[Depressed Dear]

Today is the day I have my 1st Pdr. appointment. It's 2ish a.m. I can't sleep. What's going to happen? Will he fix me up and send me home with a magic cure? Nope, I am pretty sure that's not going to happen. Do y'all get scared nervous excited...what's going to happen?

Most doctors I have encountered try to put people who see them at ease. The first visit will likely be mostly information gathering. The doctor will need to know what is going on in your life that is causing you concern. There likely will be some discussion about your family's health history and more specifically yours.

If the doctor writes a script for you, he probably will talk some about potential side effects. He also will tell you to continue taking the prescribed dosage even if you do not notice any improvement right away. Most anti-depressants take awhile to be effective. The doctor will want to monitor how you are doing to see how well the medication is working.

I suggest you be open and honest with the doctor. The two of you need to work together to achieve a good result. If you do not think the medication is working, or if the side effects are causing you distress, call the doctor's office to let them know what is going on. Too often when I first started on meds I stayed on a medication that was not right for me for too long.

It is not unusual to be nervous and scared. This step is a big deal. Try to remember why you are there. Ask questions too so you know what you should expect and are clear on how much and when to take the meds.

Finally, treating depression often is a matter of trial and error. The doctor will try to get it right the first time but you may need to start over on a new med if the first one is not helping.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

[IrishMe]

I know for me, when I start with a new doc, I'm always a little nervous about seeing them. It's hard to know what to expect. One of my biggest concerns has always been " what will he/she really want to know about me"

But in the long run....I know it's up to me to ultimately get what I can out of it and to take each session one at a time. Byzantine gave some wonderful advice!!!

Try not to be nervous...and remember, this is the first step to beating the demon of depression.