First Time Therapy Appointment Tomorrow - Nervous

[Anonymous]

Hello. I have my first ever appointment with a psychiatrist tomorrow. I've never done therapy and don't know what to expect. I'm very nervous about explaining why I wanted an appointment. I'm afraid I'm going to go blank, or just start crying. I've been depressed and anxious for a while, but it's gotten significantly worse during the pandemic. There are so many layers to why, I don't know where to start. What is that first appointment like?

[Anonymous]

Go blank, and cry, let it all out. Thats why youre there. Don't hold back. It will feel liberating.

[Anonymous]

Totally normal, OP.

Do not worry. The therapist has been to thousands of first time appointments and knows exactly how to guide you through it. You will cry. You will likely be drained and exhausted afterward, so plan something relaxing and enjoyable for yourself. But remember, no matter how "bad" you think it is, the therapist has seen it before.

[Anonymous]

They will greet you and get you seated then likely ask what brings you in. (Or if you’ve spoken they may say “I understand you’ve been (whatever you said on phone) can you tell me more about that?” You may cry or have trouble finding the right words and it may seem very complicated to explain but I promise you they help patients with similar reactions all the time and will be entirely unfazed by any amount of crying. I promise! Good luck to you I hope it goes well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello. I have my first ever appointment with a psychiatrist tomorrow. I've never done therapy and don't know what to expect. I'm very nervous about explaining why I wanted an appointment. I'm afraid I'm going to go blank, or just start crying. I've been depressed and anxious for a while, but it's gotten significantly worse during the pandemic. There are so many layers to why, I don't know where to start. What is that first appointment like?

You can say just that. I talked to an intake coordinator today, hoping to start therapy for anxiety. She asked if anxiety was affecting my life. All I could come up with was "I'm stuck". I have had therapy a couple different times in the past and I have come to believe that the answer you give to the question of why you are there can set the tone for your treatment. I am planning to write out my reasons and then try to condense them so it will be easier to remember when I'm on the spot. It will be virtual, so I'll probably make a note of it. Try writing it down. Good luck tomorrow!

[Anonymous]

You can also write down few notes to guide you. What would be inthem is up to you, what makes sense for you. Like when did you start to feel you had to see someone (basically what is bringing you in). Maybe a few things you definitely want them to know, like what is your biggest concern/worry.

Hang in there OP, it's really kind of anti-climactic. You know, things are never as we envision.

Remember you are going there to check THEM out too, not just the other way around. Think of it also as auditioning this person because you want to see if you feel comfortable with them.

You have more insight into what you need than you may know. Howeer, you are not going in for a mental version of the SAT. You arent being graded on how bad off you are. Whatever happens will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally normal, OP.

Do not worry. The therapist has been to thousands of first time appointments and knows exactly how to guide you through it. You will cry. You will likely be drained and exhausted afterward, so plan something relaxing and enjoyable for yourself. But remember, no matter how "bad" you think it is, the therapist has seen it before.

This. It will really be fine OP. You are already doing the hard work just by showing up!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can say just that. I talked to an intake coordinator today, hoping to start therapy for anxiety. She asked if anxiety was affecting my life. All I could come up with was "I'm stuck". I have had therapy a couple different times in the past and I have come to believe that the answer you give to the question of why you are there can set the tone for your treatment. I am planning to write out my reasons and then try to condense them so it will be easier to remember when I'm on the spot. It will be virtual, so I'll probably make a note of it. Try writing it down. Good luck tomorrow!

I think this is good advice OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go blank, and cry, let it all out. Thats why youre there. Don't hold back. It will feel liberating.

+1

Particularly if you're worried about it now, I can just about guarantee you'll cry through most of the appointment. That's FINE. Great even! Part of the process. There will be tissues in plain sight.

Just remember - it's REALLY HARD to shock a therapist. They've heard this kinda of stuff a million times, seen people cry through it. It's like the least judgmental place on the planet.

