A very important relationship when your dealing with mental health quirks is with your doctor. The problem is most people do not feel that their doctor is not holding up their end of the bargain so here are some tips to get the mental health professional on board and get the most out of relationship.

1. Write all your concerns down before hand. A common situation is you walk into the doctors office and after a few minutes of conversation your main concerns seem to take a backseat. By writing your concerns down and handing them over at the start of the appointment this will make sure your needs are addressed.

2. Not enough information. There is no such thing as too much information when it comes to the doctor patient relationship. A symptom that may seem small and unimportant to you may possibly be the clue your doctor has been looking for to tailor your treatment which will speed up your recovery.

3. Be open. Again tell your doctor everything. This is the wrong time to be modest and worry about how others will see you. Too many people underplay the severity of their illness and this can come with some costly consequences. Most people believe that if their doctors saw the true nature of their illness they will be thrown onto a psych ward but this is not the case. A psych ward situation only shows up for the most part when you appear to be a danger to yourself or others. My doctor and I talk about suicidal thoughts at every appointment as it is a normal part of my illness but it will not warrant another trip to the psych ward instead it is using as a measuring stick on the level of my depression. Remember the doctor is under legal obligation not to discuss your case with anyone as long as you are an adult and not a threat to yourself or others.

4. Question everything. If your doctor throws a theory at you that does not make sense then question her/him about it. Nothing is more frustrating then leaving the doctors office with the belief that this professional does not understand you or your situation. Remember the doctor works for you.

5. The doctor is human. He or she is just like you and me the only difference is they spent a real long time in school but that does not mean they are always right. There are a lot of different symptoms of mental illness that match up with multiple disorders so there is room for error. This is also why it is so critical to tell your doctor everything as the more information they have the better the chance of matching you up with the right diagnosis which opens the door to recovery.

I hope you have found the above information helpful and it will help you maximize the potential of this important relationship. If for whatever the reason you are unable to be open with your doctor then it is time to find a new health professional. Take care.

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