If you have been diagnosed with depression or think that you may suffer from the disorder, you will want to consult with a medical professional for further advice. There are many treatment options available for depression, including, but not limited to, medications and therapy. What type of doctor should you consider? This article will help you identify the best doctor to include in your treating depression.
What Kind of Doctor Is Best for Treating Depression?
Many people turn to their primary physician to help them deal with their mental illness. While family doctors often have built rapport with their patients, who they typically see for long periods of time, and while they may have been the first doctor to notice and diagnose depression in an individual, they should be avoided when it comes to treating depression and mental illness. Why is this? Family doctors are typically more versed in physical medical disorders, and they often do not have the specialized training that makes treating depression and mental illness more effective.
Many people will also turn to their chaplains or other religious counselors. Like a family doctor, these individuals will not have had specialized training in mental illness. However, they can be a valuable resource to include in your treatment team; you’ll just want to make sure that you have other options, as well. A chaplain or religious counselor can help you become spiritually stronger, and spiritual health is definitely a strong component of overall health.
If you believe that you can benefit from therapy, consider seeing a licensed mental health therapist. These individuals can often be found at walk-in mental health clinics and are trained to help those with mental illness develop strategies for coping with their illness. They have specialized knowledge of mental illness and have experience working with people with mental illness, as well.
If you are on the fence about whether you have depression, you may want to consider seeing a psychologist. A psychologist will take priority in evaluating your case and helping you to determine your treatment options. If you are clueless as to where to start, a psychologist can help by referring you to medical professionals who can meet your unique needs.
Treating Depression on Mental illness
Psychiatrists are specially trained to treating depression on mental illness. They are medical doctors, and are thus able to prescribe medications to help augment treatment, if necessary. If you do decide to take medication to help your condition, you’ll want to follow the directions carefully and regularly meet with your psychiatrist to determine if the medications are effectively targeting your symptoms.
Though it can be horrendously debilitating, depression is entirely treatable if one pursues the correct path. Consider all of your options and select the choices that will best cater to your needs. Do you feel that you can overcome your symptoms with therapy alone? In this case, a mental health professional or psychologist may be your best option. If you would like some additional support from prescription medications, you should consider adding a psychiatrist to your treatment team.
Most of all, you should be patient, as depression can sometimes take a while to effectively treating depression. Though it may be difficult, stay positive and remember that you will be able to overcome the illness and live a happy life again.