[NoIdeaWhatToDo]

So, I've tried some natural supplements to manage my symptoms. I thought they were working - I've been relatively even for more than a year. I didn't really get any of the good hypo - but I still got some irritability and anxiety. I didn't get the long drawn-out depressive episodes, but I have had depressed days. I figured it was working since I was managing pretty well and my highs/lows were not as severe.

Until lately. I have been all over the place for the last several weeks - maybe 5 or 6? Looking back, the depressive side of it has been symptomatic since before the holidays, but it sort of crept in and I didn't really notice for awhile since some of the symptoms weren't sustained. It's gotten severe (for me) over the last week or so, and now I think I've been deluding myself because it's been rapid cycling. I'll get a terrible low, then a few hours later I'll swing to highly irritable and flashing anger. I don't have much experience with rapid cycling (that I recognize/remember), so this is catching me off guard. It's hurting my family. And it's devastating me.

So, I think it's time I accept that I need more help managing this. I don't know any pdocs where I live. I've checked in my insurance, and 1 is listed. He has 7 years experience, but 2.5 out of 5 stars from reviews (there are only 2 reviews). The two areas where he got lower marks were for Accurate Diagnosis and Followup. He got high marks for Bedside Manner, Spends Time with Me, Promptness, and Ease of Appointments. I kind of feel like the first two areas are the critical ones, though.

Also, my insurance lists him under Psychiatry, but his degree is an MD - I thought pdocs were PhDs? There are no other covered pdocs within 50 miles. One of the reasons I've resisted getting a pdoc for so long was the fear of the journey through the mire of meds to find the right meds. I'm worried if he's an MD it'll be a fishing expedition through the rxs. Is that a realistic fear?

In case it wasn't overwhelmingly obvious already, I'm really scared of this process. For those of you who have a pdoc you like, how did you find him/her? How do you know whether you've found the right person?

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Psychologists are PhDs. They can't prescribe meds but can do diagnostics and counseling (although if a pdoc disagrees with the diagnosis the pdoc will prevail usually. Sometimes they'll discuss it and come up with a compromise diagnosis). There are also counselors (called LPCCs in a lot of states-licenced professional clinical counselors and social workers (LSW). If you want to try therapy before meds one of those are the ones to look for.

Online dr. ratings tend to not be very accurate since people are more likely to rate them if they are angry. I've also seen things like my pdoc marked as a pediatrician with the same name in a different city.

It's hard to know what happens if you try meds. Some people respond easily and to the first meds tried and some don't. Unfortunately it's hard to know who will do what. When it is difficult it can be pretty frustrating sometimes but it could be quite easy for you. It hasn't been easy at all for me and I haven't been miserable, just constantly fighting for something to work.

I love my pdoc. She used to work at my counseling agency 3 times per month. When I was first diagnosed I was in a clinical trial and when that was ending I couldn't find a pdoc so my therapist asked her to take me on and jump the waiting list. She did and that was 13 years ago.

I don't know for sure how you know you found the right person. I just knew I had someone I trusted and who listened to me and my opinions and worked with me instead of just telling me what to do. Feeling that trust was huge.

Good luck to you!

[Nammu]

Distinctions Between Therapist Degrees - Psych Central

This is a brief overview of the differences between, Psychiatric practices.

[Ocean Swimmer]

Maybe you can also call the hospital w a mental ward and see who's on staff.
Then put in a request to your ins. Or ask the Pdoc if they'll accept your ins.
Pdocs are MDs then Phychiatrists.