Psychiatrist in Geelong

What is a Psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who diagnoses, treats, and manages disease/illness in patients. A psychiatrist uses medicine to treat mental illness or mental distress, making frequent use of psychotherapy. All psychiatrists are physicians (doctors) but not all physicians are psychiatrists. Psychiatrists can prescribe psychiatric medication to treat psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and others.

Psychiatrists often treat patients who are suffering from mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety disorders. The doctor assesses the patient’s symptoms and develops a treatment plan that may involve medication management, psychotherapy (a type of counseling), family therapy, or group therapy to help the patient recover. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications to treat mental illness or they can offer psychotherapy.

What Does a Psychiatrist Do?

Psychiatrists do many of the same things other doctors do: They perform physical exams, take medical histories and prescribe medications. But psychiatry is more than just prescribing pills for patients who are feeling blue. In fact, psychiatrists often work with patients who aren’t experiencing a mental health crisis but want to optimize their well-being.

But most people turn to psychiatrists for help during a mental health crisis or psychiatric emergency – which can include suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, and delusions. In these cases, a psychiatrist will make a diagnosis and may prescribe medications or hospitalization in order to ensure the patient’s safety.

Why would you see a psychiatrist?

There are a variety of reasons for mental health issues, such as stress and chemical imbalances, and a psychological evaluation can help determine the nature of the problem, its source, and treatment alternatives. Many persons who are suffering from mental illness do not seek assistance due to embarrassment or because they are unsure whom to see.