These practical steps can make your visits more effective and tailored to what you need to manage mood stability with bipolar disorder.
With the increasing specialization of various medical professionals, it’s unsurprising that you may not know what to expect from an appointment with your psychiatrist. In the best-case scenario, you two are allies in your bipolar disorder journey for mood stability. You are collaborators who each contribute to a successful outcome, as defined and dictated by you, the patient.
That’s the model for “person-centered care,” which has gained traction in the mental health field in recent years. As a partnership, both you and your doctor must contribute to the success of your appointments. Here’s how to get started and maximize results with your psychiatrist.
1. Define Problems Beforehand
Prior to your appointment with your psychiatrist, take some time to think about what it is you want to get out of the appointment. Bipolar symptoms and challenges can change between each meeting, so defining exactly what you’d like help with will save time. This will allow you to spend more valuable resources on getting the precise help you’re after.
Many practices have “patient portals” and secure ways to send messages to providers. Consider communicating with your psychiatrist in advance of your appointment to briefly outline what you need to discuss and emphasize the most pressing concerns. This way, they will be prepared, too.
2. Respect Your Time — and Theirs
Try to keep the chatting with your psychiatrist to a minimum. Instead, talk about the important concerns about your bipolar and overall well-being.
Along these lines, if there are several issues that you need to address, be sure to prioritize them in your mind (and perhaps on paper) before your appointment. Often, it is easier to start talking about less stressful issues at the outset.
But when it comes to your health, it’s best to bring up the most important topics at the start of the appointment, instead of near the end of the meeting, when there isn’t enough time to discuss the higher-priority concerns.
3. Be Detailed About Your Mental Health History
In order for the doctor to help you, you need to provide enough appropriate information. As Kevin Turnquist, MD, explains in his article “New Models of Psychiatrist-Patient Relationships,” “Psychiatrists are trained to approach human problems in a particular way.” He says they want to know things like:
- When did the problem begin?
- What was going on when the problem started?
- Has it been present continuously or does it come and go?
- What makes it better?
- What makes it worse?
- Does anyone in the family have a similar problem?
“A good psychiatric diagnosis is always based on the course of symptoms as they occur throughout the patient’s life,” says Dr. Turnquist.
For this reason, be sure to prepare yourself for these kinds of questions. This could mean providing a detailed mental health history, records from prior treatments, and a list of your current medications and dosages (which also includes non-psychiatric and over-the-counter medicines, as well as alternative supplements).
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If you keep a daily health journal or any sort of symptom or mood trackers, bring those, too. Knowing more information about your amount of sleep and sleep quality, what you’re eating, your exercise habits, and other aspects of lifestyle management, can be extremely beneficial.
4. Keep Your Expectations in Check
Try to keep your expectations fair. Since everyone is different, each person’s and each doctor’s situation is different. Further complicating that, everyone experiences bipolar differently, so you can’t assume your psychiatrist will magically be aware of your problem(s).
Understandably, medical professionals will have moments when they need more information before they may be able to assist you with your specific concern on a given day.
So work with them by providing them with a comprehensive view of what you’re going through, and try to remain patient. Also, if you’re asking for advice, then either follow that advice or explain your reasons why you choose not to. Communication is key.
5. Be Honest About Medication Compliance
There are reasons for changing medication types and dosages, and it makes sense that you may wish to make changes because of side effects or levels of medication effectiveness.
Before making any changes, however, it’s crucial to communicate with your provider. It only harms you if you choose not to tell the truth about whether you’re taking your medication regularly and at the proper dosage.
If you don’t agree with the prescription ordered for you, or you are having a problem with it, it’s vital that you address the issue with your psychiatrist. This is partly because, if you’re not honest about medication adherence, your doctor may prescribe more medication — or higher doses — than what is required, which could compromise your health.
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As Turnquist explains, “Giving the wrong medication — or more commonly, combinations of medications — can lead to agitation, confusion, irritability, social withdrawal, depression, mania, and even psychotic symptoms. A vicious cycle can result, with the psychiatrist believing the person’s condition has gotten worse and prescribing more medications in an attempt to reduce the symptoms.”
After a thorough discussion with your psychiatrist, if you feel they are not hearing you or not adequately addressing your concerns, consider seeking a second opinion. It is your right to seek the best care, and self-advocacy can empower you and enable more effective treatment.
UPDATED: Originally posted April 15, 2017
