All my past psychiatrists over the 5 years I've been known to the services have always just thrown medication at me. "I'm depressed" - medication. "I don't feel close to my family" - here have some medication. "I'm really lonely and have nothing to do" - medcation should solve that for you. "It's been half an hour now, so off you pop".

Today when I went for a medication review with a new psychiatrist I was worried I was just going to be in there for a short while, he/she was going to put me on some new medication with some undesirable side effects, then usher me out. I was totally wrong!

She introduced herself nicely, shook my hand, told me to take a seat and began discussing everything with me. As I explained the increased suicidal thoughts and self harming behaviors, she listened. Others have interrupted me and just looked down at her paper. She, however, took notes only occasionally - maintaining eye contact for a lot of the time. Did she prescribed me medication? Well yes she increased my dose of Celexa, but aside from that, she also discussed with me techniques to stop my panic attacks without the help of medication. She told me a trick to try and adjust recurring nightmares (before I go sleep, imagine the outcome of such a dream and how I'd like the dream to end, and repeat every night, to alter that recurring nightmare into something better).

We talked about mindfulness and other things I can do. She demonstrated the things I could do to help myself right in front of me, and was keen to make another appointment. She didn't even rush and I got a full hour.

Best psychiatrist I've encountered!
RB