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Important First Questions to Ask Your Therapist or Physician
Are you experiencing symptoms of what could be a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety or extreme stress? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans, of all ages and from all walks of life, suffer with varying degrees of mental disorder symptoms each year and are faced with the need to seek professional advice and help.
As you get ready to make that first phone call or office visit, you'll want to be as fully prepared as possible to ask the therapist or physician the range of questions that can best ensure you are both well-informed about the diagnosis and confident in the proposed recovery plan--a task that can feel particularly overwhelming when you’re already feeling physically and/or emotionally under par...
Consider referring to this list of "important first questions to ask your therapist or physician":
1. What could have caused my condition (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress disorder) to develop? How common is it? Could it have hereditary roots? How is it related to my age, lifestyle, gender, current medical condition, or a recent occurrence or set of circumstances in my life?
2. What are my treatment options?
3. Should I begin therapy sessions? Which type would be best? How soon could I expect signs of feeling better? How long would therapy treatment likely last?
4. To what extent will my insurance cover my treatment?
5. Will I need to take any medication? If so, for how long?
6. What, if any, side effects can I expect from the prescribed medication? Can I do anything to prevent or alleviate side effects?
7. Is there a clinical trial I could participate in?
8. Are there lifestyle changes I can make that will speed up my recovery? Would I continue these changes just until I begin to feel better, or would they need to become a permanent part of my everyday routine?
9. Are there any alternative treatments (e.g., special diet, acupressure, massage therapy, biofeedback, vitamin/mineral regime, yoga, exercise program) that would complement my recovery program and help me feel better faster?
10. Is there a video, book or any other printed literature that contains useful information about my symptoms and recovery plan?
11. How likely is it that my symptoms will return in the future? What can I do to help prevent that from happening?
12. When my family or friends ask how they can help me with my recovery, what things can I suggest?
13. Can you think of anything more that I should be asking or considering?
Remember, as daunting as that first phone call or office visit may be, the sooner treatment is sought, the sooner you can begin feeling like yourself again.
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