What happens when you meet a psychiatrist?

[AfunaMbatata]

I mean, what happens when you first meet them? Do they ask questions and if so what (roughly) are the questions like?
I’ve been referred to one after an incident and don’t really want to go as I hate the unknown.

[Caulk]

I’ve seen a few. It’s usually that they ask you to tell them what’s happened to bring you there, talk about what medication you’re on and who prescribed it and how it’s working. Sometimes they talk through a diagnosis but not on the first week.

Sometimes they’ll just see you once and discharge you, others will see you more often.

[Emelene]

Generally very friendly. The appointment is usually a fair bit longer than a GP or other doctor because they want to get to know what brought you there. Also stuff about your background and they discuss a treatment plan. They are used to people being nervous. Good luck OP xxx

[AfunaMbatata]

Thankyou both for the replies.

[dangermouseisace]

If it's anything like the ones I've had, be prepared to tell your entire life story. You might see them the once and that's it, or it might be the start of a number of appointments with various mental health professionals. Most I've met have been nice but I have also met some right pricks. Mental illness isn't something you can do a blood test/brain scan for (though you may have a blood test) so there there is a degree of subjectivity there in that what one psychiatrist thinks/suggests might differ from anothers. So if they say something you don't agree with speak up.

[AfunaMbatata]

Will they be offended if I swear? When I’m in a weird phase I swear almost constantly and I’ve been refused treatment even though I’ve explained I’m not actually sweating that them?!

[MiniMum97]

Don't have too high expectations. The two I have seen were both utter idiots. One of them gave me "advice" that could have been dangerous had he said it to someone more unstable. They do not have a good reputation in the mental health world. The other one was rude and dismissive.

I hope you get a good one but go in with low expectations and at least you won't be disappointed. Try and get referred to someone useful like a clinical psychologist (depending on what your issue is of course).

[OtterInDisgrace]

The best advice I can give, afuna, is be authentic. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not because that defeats the object of why you’re there in the first place.

So if you usually swear, just swear, and then you can say to the psychiatrist: I tend to swear when x or whatever.

There’s no point going if you’re going to fake it because of social expectations or whatever. What use is that?

[UAEMum]

In my case.... you marry him!
Disclaimer.... i met him socially not as a patient.