Many people feel nervous when they talk to medical providers, and this feeling can intensify when opening up to psychiatric doctors and nurse practitioners. After all, these providers must ask about sensitive topics such as drug use, alcohol, thoughts of self-harm, and panic. Furthermore, the societal stigmas that live on can keep people from feeling completely open about psychiatry.
However, it’s absolutely vital for you to be honest during your psychiatric medication management appointment. Being open and honest keeps you safe. For example, many psychiatric medications interact with things like alcohol, so your provider needs to know about your intake. Furthermore, some of these medicines can cause worsening symptoms, such as thoughts of self-harm. Your doctor will change your medication to keep you safe, but only if they know you’re struggling.
Your LifeStance Health professional wants to help you, but they can only do that when they know exactly what’s going on. Remember that anything you tell your provider is protected by strict privacy laws, including HIPAA. Furthermore, if you feel uncomfortable with anything during your appointment, you can say so.
At LifeStance Health, we’re here to assist you and make you feel at ease. If you’re ready to meet with a compassionate behavioral health provider, contact us today.