Have the conversation: how to talk to your doctor

[Chris_B]

So, you've made your first appointment and you're on your way to talk to your GP. It's quite common to feel apprehensive at this time, and worry that you're not going to be able to say what you need to. Asking questions is important, and here are three to get you started:

1. What are all of my options?
2. What are the best options for me?
3. When will I feel better?

Watch the videos below and let us know what you think. What has worked for you as well when seeking treatment - how have you built a good relationship with your doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist? What questions do you ask?

[Jo3]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for sharing this post.  It had lots of good information.  For me personally, I see a GP quite regularly, a therapist fortnightly and just this year a pyschiatrist for medication review/hospital admission.

The connection I have with all three professionals are amazing.  I can phone my GP at any time and he will either speak to me or call me back.  I have a great support team.Just the other day I asked my doctor while sobbing - "will I ever get better" and he said - Jo you will have good days and bad days; its how you cope with those bad days that we need to help you with and also trying to have less bad days.

I always ask questions reg. my meds and when I think I need hospital admission i always speak with my psych and seek his opinion.

Jo

[AGrace]

I think the biggest fears that I had when considering seeing a Dr about my mental health was firstly whether s/he would judge me, and secondly whether s/he would have solutions for what I was going through. After making the first appointment, asking questions, discussing options, and finally feeling supported all I could think was "why didn't I seek help sooner?"

Everyone is different and not every patient and Dr relationship will be the best match, but this is your health, and you have a right to seek a second opinion. It took me 3 different Psychiatrists before I found the right fit. Now I have a solid relationship with my Psychiatrist, I wouldn't be where I am today without her unconditional positive regard, congruence, and support.

AGrace

[white knight]

Hi Chris,

Good videos.  And I always take my wife with me to the doctors. Her input from eyes not my own is always a good thing.

[geoff]

dear Christopher, I have seen these videos as well as the kids talking and they are great, so I wonder whether they can be used firstly in doctors clinics, maybe in shopping centres, as long as they don't get vandalised, and there must be other useful places to take them.

They have to be utililised to the max, I know this may cost mega bucks, because it would make people connect with depression, or rather open their eyes. Geoff.

[Lila_Lostland]

Thank you so much of the videos.

As a woman, I felt I always needed to be ALL coping, fully functional. There is so much stigma about it. Or I carry it anyway, worrying at being called "crazy". So hard to ask support, keeping my illness a secret. Going trough withdrawals, seeing Doctor on Monday again, trying to be open as possible, Hopefully we can find some compromise at what we do next. It's no good to have a therapy sessions on my own withmyself alone.