First time seeing my shrink

Hey, i'm new here, although i've lurked a bit for a few weeks.

Anyway, it's my first visit to the psychiatrists on monday. I'm pretty sure i'm bipolar, having researched it for months and scored over 60 on the scale.

I just don't know what to expect. Are they going to sit me down and ask a bunch of questions? Or am i expected to just spill all my thoughts as soon as i meet them?

A lot of my thoughts and feelings i am scared to tell them about, such as when i have manic periods as well as depressive and i go crazy and just start running a film in my head of killing everyone i know and then myself.

If it helps i'm 18 and from the UK.

Thanks for the responses.

Hi Dysmas

Welcome to PC! This is a great community with lots of support, hope you find yourself at home.

I'm not from the U.K., and am just a little bit (ok A LOT) older than you, but I'll give you some info on my personal experiences with psychiatrist. I always find it helpful to perhaps jot down a few of my strongest and constant symptoms to take with me. My anxiety usually kicks into overload, and I can't remember everything. Some pdocs will administer a written "test", and others will just ask many questions. I hope you get the most out of your appointment Monday, and the proper diagnosis and/or treatment is identified. Please keep us updated!

Take care,
Dee

Welcome to PC!

You simply must be honest with the doctor! You're paying him / her to evaluate and advise and help you, if you don't tell about that film, or any other intruding thoughts or worries, they won't get a complete picture and may not find the right medicine or therapy to help you.

You will be asked questions, they aren't mind readers.

I remember my first visit with an MD psychiatrist many years ago. I filled out a few forms, which gave him an initial picture of what I was experiencing. It was a bit frightening at first, but the MD was patient and just talked to me. He asked a few questions and then asked me to come back in a week. I did and then he prescribed some medicine that he said would help.
After about a month and a half, he prescribed a replacement, which really made me feel like a new person! it was a great feeling to experience serenity from my anxiety.
I have found that both the psychiatrist and the licensed mental health counselor, working together, do wonnders for the patient.

Well thanks for all the nice replys.

Got a letter through not long ago saying it would be an informal 30 minutes of questions and things, so probably forms or something.

Hi and welcome-
The best advice I can give is just to be open and honest. They have heard it all and it is confidential. They are really good at asking leading questions so I found it surprisingly easy to unload.

I have seen numerous psychiastrists and to me they all have one thing in common... they are very "non-personal". I don't mean that in a bad way, its just that you will not get a warm-fuzzy like you get when you see a therapist. I personally have never found one that I liked though I have liked what they did for me.

Dysmas

Have you been to your appointment? How did it go?

Hey.

Yea i went to my appointment on monday. It was with some sort of Psychiatric nurse or something.

It was basically a 40 minute chat to see why i was there and what my problems were.

I was told that i was most likely Bipolar and i was forwarded to the Psychiatric doctor, who i will recieve an appointment off soon.

I came back home, and have been kicking myself ever since. I really didn't enjoy spilling my feelings, but i suppose it was needed.

Thanks for the information, and the caring.

Dysmas,

I'm really glad you're on the right track. Hope the doc appt goes well. Let us know how it goes.