[Annie13]

Did anyone ever come out of their 1st psychiatrist appt feeling very low? I went today after being referred by my therapist for my depression and anxiety.

After answering a million questions, which wasn't unexpected, I came out feeling very low, almost wanting to cry.

When I came home, I cut myself, which is part of my issues. Ive been able to avoid cutting lately until now.

Now, I just want to lie in bed.

Has anyone else had this reaction to their appointments?

[Yzen]

My therapist asked me dozens of questions on our first session. It didn't make me feel too good. For me, I was disappointed that it was all questions and no discussion. I think she was trying to get an idea of what I needed. It was better the next session.

[MobiusPsyche]

Yes, the first appointment makes me feel bad because I have to give my whole history and answer a lot of questions that are uncomfortable to think about.

[splitimage]

My first appointment with any new MH provider is usually not very good, because I have to go through my whole mental health and addictions history which makes me feel bad about myself.

I think it's pretty normal to not feel great after a first appointment.

splitimage

[obi1kenobi]

Originally Posted by MobiusPsyche

Yes, the first appointment makes me feel bad because I have to give my whole history and answer a lot of questions that are uncomfortable to think about.

I agree with these points here.

[kecanoe]

Yes, I felt awful after my first appt with 2 different pdocs.

[Travelinglady]

Oh, yes, that first appointment confirms we need to see a psychiatrist---that we have "head" problems, for one thing. That's depressing in itself.

Please know your feelings are normal and try to focus on the good things in life. The nice thing about the first appointment, though, is that we are going to get treatment and will end up better.

[ADeepSandbox]

I have always had really bad anxiety about any health appointments. Usually it takes me some time to recover. I try and treat myself to something nice like ice cream or a new book from the library after an appointment. I still get terribly anxious and upset about them. It sucks. I'm sorry you were feeling bad. Maybe all the questions stirred things up for you? If it helps, at least med checks aren't usually so bad, the intake is the worst.

[mindwrench]

My first pdoc eval I was terrified, and felt really bad afterwards. When my T misinterpreted my pdocs notes then I was really upset. Communication and asking all the questions is key.

[mugwort2]

I virtually always feel bad after an initial first meeting since I constantly worry what the new pdoc thought of me. It gets even worse since every time I see my pdoc I am concerned what her or his opinion is of me until my next visit. My current pdoc is male but this is true of female pdocs too. Yes plus the fact I'm opening up in the initial appt of subjects, issues I feel very uncomfortable dealing with. Its really rough being a patient.

[vishva8kumara]

Psychiatrists are not like Psychotherapists. They can be cold at times, specially in a first appointment.

Same here on my first appointment with this current psychiatrist. Earlier I was to a psychiatrist who was also a therapist and I was expecting the same here. It was later I realized that only a handful of Psychiatrists are also therapist.

Lucky me those days and not-so-lucky me last year; I was dissociating my way back home walking like a zombie for miles before I realized that I could have taken a bus or I could have been hit by a train on the railroad.

It was maybe because all my recent history was pulled out coldly and put on her papers without analyzing or being sensitive for how I feel, or allowed to exit the consultation room without even patching me up after opening up all that.

But later as we got to know well, things were good. I refused to take antidepressants on our first appointment, because I didn't got to tell the whole story - only the immediate situation. I think she has written a prescription for Prozac at the moment I entered the room by looking at my face.

My immediate situation then didn't involve any OCD or anxiety, but was aggravated due to stress and depression at that time. I didn't agree with the idea of taking Prozac for just depression since I was not able to open up for the whole story and what else was going on. So, on a second appointment I was more ready and I knew what I could expect.

[vishva8kumara]

It could be a sort of disappointment sometimes.

Pulling out all those pent up inside your heart (or head) could be devastating too.

The very fact that you have to acknowledge that you have a condition that needs attention of a psychiatrist, and maybe having to take psychotropic medication for a long time or maybe for the rest of your life is debilitating; and it had hit me the next time I woke up after seeing the new psychiatrist for the second time, and - feeling - so - weird - can't explain that situation, but will never forget.

[Great Sophia]

Is important to connect with your doctor in the first visit