It’s surprising how now after the pandemic, all of us agree that it is worth considering our mental health in the similar fashion in which we tend to regard our physical health.
The first thing towards admitting your need for help is asking yourself, “should I consult a psychiatrist?” And that’s very brave. Considering the fact that, 20 percent of Indian adults suffer from any kind of mental illness annually. Of these, one in twenty suffers from a severe mental disability.
Without doubt, it has just become evident that we should start appreciating the significance of our psychological well-being. So, a psychiatrist may well be the first port of call for you if you have been thinking of seeking professional support.
Psychiatrist refers to a fully qualified and trained medical doctor who deals with the evaluation, diagnoses, prevention, and treatment of different mental, behavioral as well as emotional disorders.
It takes about eight to ten years on average to produce a trained psychiatrist. The process itself is very intensive and moreover, for one to specialize in certain areas that include child and adolescent psychiatry, substance-abuse, geriatrics and forensic psychiatry, specialty training must be pursued and it requires more years.
More importantly, in addition to making an accurate mental diagnosis, a psychiatrist as a physician has medical school training in evaluating possible physical components that may influence one’s psychological issues. Psychiatrists can also prescribe medications for this purpose. This is, however, one major distinction between a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist. It should be noted that a mental health medication is often supplemented by appropriate therapies in order to address the underlying symptoms or negative feelings, distorted thoughts or final behaviors. Over the years, research has shown that using both medication and therapy produces better, more lasting results compared to either form of treatment by itself.
Common Causes of Mental Illnesses
Therefore, most of the times you’ll need to look deep within yourself and make that assessment honestly. You should not attempt to self-diagnose for a particular mental illness, but you can learn to recognize and identify harmful emotions, thought patterns as well as behaviors.
Even recurring incidents of stress, depression, temporary episodes, or even mood swing should point towards other bigger mental health issues requiring prompt medical attention. It is normal for professionals to experience failures, losses, financial challenges, and unsuccessful relationships during their lifetime. However, if your problem is starting to hinder your day-to-day functioning and affects how you relate with others, you might not be well.
How you manage them, how you respond, and the ways in which you survive them are critical aspects of ascertaining if a psychiatric intervention will be helpful to an individual. If you’re trying to figure out when to see a psychiatrist, it can help to look for episodes of mental health symptoms that have:
While being mental-health episodes may occur from time to time, it is considered as a warning signal indicating that you need some assistance.
Remember it’s not a sign of weakness, but a show of both strength and humility if you’re willing to reach out for help. Continuing negative behaviors or thought patterns can be detrimental and have long-lasting consequences. Early intervention and a willingness to get a mental health professional’s guidance is the best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones.
The following signs may indicate it’s time to seek professional help:
Considering the list provided above, it would guide an individual make up his mind on whether or not they should visit a psychiatrist or a mental health professional. However, things might not be as simple as that often times. There are also life general situations which have always been hard to manage normally. You should not feel ashamed if you are considering seeing a psychiatrist for any reason whatsoever
Finding a psychiatrist near me can be done through several methods. Here are some steps that can be taken
consultation fees for psychiatrists as they can vary widely based on factors such as location, the psychiatrist’s experience, and the type of services offered. The consultation fee for Dr. Gorav Gupta is Rs. 15000 for 15 minutes.
However, though psychiatrists and psychologists are both mental health professionals, they differ in terms of their approach and treatment for mental health problems. a psychiatrist differs from a psychologist in the following ways
Medical Training:
Treatment Approaches:
Scope of Practice:
Patient Population:
. Duration of Treatment:
At times, working together with psychiatrist and a psychologist will offer comprehensive care which takes into account the biological as well as psychological aspect of mental health. This is because an individual might choose either a psychiatrist or psychologist depending on their specific requirements and particular kind of mental health problem.
Dr. Gorav Gupta is an eminent Psychiatrist with over 28 years of experience. He completed his MBBS from the prestigious institute, Maulana Azad Medical College (Delhi University) and M.D. from Lady Hardinge Medical College (Delhi University) in 1997. He is renowned for pioneering super-specialized work in psychosocial rehabilitation in psychiatry. National recognition was accorded for his deep commitment and dedication in developing infrastructure for mentally sick patients by appointing him as President of Mental Research Society. He has been working actively as a consultant and advisor in the areas of mental health and substance abuse for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and with NITI Aayog. He is an active member of the Central Mental Health Authority and was a panelist who reviewed the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 enacted by the government.