Mental Health - When is the right time to seek Psychiatric help?
Mental health today has become a genuine focus within various communities. With most individuals facing personal hardships and setbacks in life, it is probable that a host of mental and emotional problems could surface at any given moment. It is always reassuring to have a professional to voice your concerns and talk about what eights you down. Whether it's for yourself or perhaps someone you know, seeking psychiatric help at the right time is vital for one’s mental health.
1. Analyze individual predicament:
We all experience some form of stress, anxiety and other forms of mental distress in our daily lives. The causes for the same may range from a variety of disturbances or ‘triggers’. Analyzing an individual’s mental health predicament is thus very important.
Though mental health disorders can be discerned easily, they require months and sometimes, even years of active therapy and counseling. Whether it is children, adults or even senior citizens, each person may wish to seek help at a time they feel comfortable to do so. However, they may sometimes need a little help depending on their abilities or disabilities to express themselves.
It is good to remember that people who haven’t identified whether or not they need therapy may require a gentle nudge to do so. Remind them with kind words and positive reinforcement that seeking help is a stepping stone to putting an end to the distress caused to them by the negative patterns in their lives.
2. Therapy with or without medication?
Feeling rewarded after wanting to seek help from a psychiatrist or counselor is natural and part of the process of healing. But a common question arises. “Should I seek medication or just find ways to voice my concerns?”
Though there is no single correct answer to this question, you can always request your doctor, therapist or psychiatrist to avoid giving you medication and take a more holistic approach to healing. If there may be a fear related to the side effects of antidepressant medication, it is best addressed by a healthcare professional who has a complete record of the patient’s medical history.
Therapy itself is an incredibly useful experience that can help with a range of issues. It could be related to anger, anxiety, depression, mood swings, past personal traumas, PTSD, relationship troubles and more. This is why it is said that you do not need to be clinically diagnosed with a condition to seek therapy. It’s a universal form of treatment that can be sought by anyone who wishes to find better ways to overcome their triggers or tumultuous life experiences.
3. Finding the right therapist
Therapy is a challenge for the person in distress. It can bring out a slew of uncomfortable and unnerving emotions, through the process of reminiscing and expressing difficult thoughts. Considering the personal nature of this form of treatment, it can be very disconnecting for the patient if they are in the presence of a professional they cannot establish trust with.
This is seen as a significant bottleneck among many seekers of mental health help. However, it is good to know that this is all part of the process and normal in the grand scheme of things. It is advised to seek help at your nearest practice or hospital and have a candid conversation with the psychiatrist present there to begin to open towards them.
Once you find a therapist who can relate to your thoughts and provide a coping method or treatment regimen, things will slowly but steadily begin to get easier with each subsequent session.
4. Accepting Therapy
Once you’ve begun the process of healing, you’re nearly there. This may not be the easiest process but reassuring yourself through support groups can be a helpful tool to keep the healing process going.
Do not be discouraged if therapy takes longer than you thought it would. Since the counseling is catered specifically to your mental state, your progress may be very different than those in your circles. But remember, all progress is good progress. Don’t be afraid to voice any concerns regarding issues that may be resurfacing as the therapy progresses. It is all part and parcel of the treatment.
There is no shame in accepting the fact that you or your loved ones require therapy. It’s a stepping stone to evaluating your condition clinically, and finding ways to rid yourself of the external stimuli that are holding you back.
Owing to the pandemic, there is a heightened amount of anxiety in these uncertain times that could possibly put us on edge. Seeking help in a time most dire is therefore very important and you need only reach out to a trusted friend or doctor to seek the right help.
Though there are several factors to consider when deciding to seek therapy, in the end, therapy is about getting you to feel better about your health and forging a path to a happier lifestyle. With the scope for online consultations with psychiatrists and one on one conferencing solutions available to everyone today, a better mental state can be achieved without the hassle.