[Anonymous]

OP you said PSYCHIATRIST but many posters have responded as though you said THERAPIST/PSYCHOLOGIST. In my experience, psychiatrists want to know what you are struggling with so they can properly prescribe meds. They really don’t get into talk therapy or CBT or solving anything during the appointment. They may refer you to someone else for that.

Is your goal to leave with a prescription? Their goal is getting you the right medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you said PSYCHIATRIST but many posters have responded as though you said THERAPIST/PSYCHOLOGIST. In my experience, psychiatrists want to know what you are struggling with so they can properly prescribe meds. They really don’t get into talk therapy or CBT or solving anything during the appointment. They may refer you to someone else for that.

Is your goal to leave with a prescription? Their goal is getting you the right medication.

I think I might need meds, so I was glad to get the psychiatrist. Before I even mentioned what I needed when I made the appointment, I was warned that they only had psychiatrists available right now, and was that okay? So we'll see. I just wanted to get started. If they refer me to someone else for talk therapy or whatever, I'm good with that. It took me 2 months to get in the door so I'm really happy to just get started on anything, even though I'm nervous. I didn't realize psychiatrists didn't do the therapy part, so thanks for the heads up on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you said PSYCHIATRIST but many posters have responded as though you said THERAPIST/PSYCHOLOGIST. In my experience, psychiatrists want to know what you are struggling with so they can properly prescribe meds. They really don’t get into talk therapy or CBT or solving anything during the appointment. They may refer you to someone else for that.

Is your goal to leave with a prescription? Their goal is getting you the right medication.

I think I might need meds, so I was glad to get the psychiatrist. Before I even mentioned what I needed when I made the appointment, I was warned that they only had psychiatrists available right now, and was that okay? So we'll see. I just wanted to get started. If they refer me to someone else for talk therapy or whatever, I'm good with that. It took me 2 months to get in the door so I'm really happy to just get started on anything, even though I'm nervous. I didn't realize psychiatrists didn't do the therapy part, so thanks for the heads up on that.

Pp here who posted about being stuck, etc. My first experience with therapy was with a psychiatrist for 3 months when I was 20. She spent many sessions talking with me before she diagnosed me with anything. She completely missed that I had PTSD (to be fair, it was a new diagnosis for victims of sexual assault), but my sessions with her helped my relationships with my parents. It was 2 years later that a LCSW recognized and helped me with the PTSD. All that to say that psychiatrists will do therapy and they can diagnose and prescribe medication.

[Anonymous]

I never met a psychiatrist who did therapy. They usually listen enough to decide what to prescribe. Like "medication management." So, my guess is you will be prescribed medication. If you also want a therapist to see just to talk things out, try a PhD or PsyD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you said PSYCHIATRIST but many posters have responded as though you said THERAPIST/PSYCHOLOGIST. In my experience, psychiatrists want to know what you are struggling with so they can properly prescribe meds. They really don’t get into talk therapy or CBT or solving anything during the appointment. They may refer you to someone else for that.

Is your goal to leave with a prescription? Their goal is getting you the right medication.

I think I might need meds, so I was glad to get the psychiatrist. Before I even mentioned what I needed when I made the appointment, I was warned that they only had psychiatrists available right now, and was that okay? So we'll see. I just wanted to get started. If they refer me to someone else for talk therapy or whatever, I'm good with that. It took me 2 months to get in the door so I'm really happy to just get started on anything, even though I'm nervous. I didn't realize psychiatrists didn't do the therapy part, so thanks for the heads up on that.

Many do therapy. All of the above advice holds whether they begin therapy with you or refer you for that and see you for med management if indicated: cry if you feel like it, it’s ok that it’s complicated, they will not be bothered or surprised by however much crying you do. They’re there to help. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

It’s awkward, and it’s awkward for everyone when starting out. It is totally ok if you aren’t quite sure how to explain what’s wrong or what you need. That’s literally the therapist’s job to help you sort out.