[Wingnut13]

At my last session with my T she said she is sending me for a psych evaluation. Her reason is she wants me to get on the right medication. My regular doc prescribed elavil and she does not think that is the right med for me and I have stopped taking it. She is worried cause I am only getting a couple hours of sleep a night. And lately when I do sleep I am having suicide dreams. These dreams have just recently started. And it's the same dreams every night. In both dreams/nightmares I commit suicide. In one I go to my own funeral but don't realize it's my funeral until I walk up to the casket and see it's me lying there. Then my body in the casket opens it's eyes and looks right at me standing there. Then I ask myself "why?". "Why did you do this to me?" I ask as I am holding up my wrist. Then I turn and start running but no matter how far I run I can't get away. I was having problems sleeping long before these dreams started. These dreams have got me freaked out. I discussed them with my T yesterday. She already knew about my insomnia. I asked her what medication she thought I should go on. I need something to help me sleep and for major depression. That's when she said she is sending me for a psych evaluation. She said it's so one of their psychiatrists can prescribe me the right medication instead of relying on my regular doc to do it. Has anyone ever had a psych eval? I freaked out when she said "psych eval".

[technigal]

Psych evals are nothing to worry about. You see a psychiatrist, give them your mental health history, usually they will ask a few questions. You generally see the pdoc again to follow up on any meds given - for me I see my pdoc every 8 weeks.

I am only getting 1-2 hours of sleep as well, but not your nightmares.

[Elektra_]

hi. i never trust regular docs to prescribe mental meds... so will be better to a have a psych doing it. i went to a psych once and i just told my story as if i was in therapy then she prescribed something. tc

[Espresso]

Yeah, it's no big deal. I see the pdoc about once a month. The first appointment is usually long though.

[The_little_didgee]

I have been through many psychiatric evaluations. Most are done in one 50 minute appointment. More thorough psychiatrists will take more time.

The last assessment I had was done over 4 appointments. The psychiatrist asked a lot of questions about my symptoms, and medical and psychiatric history. She also asked about my family, childhood and other things such as trauma, drug/alcohol abuse, relationships, employment, education, etc. A family member was also interviewed.

At times I felt like she was interrogating me.

After the assessment, the psychiatrist discussed the diagnosis and answered my questions. She asked me to proofread the report before the final one was written up. That really impressed me.

[greentires4me]

i was psych evaluated by a psychologist 2 days 8 hours each I felt so drained after one day i didn't want to go to the second day. He asked everything family, relationships, past traumas, employment, education, abuse of substances, suicidal idealizations, meds I take. I felt like I was sitting on the precipice and being asked all these bits and pieces of my life.

after it was all done I felt much better he said adjustment behavior I didn't agree with that statement I thought I had major depression. then he said I was BPD which took my pdoc a long time to take to it I think she wanted to be sure before going with it.

I seemingly want another evaluation I don't think I belong in any of these labels anymore