When should you visit a psychiatrist?

Mental health disorders are one of the most emotionally taxing problems affecting families, relationships, and individuals. According to the National Institutes of Health, one in five adults (47 million) report having a mental health disorder, which means that you or someone close to you may be experiencing mental health issues.

Most people can recognize when they need their families or support networks to provide mental health support. Still, they are not always sure when to seek professional assistance from a psychiatrist. 

When should you visit a psychiatrist? Learn more about the warning signs that you should see a psychiatrist by reading this article.

The following are indications of mental health problems that necessitate a psychiatrist’s assessment:

• Extreme Nervousness and Anxiety

Although anxiety is a natural biological reaction to stress, persistent anxiety and nervousness that interferes with daily activities should be taken to the psychiatrist. Untreated anxiety frequently worsens over time and may lower the patient’s patient’s quality of life. A psychiatrist can diagnose the underlying cause of the anxiety and recommend the appropriate treatment.

• Severe Phobias

Fear of snakes, spiders, or heights is common and affects many people. These phobias, however, can become very severe and interfere with some people’s daily activities.  There is often a deeper lying issue causing this reaction, and a psychiatrist can work with the patient to alleviate the phobias.

• Substance Abuse 

A need to escape reality rather than address the underlying issues is frequently indicated by excessive use of substances like alcohol and drugs. Addiction to substances needs to be treated by a psychiatrist with experience in the field who can guide the patient through addiction recovery.

• Depression

Extreme feelings of irritability, sadness, and hopelessness that one cannot shake off after two or more weeks may be signs of depression and may interfere with daily activities. The symptoms are often confused with other mental disorders and require psychiatrist evaluation for diagnosis and treatment. 

• Suicidal thoughts

Suicidal thoughts may develop due to a life-changing event that causes the person significant distress, or they may be a symptom of a depressive episode with no apparent trigger. A psychiatrist has received extensive training in working with suicidal patients and preventing crises related to suicide.

• Destructive Behaviors in adolescents

Teenagers who suddenly start engaging in destructive behavior such as vandalism, school fights and other criminal activities may be going through some deeper mental issues. There is a need to have them see a psychiatrist to determine the root cause of the destructive behavior and seek to remedy it.

Although not all the significant symptoms that call for a psychiatrist evaluation are listed above, they are among the most common change in emotions, behavior, or development. The symptoms should be evaluated by a psychiatrist, especially in young children, adolescents, or a close adult, as these symptoms may frequently resemble those of other conditions and self-diagnosis may not be accurate.

Visit our online psychiatrist resource site to find out more about mental illnesses and how our medical professionals can accompany you on your path to recovery and treatment.