[ifwinterends]

This will be my first time (next Tuesday) for a full four-hour complete evaluation. I am nervous and just wondering what to expect. If anyone is so obliged to share personal experiences, it would be appreciated.

When I went in for an evaluation for my pdoc it took 2 hours. I gave family history (parents & siblings), my own history (I was 48 then), what kind of childhood I had, what meds & therapy I've tried & what were the results. When I had my last physical & did I have any health issues, such as low thyroid, anemia--I did. I was in a deep depression when I went in for my evaluation so I pretty much cried through the whole thing. But the doc was able to pull me out of my depression with a correct dx (bp 1), a cocktail of meds that are working for me (for the most part--had a couple relaspes in the last 5 years). She saw me very frequently during the first year in order to gauge how the meds were doing.

Then she spread the visits out to once a month, then every 3 mos., 6 mos, etc. until I had a relapse & it was back to every 2 weeks for awhile.

Just tell the truth about your thoughts (even if they are embarrassing or seem abnormal), your behaviors, your drug & alcohol use, your relationships with other people & your family, etc.

Don't be nervous. She/he is there to help you & just needs all the available info. to do that effectively. I'm sure she/he has heard it all so don't hold back. Good luck. Let us know how it went.--Suzy

[Rapunzel]

There is some basic information they will want to cover thoroughly, like most intake interviews but more of it. What else is included depends on the referral question. Sometimes it might be broken up into a couple of sessions, because four hours is a long time.

When I had an evaluation like that (not sure if it was 4 hours, but it seemed like it), I told a secret that I had been carrying around for a long time (a recovered repressed memory, actually - and I didn't tell all of it even, just that it was there), and after that I felt really good for 2 whole days.

Be honest and cooperative, and it might be a lot to sit through, but I think it can be very helpful.

Good luck with it!

[Soidhonia]

Hello I hope things are going well with you today. The intake is just basically information gathering and then you will be scheduled an appointment with a therapist and Dr.
The information you supply is very important in determining which thereapist you should see that will help you in recovery the best, truth is the best policy so that you can get a therapist that will make the most difference in your life, and your mental health. Try not ot be nervous and try to be prepared with any information pertaining to your mental health and your family history if you know the family history.
When I go with friends to intakes I just take a water and usually there are magazines or TV to take your mind off of the wait. The main thing is not to go too early for the appointment, they are usually scheduled in a timely manner going more than 15 minutes early is not generally necessary. ( unless you were told differently). Take care and try to relax. Soidhonia