Are you considering professional help?
The world of the mind can be very confusing, undoubtedly because we humans are very complicated, and we live in a complex world. Therefore, it is not surprising that many factors contribute to problematic behaviors, thoughts, feelings, and issues which lead to our suffering. These things usually have a history as well as a pattern in our lives, so figuring out that history and those patterns should lead to some clarity and understanding, which in turn leads to opportunities for healing and change.
Making changes is hard to do on your own. Sometimes it isn’t about willpower or choice. Perhaps the problem is brain-based, meaning it comes from the brain itself, whether it is due to genetics, past history, or injury. And, of course, there is also the unconscious, often acting secretly to prevent you from doing what you actively choose. So if you can’t figure it out on your own, or if it’s taking too long, or if nothing has helped from a long list of attempts, then consider getting professional help. Often there are important puzzle pieces that only a professional would notice or know how to deal with.
In this kind of journey, the first step usually involves finding a well-trained and knowledgeable professional who is a good listener and will collaborate with you. You should be comfortable interacting with this person, on some level, even if the topic itself is not comfortable. Another important consideration, although hard to evaluate, is how much this person helps you see what is hard to see on your own. This is because the problems of the brain and the mind often involve blind spots. And, as you begin the journey, there should be an underlying sense of being understood.
You might want to meet with several people and then choose the one that fits your needs best, or you may find the right fit with the first person you meet. Sometimes trusted people in your life can make recommendations, or your primary care doctor may have some names for you.
Over the course of treatment, in addition to the moments of relief and enlightenment, expect difficult terrain, moments of seeming impasse, sometimes not feeling understood; medications have their own issues, and finding the right medication(s) may involve more than one trial. All of these aspects of your experience, both the good and the bad, should be brought up with your mental health professional(s). Through the work you both do together, there should be improvements, changes, and overall progress towards a better life.
Perhaps I can help
I have more than two decades of experience practicing the art of psychiatry with adult, adolescent, and child patients. I have a passion for medication management, which is often a complicated area that needs special attention, because it matters what we put into our bodies. I also have an interest in talking therapy as an important part of moving forward towards a more healthy life.
The goal of my evaluation period is to understand you as a whole person, including both your physical and mental health, all in the context of family, faith, school, work, friends, and environment. This includes your medical problems and any treatments you are on, brain problems, genetics, normal and abnormal development, problems of the mind and the personality, specific mental illnesses, traumas, addictions, self issues, relationship struggles, and family/childhood issues. Once I have an idea of what the problems are we can make a plan to deal with them.
