I've been to the first appointment a few times and the psych evaluation in the ER. It's the same thing. Takes at least an hour maybe more. They never expect you to come in on your own like a dentist would. Common sense to take care of yourself isn't part of the crazy territory. The judgemental looks come when they ask of you think about suicide and say something stupid like, "oh not that much... Maybe 15 or 20 times a day" or when you're asked to elaborate on periods of strange thoughts and anxieties. Like they've never heard of anyone saying such crazy things before! Yes, they're testing to see if you know how foolish it is to converse with the universe or believe you have some special power but, it's terribly embarrassing.

Then you sit there awkwardly thinking maybe they'll ask you a question now. What else do you want me to say? And they will ask something silly like do you hear voices? Or do you realize you're fidgeting so much? Are you doing that on purpose? And about your social life, how often you sleep and wash yourself.

With me it always concludes with, well yes, I uh, think you have bipolar but, you know that already since you've seen other doctors before. Here's some treatment options and a bunch of medication is listed. Some side effects are discussed and a prescription is written.

Of course, the drugs only work for awhile or work too well so I rinse and repeat with a new doctor a few years later.