Talking to doctors
No one is expected to be able overcome mental health problems without support. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, it takes courage to confront a problem and look for a way to get better.
To actually tell someone else, whether this be your partner, a family member or even your doctor that you are feeling unwell or ‘not yourself’ is a big first step that many people struggle with. Talking to doctors can be difficult at the best of times so it is important that you find a doctor that you feel comfortable talking to, as many people find discussing the mental health problems they are going through confusing and distressing.
You should feel able to talk to your doctor about what is worrying you, discuss treatment options and ask questions, and they should be able to answer in terms and language that you can understand.
If you are unhappy with the response you get from the doctor that you see, ask to see a different person next time. However once you find a doctor that you like, it is best to stick with them because they will gradually begin to know you and your case. This can help as you will not have to keep repeating your story and symptoms, and doctors that know their patients over time can begin to recognise personal signs, symptoms and indicators of relapse or further illness.
For many people a visit to the doctor can bring on anxieties and frustrations. Increasingly the doctor-patient relationship of the past is proving to not be beneficial or available, especially with increasingly limited time for appointments with GP’s. This has been shown in the number of people who are given advice and do not follow it or are prescribed medicines and do not take them as directed.
This is known as non-compliance. Non-compliance is most often found in poor patient-doctor relationships - In order to change this and for this partnership to work, both parties need to take active roles. Doctors should provide access to information and knowledge for patients to understand their symptoms and illness and make informed decisions about their treatment. Patients should be ready to talk about their views of their illness and treatment built on informed choice and be prepared to make a joint decision on what treatment they would like and feel would benefit them. Finally, doctors should follow up regularly on your medication and how it is suiting you - a medication review.
Choosing a doctor
There are limitations involved in choosing a doctor but you should be able to find one that suits your needs. GP's usually register people within a given geographical are, such as from your post code. When you register with a GP practice you will be registered with a named doctor, but often you can usually go and see any doctor in that practice who has an available appointment. If you are worried that your doctor will not know anything about your illness, ask the practice nurse if there is a doctor in your practice that has specialist knowledge about mental health problems.
You will probably not be able to choose which psychiatrist you have. They are usually assigned depending on the local area where you live. However, once again you should be able to ask questions about your diagnosis and treatment and they should answer in a way that you can understand.
