treat anyone who is displaying symptoms, not just those whose conditions are the most severe. Psychiatrists treat your friends and neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances, even successful celebrities whose lives appear so perfect from a distance.
What might cause you to consider seeing a psychiatrist? No person’s symptoms are the same, either in appearance or severity, but these are some of the most common:
- Feeling sad or withdrawn for a significant period of time
- Considering self-harm
- Panic attacks or sudden bouts of unexplained fear or anxiety
- Risky, out-of-control, or self-destructive behavior
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
- Intense worry
- Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there
- Excessive alcohol or drug use
These and other symptoms can be debilitating but discussing them with a mental health professional can help. To get started, consider making an appointment with a psychiatrist at Thriveworks in Charlotte, NC.
What Is the Role of a Psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists undergo a lengthy educational process including medical school and a four-year psychiatry residency, often conducted in hospitals or clinics. During this residency, psychiatrists treat people with a variety of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. Psychiatrists then take an exam administered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to become certified and must be recertified every ten years.
As medical doctors with this level of education, psychiatrists offer a unique perspective when assessing our mental health. They can comprehensively assess both psychological and physical symptoms, perform a physical examination, and administer a number of psychological tests to arrive at a diagnosis. Through this process, psychiatrists are able to differentiate specific mental disorders from other conditions whose symptoms might present as mental illnesses.
Upon diagnosing a mental health issue, psychiatrists can employ a variety of treatment methods. Psychotherapy and other kinds of talk therapy are common and can be customized for your specific needs. For example, a psychiatrist might suggest cognitive behavioral therapy to change unhealthy actions or patterns of behavior. Or they might use exposure therapy to help you work through a particular fear or phobia.
Psychiatrists also are licensed to prescribe medications if that is determined the best approach for your situation. If it is, your psychiatrist will work with you to ensure it is having the desired effect and can monitor for potential side effects.
At Thriveworks, our mental health professionals will customize a plan specifically for you. To get started, make an appointment today at Thriveworks in Charlotte, NC.
Schedule a Psychiatry Appointment at Thriveworks in Charlotte, NC
At Thriveworks, we want to make your experience as convenient and stress-free as possible. Our licensed psychiatrists are available to help you online on weekdays, nights, and weekends at your convenience. New clients often can make appointments within 24-48 hours, sometimes even on the same day.
Plus, our psychiatrists offer remote psychiatry appointments so you don’t have to leave home to conduct a session. Providers are also available to address issues as they arise in between sessions, either by phone or email.
At Thriveworks, we accept many major insurance plans and offer a suite of additional benefits, including community forums, a life coaching Q&A service, and free access to our eBook and exclusive video content.
Taking control of your mental health starts with accepting that you might need help. When you’re ready, call to see a psychiatrist at Thriveworks in Charlotte, NC.
