Psychiatry in Dumont, NJ—Psychiatrists and Medication Management
Allison recently started seeing a therapist to assist her in managing her anxiety. While the management techniques she had learned in counseling have been helping her quell the anxious thoughts, she still finds herself being overwhelmed with anxiety from even the smallest tasks. Allison’s therapist believed that she could greatly benefit from medication and referred her to a psychiatrist.
A psychiatrist is a medical professional whose specialization lies in the field of psychiatry. These individuals have received extensive education and medical training on how to properly evaluate and treat a wide array of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric health issues.
In medical school, psychiatrists have studied the regions in the brain that control our thoughts, reactions, and behaviors, as well as the connections between these actions and our neurochemistry. This allows them to help determine the biological factors that contribute to mental illnesses.
A psychiatrist will be able to help discern whether your symptoms are due to a medical cause, such as hypothyroidism or fibromyalgia, or a mental illness. Once a diagnosis has been made, a psychiatrist can recommend a medication that is designed to treat the biological factors associated with your diagnosis.
If you think you may benefit from psychiatric care, consider scheduling an appointment with one of our online psychiatrists at Thriveworks. You can schedule your appointment at our Thriveworks office in Dumont, NJ today and have a video session with a psychiatrist within 24-48 hours.
What Disorders Can Be Treated With Psychiatry?
As previously mentioned, a psychiatrist can treat a wide array of different mental illnesses. Some psychiatrists even specialize in certain areas of psychiatry. For example, a psychiatrist may choose to specialize in child psychiatry, which requires further training.
Now that you have a better understanding of what a psychiatrist is, let’s look at some of the common mental illnesses they can treat:
- Anxiety: This is the most common mental disorder in the world, affecting 1 in 13 people worldwide. Anxiety symptoms can involve feelings of panic, danger, or dread, rapid heart rate, nervousness, restlessness, and more. A psychiatrist will investigate to discern the medical component to these anxiety symptoms and provide a tailored treatment plan to manage them.
- Depression: This condition is also extremely prevalent and affects 264 million people of all ages and genders globally. Symptoms of depression can include loss of interest in activities, decreased mood, feelings of hopelessness, weight changes, and many others. Once a psychiatrist has conducted an evaluation, they may recommend the client undergo psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as begin taking medication, such as an antidepressant.
- Bipolar Disorder: This mental disorder is quite common, especially in those over the age of 25 and affects approximately 2.8% of the population. Bipolar disorder symptoms may include periods of mania (e.g. impulse buying), periods of depression, and others. If a client is diagnosed with a type of bipolar disorder, a psychiatrist may prescribe an antipsychotic. This medication class focuses on regulating brain functions that control one’s mood, thinking, and perception.
How Do I Know If I Should See a Psychiatrist?
Due to the fact that psychiatry covers a wide array of mental illnesses, there are many reasons why you might want to seek psychiatric care. Every person will have a different reason specific to their situation; however, here are some factors you might want to consider:
- You are exhibiting symptoms of a serious mental illness (e.g. anxiety, loss of interest, decreased mood, disturbing thoughts, hallucinations, or mania)
- Addictive behaviors including substance abuse and gambling
- Low-self esteem or body image issues
- Violent or aggressive thoughts and behaviors towards yourself or others
- Feeling overwhelmed or hopeless
- You are a victim of any form of abuse (e.g. emotional, physical, or sexual)
- You have been referred by a medical professional or therapist
A psychiatrist will be able to conduct both laboratory and psychological testing to help discern the cause of your symptoms and provide a professional assessment of your mental state.
What Do I Need To Know About Starting Medication?
When discussing the possibility of medication for your symptoms, you will need to communicate with your psychiatrist about any current medications you are taking, as well as any allergies you may have to medications or ingredients. You also will need to provide them with your medical history before starting any new medications.
Once a medication has been chosen, your psychiatrist will inform you of how to properly take your medication and any potential side effects it may cause. It is important to take your medication safely and properly to ensure that it is yielding the desired results.
If your medication is not yielding the desired results, tell your psychiatrist. They will be happy to prescribe a different medication, one that is a better fit for you.
Scheduling An Appointment with a Psychiatrist at Thriveworks in Dumont, NJ
If you believe that you may benefit from psychiatric care, consider working with a psychiatrist at Thriveworks in Dumont, NJ. Our psychiatrists accept many different insurance plans, offer evening and weekend appointments, and new clients may see a psychiatrist in 24 to 48 hours. You can schedule an appointment online or by calling 201-654-6401.
Your mental health is important to us, and we look forward to helping you thrive.
