Talking to Your Doctor About Getting Depression Help |
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What Do I Say?Depression is a very common illness. Odds are that you are not the first of your doctor's patients to talk to him or her about depression. Your doctor knows that depression is an illness; he or she will address your concerns professionally. If you see several different doctors for different ailments, you may wan to choose the one with which you have the best relationship. Otherwise, it's a good idea to start with your family doctor or internist. Some examples of ways to start a dialogue about depression with your doctor: "I've been feeling down lately and I'm wondering if I might be clinically depressed" "I've read a bit about depression and I think I might be depressed. Can you screen me for depression?" If you think you have dysthymia: "I've been feeling down pretty often for a long time now and I'm wondering if I might have dysthymia." (pronounced "dis - THI - me - a") Both of these examples are straightforward. There really isn't any reason not to be straightforward with your doctor. Remember that your doctor is trained to deal with these sorts of questions and concerns. If you feel you can't talk about depression with your doctor, consider writing a note. One of the benefits of writing a note is that you can choose to word it in a way that you are comfortable with. I've used notes with doctors when I know I need to let them know something, but it's just too hard for me to say. Writing a note allows me to get the wording "just right." What Happens Next?You've told your doctor you think you're depressed. What can you expect to happen now? In many ways, it depends on your doctor, your preferences, and how severe your depression is. There are a series of questions your doctor may ask you to help determine whether or not you're experiencing clinical depression. From here, several things may happen: 1. Your doctor may write you a prescription for antidepressant medication. 2. Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist, or both. 3. Your doctor could ask you further questions to determine if you may be in danger of harming yourself. If your doctor gives you antidepressant medication, make sure someone will be on call during non-office hours in case you have a problem or a concern about your medication. Although many primary care doctors write prescriptions for antidepressants, I believe that it is best to see a psychiatrist for medication. It's a matter of seeing the right kind of specialist for your illness. Psychiatrists deal with all types of antidepressant medications every day, so they know them well. During non-office hours, other psychiatrists will be on call, and thus will also be familiar with your medication. How Do I Find a Psychiatrist or Psychologist?Your primary care doctor may be able to recommend a mental health professional for you. A friend or family member may be able to recommend someone. Often, a clergy member will have some experience with mental health professionals and will be able to help you locate a psychiatrist or psychologist. Of course, talking to your primary care doctor or a clergy member is confidential. Another Thing...Many people do not seek help for dysthymia or depression because they feel ashamed to have a "mental" illness. But depression is a biological illness. Regardless of what triggers depression, the changes that occur in the brain are physical. You can no more wish or will away depression than a diabetic can wish or will away diabetes. More important, left untreated depression gets worse and can become more difficult to treat. Failing to treat dysthymia increases the chance of an episode of major depression. In short: Ignoring depression or dysthymia does not make them go away. It makes them worse. |
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