Psychiatry is a medical science branch that deals with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. The mental health of a person is just as equally important as physical health.
The mental health of a person is affected by various external factors. In Indian society, mental health is not given much importance. A person facing mental health issues is considered to be weak in India.
They are often looked down on, which is one of the significant reasons people with mental health problems fail to seek professional help that they most certainly need.
When we get a fever, we go to the doctor to get treated. Similarly, when something is bothering us mentally, it is crucial to get help from a professional called a psychiatrist.
If not treated at the right time, mental health problems can affect our everyday life, and some of them are caused due to hormonal imbalances, neurochemical changes, and external factors such as peer pressure, failures, personal loss, etc.
Who is a psychiatrist, and how is he different from a psychologist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who assesses and treats the mental and physical factors that are causing mental health problems. They drastically differ from psychologists in terms of their education and method of treatment they provide. In terms of education, a psychiatrist holds a medical degree.
They study the biological components of the brain to diagnose mental disorders. In contrast, a psychologist may hold a Ph.D. degree in philosophy or counseling psychology, after which he/she must have served as an intern for at least two years before starting their practice as a counselor.
In terms of the treatment plan, a psychiatrist uses drugs and medicines to treat the patient suffering from a mental illness. A psychologist analyses behavior patterns such as eating, sleeping, and their social activities and treats the patient using cognitive therapy, psychotherapy, etc.
When it comes to depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses, whom to choose- psychiatrist or psychologist?
- Psychologists are trained and authorized to conduct psychological assessments like IQ tests and personality tests.
- Psychiatrists are authorized to prescribe medications. On the other hand, in rare cases, if the psychologist also holds a degree in psychopharmacology, then he may prescribe medication.
So, depending on whether you want medical treatment or just counseling, one may choose to consult a psychologist or a psychiatrist service.
What are the different types of psychiatry?
Psychiatry is subdivided into many categories, and they are listed as follows:
- Child and adolescent psychiatrists
- Geriatric psychiatrists
- Addiction psychiatrists
- Academic psychiatrists
- Psychiatrists for eating disorders
- Perinatal psychiatrists
- Rehabilitation and social psychiatrists
- Forensic psychiatrists
- Neuropsychiatrists
- Organizational or occupational psychiatrist
When to consult a psychiatrist?
If you are confused about when you need a psychiatrist, here are some examples:
- There are many moments in our life that can be stressful and cause anxiety, such as marital problems, personal problems, etc. These problems can further lead to depression and loneliness, and in cases where you cannot overcome the depression, you need a psychiatrist.
- Everyone has fears and phobias, but if the same starts hampering your everyday life, then it is not healthy.
- All of us have unhealthy habits such as drinking excessive alcohol, smoking, overeating, taking a lot of selfies, to be connected to social media all the time, being on the mobile always, etc. Sometimes these habits may be extreme and lead to developing an addiction. This might affect your physical health and cause a sense of worthlessness when you don’t get it. Sometimes the habit may be so much a part of your life that you cannot differentiate between what is real and imaginary, and that is when you need an intervention.
- The loss of a loved one is never easy to handle. The person may be dead or may not be part of your life anymore. Such a loss can paralyze a person making it very difficult to live every passing second. In such situations, professional help can be beneficial.
Setting up an appointment with a psychiatrist:
- Research a bit on who is the best psychiatrist who can help you.
- Check what the qualifications of the psychiatrist are and how much fees they charge.
- Find out if the clinic is part of a medical institution or not.
- Fix your appointment.
- Before visiting the doctor, note down your symptoms precisely.
- Gather and document your past medical histories, if any, as it could be the root cause of your current mental health problem.
- Note down any questions that you may want to ask the doctor.
Mental health is essential, and the sooner you understand that the sooner you can feel better.
