Tips for Starting Your Journey

One thing that I've figured out is that there's not an easy way to navigate getting a diagnosis and the proper treatment. My journey took a while, and probably took even longer because I didn't know where to start. It also felt like I was having to jump through ridiculous fiery hoops to get from point a to point b while blindfolded.

So, I'm going to provide you with some help in three sections below.

What to do when you need help with mental health:

• Let people you trust know that you need help
• Know what each type of doctor is responsible for in your care
• Primary Care Physician
• is responsible for your general health and well being
• PCP's are also known as general practitioners, they generally do not have specializations and will often need to refer you to specialists for more focused treatment
• can generally prescribe antidepressants, but generally cannot provide further mental health diagnoses or medication beyond that
• Therapist
• will help you through various methods of talk therapy
• will help you build skills to use daily
• can help point the right direction for potential diagnoses
• Psychiatrist
• can test for and diagnose many mental health conditions
• can prescribe medications to treat specific mental health conditions
• can sometimes offer psychotherapy
• Speak with your primary care physician
• ask for specific help and be honest about your symptoms
• if you feel like it's more than generalized depression and anxiety, tell them that
• Speak with a therapist
• ask for specific help and be honest about your symptoms
• if you feel like it's more than generalized depression and anxiety, tell them that
• Speak with a psychiatrist
• ask for specific help and be honest about your symptoms
• if you feel like it's more than generalized depression and anxiety, tell them that

Keep these things in mind:

• Be patient
• everyone is different. your brain chemistry is similar but different from everyone else's brain chemistry. your experiences have been similar but different from everyone else's experiences. no single treatment or medication works for all problems in all people.
• you will probably have to try a few things, and it can take weeks to try something and then find out if the results are what you need them to be. i tried 2 different antidepressants and 2 different mood stabilizers, and 2 different sleep aides before finding the right combination for me.
• Don't give up and don't settle
• if your treatment isn't working, please don't say, "well, this is it. i'm stuck here." regroup with your doctors and try something new.
• don't be afraid or ashamed if you need more intensive therapy. therapy is there to help and heal you. it's proportionate to your needs as an individual. it does not reflect anything unfixable or irredeemable within you.
• give yourself some grace as you make progress. celebrate small steps forward, but recognize that you will sometimes trip. it may feel like the end of the world, but it's really not. try to maintain perspective. rarely is something as catastrophic as it feels in the moment.

Where to get help:

Referrals from doctors are great when you can get them. I live in a bigger city. My primary care physician had experience in helping patients who needed help with mental health issues beyond generalized depression. So, he knew who to send me to and how to help me navigate. Not everyone has that luxury or type of access. Some doctors are as clueless as their patients when it comes to finding a good network of care for mental health.

So, here are some helpful ideas, and links where I can provide them.

• EAP
• Check with your employer to see if they offer an Employee Assistance Program
• EAPs can often provide counseling over the phone
• EAPs can usually help you locate a therapist or counselor
• EAPs can also assist with covering the cost of a number of in person appointments with a therapist who's in their network
• If you have a therapist and they aren't in network with your EAP, see if they're willing to reach out to that EAP to join their network
• Your Insurance Provider
• A lot of insurance providers anymore can actually help you get counseling and therapy via telemedicine
• When you go through your insurance provider, you're also sure to find people who are in their network
• Medical Leave
• Check to see if your employer provides medical leave
• Your mental health is as important as your physical health
• Keep in mind that some therapists are not licensed to handle medical leave paperwork, so you will need to coordinate care between your therapist and either your PCP or psychiatrist if you have one
• Remember that medical leave means red tape, paperwork, and some uncomfortable phone calls. There's no real changing that, but it could prove to be life saving and worthwhile.
• Psychology Today
• If you are having trouble finding a therapist, a psychiatrist, a treatment center or a support group this website is an amazing resource!
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us