[SQLVR]

So, i have an appointment with my psychiatrist in a coupe of days. My therapist says I should talk to him about how the voices have increased and about some of the things that make me worried or paranoid. I find myself feeling akward when I tell him these kinds of things. It makes me embaressed. I only see him every three months, so I don't have the kind of relationship I have with my therapist. I just feel embaressed telling him these sort of personal things. Any advice about how to get through these feelings so I can tell him what he needs to know?

[Erti]

How about writing the things down that you want to tell him before going in for the appointment?

[Squirrel1983]

I second the writing things down. That is what I usually do. Soemtimes if I am afraid I can't say it in person I will write a letter and mail it to him before my appointment, so he has a heads up on what is happening to me. I've even been known to send an email sometimes (mine doesn't seem to care if I do these things). But in short, writing it down definitely helps. I've seen my pdoc once a month for almost 3 years and I still write things down that I am too embarrassed to tell him.

[mokie]

Writing things down really does help. I keep a journal so I can show if needed. If you have someone who you can share your thoughts and concerns with you may benefit to take that person to pdoc to speak for you. I do this with my husband and at the same time it helps for him to share his concerns or what he sees in me that I don't. Plus having someone with you can help you remember things that pdoc has to say or want you to do for the following appointment.

[spiritual_emergency]

SQVLR: My therapist says I should talk to him about how the voices have increased and about some of the things that make me worried or paranoid. I find myself feeling akward when I tell him these kinds of things. ... Any advice about how to get through these feelings so I can tell him what he needs to know?

Most psychiatrists prescribe/manage medications as a means of addressing what they call "symptoms" -- this might include things like hearing voices, feeling anxious, having specific fears, etc. All your psychiatrist probably needs to know is how you are responding to the medication since you last saw them. For example:

- Have your "symptoms" increased or decreased since you last saw him/her?
- If you were experiencing anxiety/worry before, are you experiencing less anxiety or more now?
- If you were experiencing fear/paranoia before, are you experiencing less fear or more now?
- Are you able to sleep well? Are you able to remain alert through the day or are your medications so strong that you feel lethargic or zombielike?
- Are you experiencing negative side effects to the medication? (This could include things like metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart palipitations, rashes, Parkinson's-like movements, etc.)

If you focus your discussion in this way, it might help you avoid discussing more personal details. For example, if you hear voices, you don't need to tell him what they say but you could say, I am hearing them more often, or It's about the same but I'm learning to ignore them, or They were bothering me less before my last medication increase, or whatever the case may be for you.

Here is a link that you can review that might help you prepare for the meeting with your psychiatrist. Most of it is related to medication use but there's some helpful information there related to topics of conversation and empowering yourself so these kinds of meetings are not frightening or anxiety-provoking for you: Reclaiming Your Power During Medication Visits with Your Psychiatrist

Good luck.

[KUREHA]

Your therapist might have told him some of it - my psychologist used to tell my psychiatrist things.