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It could be that you and your loved one have waited months to get an appointment with a Psychiatrist. Maybe your loved one has realized that they need help and agreed to see a physician. Perhaps your loved one has finally consented for you to be involved and is allowing you to accompany them to a doctor’s appointment so you can be part of the solution.
Whatever the reason, seeing a physician for the first time can be intimidating and stressful for anyone. Take the stress and anxiety that you might be feeling and increase it tenfold – then maybe you can appreciate the feelings that your loved one with mental health challenges might be feeling. There are things you can do to help our loved ones through the feelings of stress and anxiety and maximize the effectiveness of the time spent with the physician.
After all, if this appointment is important, you want to do everything you can to ensure that it is productive and leads down a path that will get your loved one the help, support and services they need and deserve.
The following are some tips to help to navigate conversations with a doctor:
Talk to your loved one
When your loved one feels involved in their own treatment they are more likely to be empowered to follow through on treatment plans. Start by asking your loved one if they need or even want help. Your loved one is the expert, let them guide the way. At times they may want you in the room for moral support, sometimes they may want you to take the lead and at other times they may not want you involved at all. While it is often easier to jump in and help, never assume, always ask and respect your loved one’s wishes. With privacy and consent laws, trying to force your way in may only serve to get you completely shut out of the process. It may be frustrating and will require patience but you can support without being hands on.
Be Prepared
It may be hard for your loved one to remember what they want to say to their physician. You can help them prepare for their appointment by preparing a list of information and questions ahead of time. Outlining symptoms, questions and concerns that will not only help get better treatment decisions, but will also alleviate some of the fears they may have talking about their emotions. Suggest that your loved one track how they are feeling, including triggers in a journal which will help provide valuable information when preparing for an appointment with a physician.
The list should include as many of the following as possible:
- Symptoms your loved one is currently experiencing
- What your loved one is finding most challenging
- Information regarding medications (e,g, side effects, remembering to take it)
- Triggers that increase your loved ones symptoms
- Have there been any physical changes (e.g., weight gain, pregnancy, fatigue)?
- Are there any concerns that your loved one has about their treatment, medication, communication, etc.
It is also important to come prepared for questions that a physician may ask regarding past history, medication and treatment. Having this readily available in written format will save time and help the physician to develop a clearer picture of your loved one’s life experiences. Some information the doctor may find helpful knowing is:
- Personal and family medical history.
- Current medications – including medications for conditions other than mental health and vitamins and supplements
- Psychiatric medications used in the past, including side effects
- Information on diagnosis, and past mental health treatment.
Ask Questions…
Remind your loved one is ok to ask questions and to clarify what the doctor has said if they do not understand. They may want to learn about treatment options, why medications are being prescribed, which symptoms they will address or what will happen if they skip a dose. Preparing these questions ahead of time will help your loved one make the most out of the time they have with the doctor as well as strengthen communication and ensure all of their concerns and fears are addressed.
Take notes…
It is often hard to remember everything that is said in an appointment. Talk to your loved one and let them know it is okay to write things down during an appointment. If you are with them, perhaps offer to take notes for them in order to allow them to focus more intently on the conversation they are having with the physician.
Foster Independence…
If you are part of the meeting, try to let your loved one do the talking. The more actively involved they are in their treatment, the greater the chance that they will commit to following through with recommendations and become engaged in their own recovery. You have helped to prepare them for the appointment and now it’s time to step back and act as a support for your loved one and if called upon be a resource for the physician. Be mindful of any verbal or non-verbal communication cues that your loved one might be sending during the appointment.