Mental health has never been an easy topic to discuss. Over 20% of Americans have a mental health condition. The immense social stigma, ostracization, and ridicule people face with mental health ailments push them further away from seeking help. These issues can be anything from severe anxiety to paranoia, and without adequate support, it can be challenging to bring them under control. However, the healthcare sector has evolved when it comes to helping people with mental health problems. The fields of mental health and psychiatry have become immensely diverse, with substantial research to guide practitioners in working with these ailments.
A medical health practitioner is the most valuable asset in your journey to combat issues related to psychological health. But, if you feel shy or nervous about seeing a health expert, this article will help. These professionals have the skill and knowledge to help you comprehend the complete picture. Therefore, to make sure you can navigate through your appointment swiftly. Here are some tips for you to follow:
Find The Relevant Expert
The medical sector is specific. Doctors and nurses receive extensive training to help patients. Since you need help for your mental health ailments, seek a professional specialized in that field. Typically, a psychiatrist who is a doctor with an MD is suitable for you. But, in case you can’t find a physician, a nurse practitioner is another good option.
Family nurse practitioners are specialized healthcare professionals with advanced degrees. They are nurses with the professional standing and skills to independently deal with physical and mental health issues. Skills and knowledge that they can develop by pursuing a nurse practitioner program online or by pursuing an on-campus course that follows a well-structured curriculum to look after you. So, without feeling nervous or questioning their professionalism, get an appointment with an available medical expert and take the first step into your wellness journey.
Be Upfront About Details
Once you start discussing your symptoms, you need to provide as many details as possible. The more accurate you are with your description, the easier it is for the healthcare practitioner to narrow down your condition. You should talk about the symptoms you experienced, including a loss of appetite, hallucinations, irritability, and insomnia. Also, dive into the kind of thoughts you have, possible episodes, and if you ever had a blackout. In addition, inform the healthcare expert if you see or hear things that are not there and how frequently this happens.
You shouldn’t let embarrassment consume you or fear the medical professional will mock you. At the same time, try not to omit information. If you struggle to recall patterns relevant to your health, write down the details you want your healthcare practitioner to know. You may also ask a friend or a close family to accompany you and vouch for your health before the practitioner.
Don’t Avoid Questions
A healthcare practitioner will also ask you questions for details. Some of these may be intrusive and probing, but you must answer them. A medical professional is not looking to shame you but to get more insight into your condition. The questions may include your family history, common triggers, your reaction during an episode, and underlying health conditions you may have, such as diabetes. An expert may also ask how your symptoms impacted your lifestyle and if you struggle to go out in public.
Simultaneously, you may also ask your questions to build an understanding of your well-being. If the treatment sounds complicated, let the healthcare professional explain the details. You may want to figure out the difference between counseling and therapy. If you have to take heavy medication, find out about the possible side effects and how you can deal with them. Questions about heredity can also be a part of your discussion. Learn if you may pass on your condition to your children and the probability this illness may continue.
Learn About the Diagnosis
A blood test allows the healthcare practitioner to check if you have a disease that may be causing you mental distress. Mental health cannot get diagnosed through blood tests or scans like an X-ray. Therefore, you need to go through a series of examinations and evaluations to pick up on the mental health condition.
For instance, if you have a slowed-down thyroid (hypothyroidism), it can cause a massive fluctuation in your mood and make you tired. These symptoms may make it seem like you have depression, and so a simple blood test can determine your illness. Apart from screening tests, your healthcare professional may also perform psychological tests. These include:
- Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a 21-item self-reporting test that allows a medical expert to gauge your symptoms and characteristics and learn if you have depression and how intense it is. This test can be administered over a computer or by asking you to attempt a form.
- Dissociative Experiences Scale. For conditions like schizophrenia or psychotic disorder, a dissociative experience scale gets administered. This twenty-eight series questionnaire dives into your daily life experiences to examine when you have an episode. Before you start, make sure you’re not taking any medication and give your answers in complete sobriety. A score over 30 depicts that you may have post-traumatic stress disorder or dissociative disorder.
- Hamilton Anxiety Scale. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale is an interview-based test that tests 14 basic parameters of your mental health. You will get asked about your anxiety, tension, fears, degree of insomnia, body aches, and behavior. Your answers will get ranked with a 5-point score, with zero being no symptoms and four depicting severe anxiety.
Depending on your condition, you may have to go through several tests at a time before a conclusive diagnosis gets provided to you. There are numerous tests designed for multiple states, but none of these will be physically painful or invasive. The questions are specific to your health without deviating from the topic.
Go For Follow-Ups
You will need to meet your healthcare professional several times before seeing an improvement in your condition. A follow-up informs the medical expert on how well you’re doing and if your symptoms have worsened over time. This follow-up is also an opportunity for you to shed light on your well-being if you feel dizzy, have more trouble sleeping, and struggle to keep food down. The medical expert can change your medication and provide you with a different treatment route more suitable for your health.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with mental health can be both isolating and scary, but help is available for you. Mental health experts, who can be a doctor or a nurse, have the skills to take care of you. They not only understand your symptoms but can explain what you’re going through without making you feel ashamed. When you go for your appointment, ensure you discuss all the relevant information about your condition.
At the same time, answer any questions and pose some of your own to feel more confident about your situation. Following a fruitful discussion, you will need to go through a series of tests and screening which accurately depicts your health. Facilitate your well-being by going for follow-ups and never letting your mental health wear you down.