Be More Prepared for Your Next Psychiatric Appointments

Preparing ahead of time for your next psychiatric appointments can help things to go more smoothly and effectively. Having a plan for what you’d like to address and questions you may want to ask can help things to go smoothly and allow you to leave your session feeling that you have accomplished what you set out for that day. This can be an effective way to go about things, but may seem like a tall order. Let’s explore ways you can prepare before your next appointment!

Questions to Ask Yourself

There are a few things you can do before your next psychiatric appointment to feel organized and ready. Asking yourself these questions can help: 

1. How have you been feeling?  Ask yourself how you have been feeling, what has your mood been like, how have you been sleeping, what has your anxiety level been 1-10, what has your energy level been etc. Journaling at the end of each day can be a great way to keep track of your mood and symptoms so that you can review when you see your provider. 
2. Have you been taking  your medications consistently? Being aware of any missed doses can help you to communicate with your prescriber regarding your consistency with medications. This can contribute to your functioning and symptoms. Being able to give them a clear picture can make a world of difference. 
3. Has anything in your life changed? Life can throw us a lot of curveballs, though we can be quick to minimize their effect on us. Jot down any changes you’ve experienced since the last time you saw your provider and be sure to let them know. 
4. Speaking of changes, have you experienced any medical changes? Your prescriber needs to know if your health has changed in any way or if you’ve started any new medications. Perhaps your dosage of other medications has changed? Any medical changes should be communicated in your appointment. 
5. What questions have been left unanswered? Most of us experience that phenomenon of remembering multiple questions we wished we would have asked right after an appointment. That is natural, write them down! Keep a running list of questions that you have for your provider between appointments so that you can communicate them when you see them. It can make a world of difference!

This list is NOT exhaustive, but it can get you thinking. Take note of how you are feeling and functioning. Be mindful of your symptoms and whether they are improving, staying the same or getting worse. Ask questions! All of these things can help you to feel better prepared for your psychiatric appointments. 

Finding the Right Psychiatric Care 

Carolina Counseling Services in Fayetteville, NC contracts with caring, effective licensed psychiatric professionals. You deserve to feel and function at your best. Providers are in network with most major insurances including Aetna, Aetna State Health Plan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) and many more. Call now to schedule your first appointment!

Jaime Johnson Fitzpatrick LCMHCS, LCAS is one of the Owners and Vice Presidents of Carolina Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in the State of North Carolina as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in State of New York. Jaime is also certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and utilizes various other approaches in her practice.